Severe anemia no iron Questions

Hello All,
I am 23 months out and after a week of daily IV iron with no difference in my labs I  had my first blood transfusion today because of  anemia and no iron. My feritin levels was below 1. And I am not absorbing iron at all. I was wondering if anyone knows if this something I am going to have to battle forever or if once my levels get back to normal will they stay that way for how long, the nurse today said my levels may come up a couple points and I will feel a little better but it wouldn't last long...

. I am to the point where I cannot function to work. My Hemo Dr say part of the anemia may be due to an inherited genetic disorder that he will confront after he gets my levels back to a safe normal range.

My question is are there any out there 5,10,15 yrs out dealing with this and does any one know about possibly getting social security disability from this? I work a high stress sales job and as long as I meet my monthly goals I get to keep my wonderful job and medical insurance. I have a gut feeling this is going to be an ongoing problem because I have this genetic anamia that is really aggravated now because I don't absorb iron sence having wls. If I can't work they won't keep me and there goes the insurance. I am almost out of sick days.

 I see no one has jumped in here, so I will.  I am a little over 4 years out and I am experiencing severe anemia...both iron and B12.  I had IV infusion in December and was told at that time that it could be 6 months to a year, or possibly even longer before I would have to worry about it.  I went in earlier this week to have my labs checked early because I was feeling extreme exhaustion and was concerned that something was wrong.  Turns out my ferritin level has dropped from 168 in December down to 14 this week.  So I start my second round of IV infusion on Friday.  The hematologist believes that my body is no longer absorbing iron from ANY source (pills, food) EXCEPT the infusions.

I'm afraid I have no answers, I can only confirm that this is a really scenario that ANYone should consider when making the decision to have WLS.  The things your doctor tells you about possible complications and lifelong issues like this are not just scare tactics - they are REAL scenarios that REAL people experience.

Wish I could offer advice or answers.  sorry.

Wow.  My ferritin is 2 right now.  I start weekly iron infusions this friday.  Also four years out on June 1st.  My sister is also 4 years out post RNY and she has been having iron infusions for the past year. 

Did you just have one iron infusion and it has carried you this long?  How did your body react to the infusion?  Was constipation a problem afterwards?  I already have a problem with this, so I am genuinely worried.

 The infusions were 1 g of iron divided into 5 doses, so I had to go into the office twice a week for 3 weeks.  The first one didn't hold, so about two months later I had to have another round of infusions twice a week for 3 weeks.  So far so good at this point.  I had no side effects from the infusion, no constipation problems.

Good morning,  I am 3.5 yrs post-RNY and last year found out that I was iron deficient. It was so bad that the red blood cells that are manufactured in the bones, were incomplete and had sucked all of the ferritin (iron) stores out of the bones. The only way to replenish those stores was through an IV infusion that took about 5 hours, sitting in the hematologists office hooked up to a bag of ferritin. It worked, but it also took about 6-8 weeks to feel s difference. The lifecycle of a red blood cell is 120 days, so as the incomplete ones died off, the new replenished cells were introduced into the bloodstream.
I currently take 60mg of chewable iron from Bariatric Advantage and am monitored every 3-4 months to see how the iron & ferritin stores are holding up. So far, so good. Not sure if the chewables are what's holding me, or that big old infusion, but he wants to monitor for a year to determine that. I'm totally fine if I have to do IV infusion every once in a while, as it far outweighs the crappy way I felt!!

Good luck, and feel free to contact me if you have any more questions.  -Darlene

Hey All,

I have not posted out here forever because I consider myself a WLS failure.  I never reach goal and have started gaining weight back.  I started at 362 and I am at 280 right now.  I had originally lost #120lbs.  I had my RNY in Aug 2005.  I had a huge hernia repair done in Jan 2008 and it also was a minor bowel obstruction.  In July of 2008 I had emergency surgery for a twisted ovary (not wls related)  Sept 2008 gall bladder removed.  Oh yea, between all of that I seperated from my husband lololol... Just wanted to give you all a little back ground information...

As of today I have severe depression, severe anemia, low blood count and have not a clue about my B-12.  I am tired all the time.  Falling asleep at my desk and not really able to do much else but work.  I am going for my first Lupron Shot tomorrow to bring on menopause because I can not afford to have any more blood loss.  My OBGYN says my only other option is a hysterectomy.   I dont even know if I am on the right path with all of this.  I do lot see my WLS doc anymore.  His follow-up care was not for *H*T.  I am now going to to a different doc that I love... 

If anyone can be of any support please let me know.  I am in the Pittsburgh PA area and giving up hope fast.

Jeannine

 Jeannine,

I am not in your area, but I am always happy to provide what support I can via the internet.  I hope that your new doctor has been able to give you some good care and put you on a path toward improving your health.

Hang in there - and I'll be here...

Molly

Being anemic can be fatal.  The Mayo Clinic is the best place to find your answers.