iron problems

I just had my blood work done and my iron levels are low again.  i take my iron pills daily, eat my tomatoes on a regular basis and I still have low iron levels.  Any suggestions?

I know there are 3 different (forms of iron) iron suppliments on the market.  The one My surgeon recommends is Ferro-Sequels...If you can find them.  I'm wondering if spinach might help too...couldn't hurt.

I have spent many hours on the d/s board and have learned from the veterans there that iron and vitiam d cancel each other out if taken together. Not knowing your regiement, I can't say if this is a factor or not. This issue is discussed very often on the d/s board and you might look back at some old threads and find some help. I haven't had my surgery yet and am still trying to absorb it all. I undersand there are iron infusions  that help raise the levels quicker and may be an option if you start to lose all you energy and the levels don't rise fast enough.                     

Good luck.

that's iron and calcium

Scott

My iron levels were border line low for a while and my docotor told me to start taking an iron supplement. The first one I took didn't seem to work very well. One of the ladies on the fitness board reccomended Ferous Gluconate.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100155&navA ction=jump&navCount=0&nug=VPD&skuid=sku373278&id=prod373277,
I buy it a Walgreens this is a link for it. I was told that it is absorbed farther down the intestinal tract. The last time I was tested it was OK. I also try to sneak it in where ever possible. Kale is another good source of iron. My wife and I keep a bowl of salad cut up and I cut up kale in it. Mixed with ever thing else you don't even know it's there.

pan head

Iron is best absorbed if taken with vitamin C and if you don't take calcium two hours prior or after, per the team at Cleveland Clinic.

hello brother

i've had the same poblem..and I found this site..seems to be faily up and up...

what I found was interesting..is there are iron depleting foods...like coffee and soy..(I'm a dead man if you try to take away my coffee)

http://www.healthcastle.com/iron.shtml

Sorry I am late getting in on this one but I had a low iron problem in the beginning that was fianlly resolved by going to prenatal vitamjin that has 28 mg of iron per tablet instead ot the standard 18 mg in regular multi-vitamins.  I also take 2 every morning. 

It is not Vit D but the calcium that inhibits the absorption of iron if taken at the same time.  I now take my calcium at bedtime and my iron in the morning.  I have been fine since going to the 2 prenatals a day.

Hope that helps.  I get mine cheap at WalMart, their generic vitamin brand.  They are like $5-6 a bottle and they are smaller than  most anything else out there and not coated or time released.

Best of luck.

I have had the same problem - I have tried to eat spinach salads - the greener the better of course and then I m not sure if your a fan of liver but it does help even mixed in with a salad - add some spice and well it could be worse!  Best of luck!!!

Fallon

The best way to get your iron up if it's low post op is a transfusion. You'd need to go to a hemotologist to get it done. If you're just on the low side, then you can try oral irons.

I found that Repliva (a prescription iron) worked great for my levels, but it gave me terrible constipation. I've been using Vitalady's gentle iron for the last year and a half and it works excellent. It keeps me on the low end of normal....but at least I'm not anemic anymore and I've avoid a transfusion.

She recommends taking 6 to 12 a day on an empty stomach (first thing in the morning) with at least 1000 mg of vit. C. Avoid drinking caffine, protein, or whole grains within an hour of taking it, and do not take calcium for at least 2 hour afterwards. I've only been able to tolerate 3 to 4 a day (again constipation issues if I go higher) but lots of people can do the full doses.

Scott