very low iron levels

Having read the lab work on others I wonder if I'm going to be in trouble with my low iron.  My primary care physican teases me saying, "I don't want to get too close to you because you're so low on iron your body might start sucking the iron out of my body."  The normal range for ferritin in adult women is 20-120 ng/mL and my last test said my level was 3, yes three!!  Since then I've been taking iron supplements but I worry that I might be denied the surgery if my iron is so low.

Hi Meredith!  I wouldn't be surprised if your iron levels would cause concern for your surgeon.  You might need an iron infusion intravenously before he or she will approve surgery.  Meanwhile, you do need to take an iron supplement.  Take it with Vitamin C (500 mg), no dairy, no other vitamins because calcium blocks iron absorption, as I learned... And forget about those little 18 mg iron supplements... you want to take 150 mg polysaccharide iron or take 6 VitaLady Tender Iron (you will soon find out who VitaLady is lol!  The note below is from her website.  This protocol will eventually get your iron levels back up but it will take time and is a regime you will have to follow for the rest of your life after surgery.  One of the facts of WLS that need to be weighed pre-op...  You can get lots more information on supplementation on this website, but I don't want to overwhelm you for now.  PM me if you would like more details.  Hope this helps!

Note: Iron and Vitamin C should be taken together, alone for at least an hour with fruit, vegetables, meat but not dairy, caffeine, eggs or whole grain or any other medications, vitamins or minerals (only copper is good with iron).

Meredith,

I'd see about get a consult with a hemotologist. They will be able to see where you are now and be able to best help you manage your iron levels as you move forward.

Wishing you all the best,

Barb

P.S. Not all patients that have had WLS have iron deficiency issues. Many do, but many do not. There is a wide variance based on surgery type, menstruation/or not, metabolic differences, etc... Just because you have a low serum ferritin doesn't nec. mean you wouldn't be a candidate for WLS. Talk to your Dr.