Poll about iron
I'm always interested to see what vitamins and how much people take, and how that relates to their labs. Today I want to look at iron.
How much iron do you take daily? Count the iron in your multivitamin as well as any other iron supplements.
What type of iron is it?
Do you take vitamin C with it, and if so, how much?
What was your iron level last time you had labs done?
What was your ferritin level last time you had labs done?
How much iron do you take daily? Count the iron in your multivitamin as well as any other iron supplements.
What type of iron is it?
Do you take vitamin C with it, and if so, how much?
What was your iron level last time you had labs done?
What was your ferritin level last time you had labs done?
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
And here are my answers.
I take 75 mg carbonyl iron daily. In addition, I get a total of 36 mg ferrous fumerate in my multis but I don't count that because I take my multis with my calcium citrate. Plus we don't absorb ferrous fumerate that well, anyway. So I just count the 75 mg.
It's carbonyl iron.
I do take vitamin C with it, 500 mg.
When I had labs done a couple weeks ago, somehow they did not draw the iron. They missed it. So I have to go get it drawn again. But the time before that when I had labs done, my iron was 125.
My ferritin currently is 78.9, down from 140.0 last time. That makes me nervous. I hope my iron hasn't fallen that much!
I take 75 mg carbonyl iron daily. In addition, I get a total of 36 mg ferrous fumerate in my multis but I don't count that because I take my multis with my calcium citrate. Plus we don't absorb ferrous fumerate that well, anyway. So I just count the 75 mg.
It's carbonyl iron.
I do take vitamin C with it, 500 mg.
When I had labs done a couple weeks ago, somehow they did not draw the iron. They missed it. So I have to go get it drawn again. But the time before that when I had labs done, my iron was 125.
My ferritin currently is 78.9, down from 140.0 last time. That makes me nervous. I hope my iron hasn't fallen that much!
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
To be honest, I don't take iron. I've tried several types and my stomach HATES it. I cramp up the minute it hits my stomach. I even tried the super expensive stuff but it made me sick. Plus I take several meds that constipate me even without inevitable constipation due to the RNY itself.
I get my blood done every year -- every year the doc expects me to be anemic and to have issues and does extensive tests, and every year so far I get this sort of astonished response from the doctor -- "wow, your iron is really good" because they just expect me to be anemic. When I ccollapsed in February, anemia and iron deficiency was the primary suspect but even thoguh they tested it all ways they could, all my vitamin levels came back stellar.
Since my labs always look good, since the pills make me feel sick, I just say no.
My gastroenterologist doesn't think I should take iron. To his mind it's a waste of money. He says that those who have iron issues postop waste money on supplements, they have to get infusions. Some, he said, don't have issues, and for whatever strange reason, their body copes with the differences.
Not sure who to beleive, but I do believe the levels are good (I don't know the number(s)...they told me but I forget)
I get my blood done every year -- every year the doc expects me to be anemic and to have issues and does extensive tests, and every year so far I get this sort of astonished response from the doctor -- "wow, your iron is really good" because they just expect me to be anemic. When I ccollapsed in February, anemia and iron deficiency was the primary suspect but even thoguh they tested it all ways they could, all my vitamin levels came back stellar.
Since my labs always look good, since the pills make me feel sick, I just say no.
My gastroenterologist doesn't think I should take iron. To his mind it's a waste of money. He says that those who have iron issues postop waste money on supplements, they have to get infusions. Some, he said, don't have issues, and for whatever strange reason, their body copes with the differences.
Not sure who to beleive, but I do believe the levels are good (I don't know the number(s)...they told me but I forget)
~Lady Lithia~ 200 lbs lost!
March 9, 2011 - Coccygectomy!
I chased my dreams, and my dreams, they caught me!
I wouldn't take it either if my labs were fine without it.
I don't think it's a waste of money for most that take it, though. I mean, it would be a waste of money if your labs are fine without it, but most post ops do not have good labs without it. I started out not taking iron because my surgeon told me not to, and then my iron dropped a lot, so I started taking it. Now my labs are good again and I have not required infusions. Personally, I would much rather take a couple pills a day than get infusions periodically.
I don't think it's a waste of money for most that take it, though. I mean, it would be a waste of money if your labs are fine without it, but most post ops do not have good labs without it. I started out not taking iron because my surgeon told me not to, and then my iron dropped a lot, so I started taking it. Now my labs are good again and I have not required infusions. Personally, I would much rather take a couple pills a day than get infusions periodically.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
My iron has remained consistent for four years, and it makes me VERY sick to take it, so ultimately I don't take it. I know I should. I know it! BUT ... the benefits just don't seem to be worth the inevitable fallout. I do have some tender iron from vitalady, and it is teh easiest to tolerate (but it still doesn't go down well) but I just don't like to increase hte risk of constipation when I already have nightmare issues with that. (TMI but I often am glad when I need to have a BM and I am not at home... I'd rather risk the plumbing of a public toilet than our own plumbing, which is highly strained by my "turtle eggs" as hubby calls them.... petrified turtle eggs more like.)
