Please help

Been very ill feeling for a long time. Nearly 7 yrs post open.  Iron saturation is 5. A yr ago I was hospitalized because it was 11.  I was give 8 iron and 10 blood (emergency room visit).  I do not have a bypass doctor and can't find one in the cadillac, michigan area.  My family doc is a nurse practitioner.  I was eating 14 pounds of ice A DAY so I asked her to run iron levels, ferritin and a cbc.  The only thing she did was my iron.  She told me to eat foods with iron (I do...and I have malabsorption) and to take an iron supplement. I explained my horrible side effects with OTC iron and asked her to please set me up with infusions.  She did...but only 3.  I do not feel any better and am quite miserable ...opinions?

I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and fast heart rate, which I feel is all due to my iron problems....

Thank you

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic progressive condition that affects the pumping power of your heart muscles. While often referred to simply as "heart failure," CHF specifically refers to the stage in which fluid builds up around the heart and causes it to pump inefficiently.

CHF develops when your ventricles can't pump blood in sufficient volume to the body. Eventually, blood and other fluids can back up inside your:  lungs, abdomen, liver & lower body.

Heart has to work harder, that is why you have a fast heart rate.

I am hoping that your doctor is treating your CHF with medication and following you closely.

I am not sure the issues with the iron has anything to do with the CHF.

The (2) problems combined will definitely make you feel ill.

I am sorry that you are not well.  I urge you to go back and see your doctor and have them refer you to a Cardiologist who will is a specialist who will treat the CHF.  That in itself will help you feel better.

Hope this helps

Sandra 

Mahalo.  

If you are having issues with iron and ferritin you need a hematologist not a regular doctor. Iron issues can cause all sorts of cardiac issues and need to be dealt with ASAP. 

thank you.  I am not being treated.  I take 1 pill for high blood pressure but that is all.  I ended up in ICU, incubated, from asthma and that was discovered then. Heart pumping at 30%.  Guess I will call tomorrow

You definitely need to see a cardiologist.  All the best to you!

~E

Get to a hematologist ASAP!!!!  You will never get extremely low iron/ferritin numbers up by eating iron rich foods or taking oral supplements.  Some of us WLS peeps simply do not absorb iron orally.  You will likely need multiple iron infusions.  I had three iron infusions in one month. Now I go in when my ferritin gets below 50.   I'm feeling great and am now able to slow the drop in my ferritin numbers with oral supplementation, but I had to get my levels into the high range (ferritin over 300) to do it. 

Dangerously low iron can cause heart issues and even death.  This is not the time to wait for your PCP to act.  Get on the phone and make an appointment with a hematologist..... tomorrow!

Thank you. I will find a doctor tomorrow