Low Ferritin levels

So I just got some of my results from mt bloodwork I had done a months (or 2?) ago.  My ferritin level has tanked.  9/2 it was 138, 4/6 it was 129, this last level was 23!!  The NP at my surgeon's office suggested taking 2 iron pills a day (I take Vitron-C), and to also start taking 2,000 units of D3.

Anything else I should be trying?  Can I take the 2 iron pills at once, or do I need to space them out like calcium etc?

ETA: Also just noticed she said low ferritin, but NOT anemic, if that makes a difference.

You can take all your iron at once, but two hours from calcium, dairy, coffee, tea, soy, and a few other things. 

For best absorptiom, you need 200 mg of vitamin c for every 30 mg of elemental iron. Vitron C only has 1/4 of that, so you should take additional vitamin c.

But. Taking two of these will not make a dent in your ferritin level. 6 or 8 Vitron Cs might, but probably not. After surgery, we have a really hard time absorbing oral iron supplements. Some never absorb it well. Others need a lot. Honestly, if my ferritin was dropping that fast, and got that low, I would be heading to a hematologist and getting an order for iron infusions.

You are technically in the "normal" ferritin range. But that's like saying a guy who jumped off the roof of a 20 story building is still ok as he passes the 3rd floor. Still ok, but not for very much longer.

Many on OH have had iron infusions. They all talk about them like they were cocaine addicts. They kick themselves for waiting so long. Ask Daisy in particular, as she just recently had infusions.

Thanks for the info Grim!! 

I had one infusion about 4 months before my RNY. It was low. It has been low my entire life. I see a hematologist. He is super thorough. See about getting a referral asap. you will feel a million times better after.!

My iron levels have always been on the higher end of normal, until this past time.

RUN don't walk to get to your Doctor/Haematologist for an Iron Infusion!

OMG Melissa, I can't tell you how much I want to pull my already thin hair out because I listened to my Nurse at my Centre who told me to just up to 2 Iron pills a day and take more Vit C.  NOPE!!!!!!!

My Ferritin got down to a 4!  A mother f#cking 4 and she was like "well its kind of low you should take 2 iron pills a day."  WTF lady, 4 is "kinda low" to you so what is zero, do you finally panic then?  I can't begin to tell you how incredibly ****ty I felt with a Ferritin of 4! Sorry for all the swearing but I am so angry at my Centre. I have a timeline of my Iron and for me at my Centre it just goes to show you how totally clueless they are are post op Bariatric patients.

I had surgery Nov 15, 2013 - I don't know what my Ferritin was but I guess it was okay otherwise they would not have done surgery

• one year later - Nov 10th 2014 - Ferritin was 11 - my Centre was okay with that and I didn't know better so I didn't do anything
• one year later - Nov 9th 2015 - Ferritin was 7 - my Centre was okay with that and I had requested an Iron Infusion and was told no, just up to 2 Iron pills and come back in 6 months
• 7 months later - June 6th, 2016 - Ferritin was 4 - my Centre was fine with that and I demanded an Iron Infusion and was told no. I went to my boss who has connections it the hospital I work at and got me set up with Iron Infusions.  
• I have had 2 infusions so far, one in July 2016 and Ferrtin on Sept 15th 2016 only raised to 8.  I had a second Iron Infusion in September 2016 and ALSO starting using the PatchMD vitamin patches, one of them the Iron patch in Fall and blood work done on Nov 25th showed a Ferritin of 80!  I mean wow!  What a jump!  So that is after 2 Iron Infusions and wearing the Iron vitamin Patch.  

I am currently going through Iron Infusion #3, I go this Friday for part 2 of 3 and will get blood work done sometime in February next year and until I see triple digit numbers I will continue to get Iron Infusions and then I am hoping once I get the number up where it should be then I can maintain that number with the Iron Vitamin Patch.

Sorry for the long post but I know how incredibly bad I felt with a Ferritin of 4 and how much I needed and Iron Infusion not more Iron Pills. I really think you need Infusions once to start to drop that fast and that low, just my two cents!  Good Luck!!

I had my surgery at TWH as well and at four years out I am deficient across the board. No amount of supplementation seems to be working. I had three iron infusions two years ago and my levels didn't rise. I start my next three infusions in January after complaining to the nurse of being winded walking a flight of stairs. I have felt horrible since having surgery. If I could go back in time I would never have had this surgery. The only thing that has me feel good for a short amount of time are vitamin IV's but at $200 week I can't afford them as often as I'd like. Where did you find iron patches?  

Patricia

One of the best Inventions ever made in my opinion are the PatchMD Vitamin patches!

So here on OH you get a 30% discount on every order if you use the coupon code "obesityhelp".  Go to PatchMD.com and you will see they have a lot of products but for me I use:

• Multivitamin Patch
• Iron Patch
• B12 Patch
• VitD/Calcium Patch

I wear them all at the same time, I wear them on my belly just under my belly button below where my undies sit.  I put them on when I get out of the shower and take them off when I am getting into bed.

So for us as Canadians we have to pay in US funds and a bit more in shipping costs but it is SO WORTH IT in my opinion. I was always forgetting my calcium and I hated the multivitamin.  This is so easy, put the patches on, wear them all day and done!  No timers to set, nothing to remember.  I keep the patches in my makeup drawer so as I am pulling on my makeup everyday I put on the patches.

Those four patches, with shipping and converted to US funds works out to approx $100 CDN a month, depending on our dollar it has been less.  Some might say that is super expensive, and yes it is but my health is worth every penny.  See my other post to Hala that I was spending $60 a month on Proferrin Iron pills and that was just for Iron.  All my labs are great, minus the Iron which now that I am wearing the patches and getting Iron Infusions its getting better and better.  So far the people here on OH that have been using the PatchMD patches are having awesome lab results. I highly recommend it!  And cheaper than your $200 a week and you get all four of our required vitamins.  I love the patches!!

Best of luck!~

I just wanted to break in here and sing the praises for the iron patches. I have always had trouble with low ferritin- even before surgery. I can feel when my levels are low. I can't confirm it was low, because I didn't have blood drawn, but I can tell. Anyway, I upped my own prescription iron to no avail. I got some patches and started on those. Within a week, I was feeling MUCH better.

I love those dang patches!! 

Good luck, Melissa. Feel better soon.

I just ordered the iron patches. Do you think I should take those AND my pills, at least until my next blood work?