Scary Lab Results

Hi everyone!  I just got a call from my PCP giving me my lab results from my annual physical.  While my cholesterol and blood sugars looked AWESOME!  My iron is in the toilet.  Hemoglobin was 8.5 and my ferritin (iron stores) is at a 2 (normal is 10-150).  My only purpose for this post is to remind everyone to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take your vitamins and suppliments.  I am almost 4 years out and still deal with this.  Make sure you all take care of yourselves. :) Jenn

Hi Jenn I'm sorry that you're having iron issues. I am as well. My iron was 10, and should be 35-155 and my ferritin was 4. My last labs came back better. I discovered that I wasn't absorbing the iron I was taking. I was on a board for people with iron issues and with many of them having to have iron infusions. They said that they found that alot of WLS women don't absorb ferrous sulfate or ferrous fumerate. This is the kinds I was taking. They recommended taking either a chelated iron or a carbonyl iron. The carbonyl iron is what I take now. I get it from vitalady.com.  It's called Tender Iron. When I had my labs done in October, my iron was up to 77    wooohooo. He didn't do my ferritin, but I'm having that done in February. We also have to remember to take the iron with Vitamin C. What kind of iron are you taking? Take care. Peggy

I don't think that my PCP is being very proactive about my situation.  It was a nurse that I talked to this morning and I am thinking about calling my Dr and asking for a call from her specifically.  My actual iron level was at a 64 with the ferritin at a 2.......before the phone call today I was taking 2-325mg of Ferrous Sulfate twice a day along with 500 mg of vitamin C.  The nurse today said to increase that to 3 times a day and to come in to get rechecked in 6 weeks.  My thought is ummmm if I am taking it twice a day and my levels are like they are increasing it to three times a day can't make that much of a difference can it? Jenn

Hi Jenn I kind of thought the same thing, as far as taking more. I'm so glad I switched over to the Tender Iron.  Your iron is good, but with the ferritin being low, that's kind of scary cuz we really need those stores of iron. I'm curious to know what mine is. I'm actually dealing with some kidney issues as well. I'm going to my urologist on Thursday and I'm going to ask him is too much iron can hurt your kidneys. A girlfriend of mine just told me that today. So, I'll see what he says. Take care. Peggy

Holy buckets batgirl! You just made me get off my butt and take my vites. Literally, I forgot, and you reminded me. Oy! Thanks girl! I hope you are able to bring your counts up.  Hugs, Lori

I agree with Peggy - I think it does matter what KIND of iron you are taking.  I'd get off the ferrous sulfate if I were you and see what happens if you switch.  My ferritin was about 7 and I switched to a chelated iron - Solgar's Gentle Iron and in about 3 months it jumped to 34.  No lie...34!  It also doesn't cause constipation or stomach problems.  I find mine online.  Here's a product description: Product Description Each Vegicap® contains 25mg of Iron, as Iron Bisglycinate, which is a unique form of chelated iron formulated for maximum absorption without the gastrointestinal irritation or the constipating effects that often accompany iron supplements.  http://www.amazon.com/Solgar-Gentle-Iron-veggie-caps/dp/B000 13Z0QA Good Luck!

HIJACK!!!! Lori, great new pic!!!! I always like to read your posts. You have such good insight. Isn't this journey more amazing the further out we are? It's so important for others to remember that this is FOR EVER. And that, especially at 5+ years for me and almost 5 for you....it still amazes me the new things that keep popping up for us to deal with. Take care. Peggy

Thanks Peggy!  You are right, this is forever....we just have to keep on, keeping on!  Hope everything turns out ok with your cysts and stones, you know there is a better way to get "stoned"!  hehe... Can't believe I am coming up on 5 years.  Some days it seems like yesterday that I was just contemplating surgery.  It shifts back and forth, sometimes I don't remember all the trials of being morbidly obese, other times I still feel like I am!  Doesn't make much sense I know. Hang in there and keep us updated on your situation. -Lori

Hi Jenn!  Here's hoping you get those numbers back to where they belong!!  Also, I just wanted to thank you for posting this!  It seems that we forget (maybe because we feel so much better) and need to remember that WE SOOOOOO need the vits and minerals and calcium and B12!!!  Keep us posted on your numbers!!