Questions re Iron and Vitamin D

So I had my annual blood work done and the surgeon sent me back the report, low D and low iron.  I kind of figured the iron was low due to some issues with my breathing when I do anything strenuous.   Anyone have any recommendations for a supplement, he wants me to take 350mg of iron and have my blood redone in 3 months. . . I know many people 5/6 years post-op who experience this side effect, so I'm looking for some "oldtimers" experience on this one. . .

All my other stuff was normal, vitamin b12 is high, but it always has been, even within me cutting the supplement to 2x a week. . .  so I will cut it out altogether for a while and see how that works.

Thanks for any input.

Have a great day!

My doctor has me taking B12 shots, an iron pill that is huge and green, and a Vit D pill he prescribes me.   Susan has has a lot of luck with an over the counter pill.   Just make sure  you start taking something so your bones and such will not suffer.   

I just got my lab results as well.  My D was low.  Mr doc ( hematologist) prescribed a 50,000 unit pill once a week for 8 weeks followed by 1.000 daily.  Susan got my D up last time this happened.  I don't remember the dosages she advised.

My iron was extremely low......,ferritin..... iron pills did not work for me.  I had a series of infusions just before going to see you in Philly and it has been fine ever since without taking the iron pills.  I much prefer the infusions as strange as that must sound.  Iron especially in the doses we need is extremely constipating.  I will never have to take them again,  If my levels drop  she  will  infuse me.

Good luck

Laureen-

My D was low a couple of years ago.  I took 50000 IU's once a week for 8 weeks and then switched to a daily D3 capsule.  Can't help you with the iron.  When they checked me this year my iron was good but my ferritin was on low side.  They thought it was related to surgery I had last spring.  I dread taking Iron because of constipation.  Maybe a daily juice drink of green leafys? would help.  Can't wait to read what Susan posts.

 

Cindi

Cindi

All of my labs showed iron levels ok for years but no one ever checked my ferritn.  When I realized I should be checking ferritin it was very low.  It was explained to me that the results seen in a normal CBC is like your checking account and the ferritn is like your savings account.  When the checking account is low it draws from the savings account.  My checking account never showed low.  I had all the symptoms of anemia but it was not  reflected in my iron levels.  Be sure you get your ferritin checked regularly.  You may be doing this already.  That is the important info.  My WLS surgeon was a good surgeon but not well versed in WLS aftercare.  I had no clue what tests should be done annually.  I got more info from Susan than my doc.  I now regularly check my ferritin, B12, and D.

 

Years ago, I had low ferritin. . . I actually had to have transfusions in 2000 and then about 8 years ago, almost the same thing. . . after my hysterectomy all was well, but I also know from others who've had WLS (RNY in particular) that this occurs for many of us between 4 and 6 years post-op. . .  I know the symptoms and have been experiencing them since spring, tiredness, low energy, but I push myself past all that stuff, thinking don't get lazy, but recently the shortness of breath told me everything I needed to know. . .  and I was due for yearly blood draw, went a bit earlier than normal and glad I did, but I wanted to get some advice from some of the women on here who've already experienced this. . .  waiting for Susan to get back to us. . .  thanks everyone that has replied. . .

My vitamin B-12 is HIGH, has been all along. . .  keep lowering the doses of what I take, so I think now I will try taking it every two weeks and see when I go back for bloodwork in 3 months what it reads then. . .  and I've got to get the D levels up. . .

Later

Linda-

Your explanation of the ferritin was exactly what the PA told me at my annual check up.  Not only does my WLS surgeon check both but my PCP checks.  So I'm covered.  PA said if it was low again in 6 months we'd look at iron supplements or something else.  Thanks for your concern about my health.  I know I can always come here for questions.

 

Cindi

At dr office now....will be back soon with loads of info!

Well, I can't figure put how to past pics of the two supplements I take, so I'll just tell you the scoop.

The vitamin D-3 des prescribe only come in gel cap for. We don't have enough stomach acid to break down the gel caps, so they are pretty much useless. The Rx dose is 50,000 a week. My Dr had me on them 3x a week, and my level got to. 11!
So, at that point, I started searching around, researching, and found a DRY form of vitamin D-3, in the old fashioned capsules, through Vitalady.com. $26 for 100 of them. I took three a week for 6 weeks and my level went to 54! So, I was pretty convinced, as well as my DR that the gel caps are not for RNYers.
Vitamin D effects so many things other than your bones, and can even cause depression-like symptoms

Ok.....on to iron. Same principal....absorption. I found some really, REALLY yummy iron chewies at bariatric advantage. They are chocolate raspberry, and I eat two of them after dinner as my "treat". I was on the verge of infusions, and after 6 weeks of them, I was back in the normal range. The dose on the bottle says one a day, I take two. You can get onto auto refill with them and you don't pay shipping. Win, win!

I had low iron levels two years out (had horrible, horrible headaches from this). Bariatric center in Michigan put me on ferrous sulfate, works wonders, hard on your system. I have since switched to Puritan's Pride gentle iron with a vitamin C (for absorption). The past few years my iron levels are all great. No problems.

As for the D, I had several years of low D-3 levels, including last year, when I was taking 1,000 a day. My doc here (just an internist) suggested taking an extra 1,000 a day. That seemed to do the trick. This year, all my levels are normal or a little above ... B12 a little high but considering the year after surgery it was way low and I had periphereal neuropathy symptoms, I now take a daily B12. 

I was able for a while to find a D3 from Puritan's Pride that was dry; sometimes I can find it; sometimes I can't. I'm taking the tiny gel caps and taking two a day and my levels are great.