Didn't expect this

kathkeb
on 12/30/12 12:28 pm

I got a call from my PCP's office a few days ago ---- I am anemic (in her words, 'scary anemic').

During that call, I remembered that I tried to donate blood about 6 weeks ago and was deferred because my iron was low.

So -- stool sample was negative for blood, so we can't understand what is going on -- I stopped having periods over 3 years ago.

I think that I am going to call my gastroenterologist and go in for an EGD to see if the ulcers I had 18 months ago have re-appeared.

For now I am supplementing my iron and increasing my protein intake.

Kath

pineview01
on 12/30/12 1:23 pm - Davison, MI

Lap Band on 02/25/09

Good luck and keep on top of it!

BAND REMOVED 9-4-12-fought insurance to get sleeve and won! Sleeved 1/22/13! Five years out and trying to get that last 15 pounds back off.

minnie_cat
on 12/31/12 1:43 am

Sorry to hear this. Work in some iron rich foods too. Keep us posted.

Hislady
on 12/31/12 5:14 am - Vancouver, WA

Lap Band on 10/19/07

Hope you are able to correct this soon! Sorry you are starting the new year this way.

debann
on 12/31/12 5:45 am - Anytown, TN

Lap Band on 03/26/07

I have had the same problem for several years. I can always tell when its really bad, I get really bad muscle cramps at nite. If I take an iron supplement it clears up pretty fast. Sometimes if you are on any meds long term (like me) it can be the source of the problem, which they think is what is going on in my case. My gastroenterologist wasn't really concerned and just wants me to take the supplements (which I hate). Hope yours is a simple fix. deb

minnie_cat
on 12/31/12 11:29 am

Just remembered this, when taking iron supplements, if you take it with vitamin C it helps with iron absorption.

CarolynJoisey
on 1/3/13 6:22 am

Absolutely! And, don't forget that dairy stops the ability of iron to be absorbed! So, don't melt that cheese into the spinach :)

looking4hope
on 12/31/12 1:36 pm

Hope it gets sorted out!!! Praying for fast answers.

Highest 317 6/1 start pre-op diet312 6/15 2 days before surgery303 6/22 5 days post-op296 6/28 11 days post-op 290 7/5 18 days post-op 288 8/19 10 weeks post-op 278 9/10 274 11/6 268 2/18 257 3/26 249 5/14 237

Bette B.
on 1/1/13 4:27 am

Lap Band on 12/02/03

I've had "anemia of chronic disease" for about 7 years. What it means is that I have SOMEthing causing it, but can't figure out what. All the bad things have been ruled out with tests, up to and including a bone marrow biopsy.

Just like you, I found out that I was anemic when I tried, unsuccessfully, to donate blood. I was referred to a hematologist who has been seeing me for all these years. My hematocrit is low, unrelated to my banding, and it's something that isn't fixable with diet or iron supplements. The number is not drastically low, and has stayed stable for almost the entire time he has been seeing me, so we are jus****ching to see if it gets any lower.