I need IRON! Help!!

Hi Everyone!

So yesterday I went to my Primary doctor for my physical and lab work. Everything was "A" okay.
I just recieved a phone call from her office to tell me that I have a low blood count and that she needs to see me before surgery date (NEXT Wednesday, 5/12/10)...

(When I had my Gastric Bypass I also had a low blood count, I'm animic and they still went ahead with surgery) Hmmmmmmm.

I am taking Daily Iron 139% Daily Value.
What else is there for my to take? Please Help!

I'll be waiting here at my desk for all your emails. HELP!!!! :EHLP:

We have a hard time absorbing just any type of iron.  I was getting the Vitalady Tender Iron and taking that - and it was a chewable, and it was good.  Now I'm switching to a Proefferin Heme iron that is a little more forgiving if you take it closer to calcium than the others.

Unfortunately I can't give you the results as I haven't been taking it for very long - just a couple of days.  There is also one called Bifera that you can get at some Walgreens that is one we absorb.  I talked to a Pharmicist at Kmart (who was knowledgeable about WLS) and she said that the Bifera is one we DO absorb.  Perhaps you're taking one that we don't absorb?

Good luck with the iron - I heard its a bear to get back up!  You may way to ask for an infusion if its going to keep you from having your surgery ontime.... see if they'll do that and keep you on track.

 

 

I was really low and started pre-natals...normal pretty quick. Take 2 every night b4 bed, try that.

I had my GBS in 2001, but in 2008 I had a hysterectomy and found out I had low iron.  My doctor put me on Repliva (prescription iron) before the surgery and I was fine.

I have plastics in a couple weeks and I raised this early as a concern with my surgeon so he has me scheduled for my pre-admissions early enough that if he needs to prescribe something there's time.

Hi Ladies!

Thank you for the feedback.

WELL.... I just recieved the other kinda call from my primary doctor. She highly suggests that I re-schedule my surgery. WHaaaaaaa! She wants to see me Monday morning to get more blood from me. I will be doing the impossible these coming days to be ready for Monday. She has also called in a perscription for me to start taking 3x a day. I hope this works. I really, really doing want to re-schedule.

* FYI- When I have gastric bypass.... I was low in IRON too and I still had surgery. So, I don't know what's going to happen now. I'm so sad.

 FWIW -- the surgery you want is much bloodier and bigger than RnY or Lap -- really.  And it's a huge deal to recover from.

I'm so sorry that you may have to reschedule.  It's a very big thing to rev up for.  But really, you want to be in peak shape before anyone starts carving you up.  When I had my LBL I wound up with 50 inches of sutures -- this mans 100 inches of cutting was done!  

You're in great hands, obviously -- Keep us posted!

What about an IV iron infusion? I get those once a month

I found out that I was anemic pre-op too. I researched and it and found out 2 important things:



1. Take your iron supplements WITH vitamin C. It helps your body absorb the iron. A glass of oj works great.


2. DON'T take iron with calcium. Avoid drinking milk, eating cheese, etc for several hours before and after you take the iron. Apparently, it can hamper the iron absorption process.

Best of luck!
Robin

I do monthly iron infusions and right before my PS, my hemotologist had me do infusions more frequently to get my numbers at a more normal range. This is defininately a much longer surgery and more opportunity for blood loss even though surgeons do what they can to minimize it. You want to be as healthy as possible for this surgery so postponing a month will be worth it in the end. You will want to have all the energy you can after this surgery for healing and strength cuz you're gonna need it!

Hi Ladies.

Well, yesterdays calls were overwhelming. Calls from my Primary doctor were confusing at some point. They called my PS to suggest that they re-schedule my surgery and they my plastic surgeon's assistance called me to tell me that my primary doctor sent them the blood work results and on the form it indicates that I am clear for surgery, but then again they are telling me to re-schedule.

OMG!!!!