Iron Deficient

So, go my lab results back and my surgeon put me on iron tablets since my levels are now tanked. My question is---it states to take it 2 hours AFTER eater or 1 hour before eating. Does this include protein shakes??  

Also, if I take it first thing in the morning, can I take it with any of my other meds/vitamins or should I take it alone?

Hi WereYorkie,

Mine tanked as well and here is what I did. My levels went from 4 to 38 in three months.  I never took iron pills...  Check with your surgeon and see what they think.

Good Luck!

Having issues with low iron?

My surgeon is the one who gave me the prescription of iron, but I will ask him about liquid iron.  :)

Yes, it includes protein shakes. Iron is very hard on the stomach and can cause chronic constipation - take magnesium or Mira lax daily and take the iron with via c for better absorption 

Alternatively, consider buying heme iron, such as Proferrin, which is the best absorbed form of iron and can be taken on its own, anytime.  It costs around $30-50 per month but is cheaper than an infusion!!!!

I take mine before I go to bed.

It is very important to get copy of your blood work. And keep it. So you can compare that with any future results.  Did the test just iron or ferritin also.? 

Also - what iron did she recommend - prescribe for you to take ? Some are worse on our guts than others. Some can really cause constipation cramps, and need a lot of acid (or bit C)  to get broken down to be absorb . 

As Kim mentioned - heme iron does not need acid or C...but it is pricy

While carbonyl iron - is cheap and it is rather well tolerated by most of RNY. (except me). 

However -based on many people's experiance -  if ferritin gets too low, really low, it is very difficult, if not impossible to bring it up orally, and most of us get iron infusions, then try to maintain good levels with supplements.