Iron; Ferrous Gluconate or Chelated iron?

I am 2 weeks PreOp & trying to figure this all out. Since I don't have any labs to compare, I want to up my Iron & D before surgery so I am not playing catch-up after the two weeks liquid Post Op phase. I have a box of Ferrous Gluconate 324 mg tablets of iron (it says; do not take within 1 hour of antacids or dairy products). I am not so good at figuring out when, what & how to fit everything in - I just had a EAS vanilla protein drink - that's not dairy? lol
I also have a few (Natures Sunshine brand) Iron Chelated; 25mg ferrous gluconate, amino acid chelate plus vit C, Calcium (di-calcium phosphate, amino acid chelate), Phosphorus (di-calcium phosphate)

What is the difference, and should I be taking one of them to get a jump start before surgery, or just take a centrum complete? My reg daily vita pak does not have iron in it. I wanted to finish those up before surgery.

I also started a hair, skin, & nails formula; Biotin, Collagen/Gelatin  supplement.
Any Ideas?

*edited for spelling :)

I am by no means a vitamin guru like some here are. While you are still presurgery, you will absorb everything well, so take whatever you want. You will absorb the iron better if you do not take it at the same time as calcium , which is why it shouldn't be taken with dairy or dairy based things like the vanilla shakes. And after surgery, everyone's needs are different and you have to kind of go by your lab results to find out where your greatest deficiencies are. I do not have an iron problem at all and only take 50 mg. of a carbonyl iron called Perfect Iron besides what is in the daily prenatal vitamin I take, but others take mega doses of iron in very specific types as well as going for iron infusions and still have trouble with their iron levels. Make sure you are also taking enough calcium citrate, but again, don't take it at the same time as the iron. If your D is low now you will need a lot more than they will probably suggest to get it to stay up after surgery. Mine is hanging in there on 50,000 a day of dry D, but just and over the winter with the lack of sunshine here, I may have to start tanning a couple of times a week to help out. Exposure to sunlight makes a HUGE difference in D levels.
     I probably just confused you more; it takes a lot of endless tweaking to get it figured out, and you won't know until after surgery how things will pan out for you.
-Wanda

Thanks for the reply, & all the Good information Wanda!
My Vanilla protein shake was a premixed carton & is (soy protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, & calcium casseinate) Didn't look like it had a milk base from ingredients, but ten I saw it does say at the bottom; contains milk & soy ingrediants. LOL to figure it all out.
I just keep hearing about people with low iron counts & I noticed I don't eat as much red meat as maybe I should for iron intake & thought my original daily vits had iron, but they dont & I hope to have an iron that works well & doesn't cause any side affects. I feel like my rambling is like 'blah blah blah wah wah wah' the old charlie brown on the phone! lol
I like the idea of tanning a little as I loose weight, makes me feel that I might look healthier.
Guess I'll just have to wait for the tweeking when we see the labs from PreOp.
Thanks again,
Tina

I think this is Vitalady's list for pre-ops:
   1 complete multi vite, such Centrum             

1 polysaccharide iron OR 6 Tender Iron 
1500 mg calcium citrate w/D                             

vit C, not more than 4000mg 

5,000 IU vit D3 

 I think your suppose to discontinue vit E a short time before surgery   I didn't take any iron and I wish I had.

Thank you Jenny, I don't think I have the right iron, but not sure it matters before surgery. Thanks for this list, I am upping doeses this last few weeks, but didn't see any extra "E".
It is a bit confusing to figure it all out :)

Just to answer your question on the iron type, I take carbonyl iron (e.g. Vitalady's chewable Tender Iron, 3 x2 a day, also used in Feosol pills) ..  supposedly one of the best-absorbed forms of iron we can take ..     Take with Vit C., and not within 2 hours of dairy products, coffee or colas (or your calc supp.) ..