A question for our vitamin guru's

I just had some lab work done and my total iron is low 31 (range is 40-175) My B12 is in range but on the low side 285 (range is 200-1100). I called barix and talked to Tony and all she said was to take an iron supplement but when I asked her what dose she said what ever the bottle says. really? Don't they come in a range of units or milligrams? Also, onl ine it says to take vitamin C with it to help absorption, she didn't mention this either. Can someone make a reccomendation for me to get started?

Thanks,
Teresa

I don't know the doseage of iron.  However - you will almost definately need to take a stool softener at night with added iron.  It binds something fierce!

B12 - that is LOW  Even though it's within "range" most WLS want you above I think 400 or maybe even above 600 - I can't remember.  Are you on a B12 supplement now?  If not - go out and get some SUBLINGUAL ones.  I'm on 1000mcg a day (which is one tablet depending on the brand....I have found them at Giant but actually prefer the ones from GNC.  The ones from GNC take longer to dissolve...but I like the flavor better)  You may need to be retested once you start your supplements - and if your b12 is not responding to sublingual might need injections or the nasal spray.

Thanks Pam. I do take a B12 sublingual now once a day. I've upped it to twice a day last week because I was having painful burning or buzzing on the outside of my thigh which I thought might have been B12 related. Since I've been taking two a day the buzzing/burning has died down considerably.

You know I have butt issues already so thanks for the heads up on the softener :o) I don't want to have another visit with butt surgeon that's for sure!

T

I recommend taking carbonyl iron, as it doesn't bind up the way most iron supplements do. I get mine from Vitalady, but it's possible that GNC or Vitamin Shoppe carries it.  I take 60 mg per day.  Be sure to take Vitamin C with it in order to aid absorption, although some iron supps have the C in them already for just that reason.

As for B-12, my favorite is from Trader Joe's -- it dissolves under my tongue instantly.  I take 3,000 mcg per day (3 pills) but I have gone as high as 5 to correct a deficiency.

Hope this helps,
Lesley

Teresa,

I did quite a bit of looking to find a good iron supplement - finally settled on "Vitron", which has both the iron (65 mg) and vitamin C in a good mixture.

As Pam said, plan on taking a stool softener (like colace) nightly with your iron.

As to B-12, you can get sublinguals at any good vitamin shop or at Wegmans.  It also comes in sublingual liquid (just be sure it's sugar free - most are).  I take 2500mcg daily, which seems to keep me right in range.  Got them at CVS.  As with most - it will depend on your body, so you'll likely need to monitor it after you start supplementing.  If you should find after a few weeks that you're having trouble sleeping, you may be taking too much. 

Good luck!
karen

Teresa, that range is for a "normal" person.  We aren't normal.   Dr. Brader (and Dr. Boe when I saw him once) didn't want me under 450, so I'm very surprised Barix had nothing to say about it.   Brader put me on Nasacort which is a script squirt up the nose once a week.   At 425, when I was having memory and muscle twitching/numbness issues, panic attacks and depression, I added in a sublinqual to the Nasacort and that helped.   Just had my numbers again, and I'm still at 465 with the supplementation but the neurological issues have subsided, except in very stressful situations when it just leaches out of my body and I feel like I have the internal shakes constantly.   If I were a 285, I'd be admitted to a rubber room; not kidding.   Please get that double-checked by Dr. Boe.

Teresa,

You cannot take the iron within 2 hours of taking calcium or any dairy products.  Calcuim/dairy slows absorption of iron.  I take my calcium throughout the day then take my iron with a C right before bed. 

Is Os Cal, calcium citrate?  I didn't think so.  We have to use calcium citrate not calcium carbonate.

Good luck getting your vit levels up.

Lisa Mc