~Lady Lithia~ 200 lbs lost!
March 9, 2011 - Coccygectomy!
I chased my dreams, and my dreams, they caught me!
I did not start taking iron until a few weeks ago because my labs were normal without it (hysterectomy in 1995), but had been lower and lower every year since my RNY. The surgeon did not indicate that my levels were a problem, but if the downward trend continued, my labs would be low next year.
I started taking the Tender Iron from Vitalady twice a week. It has 60mg of Ferronyl Carbonyl iron (elemental) and 400mg of Vit C. I also get 36mg from my daily multivitamins.
My last labs were done about a month ago. I don't remember my exact iron level (and am too lazy to go find my sheet at this hour of the morning) but it was in the low 70's, and my ferritin was down to 15!
Lora
I started taking the Tender Iron from Vitalady twice a week. It has 60mg of Ferronyl Carbonyl iron (elemental) and 400mg of Vit C. I also get 36mg from my daily multivitamins.
My last labs were done about a month ago. I don't remember my exact iron level (and am too lazy to go find my sheet at this hour of the morning) but it was in the low 70's, and my ferritin was down to 15!
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
Good morning & Happy Mother's Day to the Moms
I am 9 yrs post-op and my iron levels were fine up until 3 years ago, but now my iron levels are currently in the toilet (still waiting for the Dr. to give me the actually numbers) and I have to see Hematologist and set up appointment for infusions. I'm taking 975 mg's of ferrous sulfate and a multi that contains ferrous fumarate. I don't take calcium or vitamin C with my iron; should I?
I am 9 yrs post-op and my iron levels were fine up until 3 years ago, but now my iron levels are currently in the toilet (still waiting for the Dr. to give me the actually numbers) and I have to see Hematologist and set up appointment for infusions. I'm taking 975 mg's of ferrous sulfate and a multi that contains ferrous fumarate. I don't take calcium or vitamin C with my iron; should I?
I am taking 180 mg elemental daily
Carbonyl
I am taking 1000 mg C with each dose of iron - iron is 60 mg in morning and 120 mg at night -
Last iron level 108 (in January after my hospital stay for anemia, it was 17, so I'm coming up)
Ferritin 19 way too low, but with the increase from 120 to 180 mg iron, we're hoping to see that head up as well.
Carbonyl
I am taking 1000 mg C with each dose of iron - iron is 60 mg in morning and 120 mg at night -
Last iron level 108 (in January after my hospital stay for anemia, it was 17, so I'm coming up)
Ferritin 19 way too low, but with the increase from 120 to 180 mg iron, we're hoping to see that head up as well.
KenHud
RNY 5/17/10 highest: 407 lb - maintaining a loss of 200+ pounds and enjoying life
RNY 5/17/10 highest: 407 lb - maintaining a loss of 200+ pounds and enjoying life
I take 120mg bariatric advantage chewable iron every morning and every evening. Even though it has vitamin c, I take an additional 500mg with each dose.
Had my 6 month labs about one month ago.
Ferritin was 10. I don't see a value for iron.
Let me say that my ferritin has always been low, even pre RNY...anywhere from 9-15. It was 11 on my 3 month labs.
My surgeon was the first person to mention iron infusions at my appointment with him 2 weeks ago. Not sure why, but he wants to give it another month on the dosage I'm taking now and then draw labs again.
From 0-3 months out, I was taking 60mg in morning and 60 at night. I decided to up the dosage myself.
Any idea how much iron infusions cost? It'll all be at my expense because my deductible is so high. I'll do it no matter the cost.
As an aside, I'm actually looking forward to having the infusion. I've never really felt weak, but maybe I just don't know any differently since I've had this issue for 25 years now.
I'm 39 and still menstrating regularly.
Miranda
Had my 6 month labs about one month ago.
Ferritin was 10. I don't see a value for iron.
Let me say that my ferritin has always been low, even pre RNY...anywhere from 9-15. It was 11 on my 3 month labs.
My surgeon was the first person to mention iron infusions at my appointment with him 2 weeks ago. Not sure why, but he wants to give it another month on the dosage I'm taking now and then draw labs again.
From 0-3 months out, I was taking 60mg in morning and 60 at night. I decided to up the dosage myself.
Any idea how much iron infusions cost? It'll all be at my expense because my deductible is so high. I'll do it no matter the cost.
As an aside, I'm actually looking forward to having the infusion. I've never really felt weak, but maybe I just don't know any differently since I've had this issue for 25 years now.
I'm 39 and still menstrating regularly.
Miranda
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