Ferritin woes

I posted approx 3 months ago about how I was concerned with my ferritin. I requested bloodwork to be rechecked last week. At my one year labs, my ferrtin was at 14. I started taking 3 proferrin religiously every day. I just had labs done and it dropped to a 13. I am not having any symptoms and I feel good.

Ferritin- 13.02 range (13-150)

Iron -91.75 (37-160)

TIBC- 510 (245-400) why is this elevated??

% saturation 18 (20-55)

Transferrin 364 (192-382)

Hemoglobin 12.7 (12.0-16.0)

RDW 15.6 (10.5-15)

My PCP ordered the labs. She just wrote in her notes to supplement with iron and to consult my bariatric surgeon. I feel like I am being passed around. How much proferrin can I safely take?? I have emailed my surgeons nurse.

Any and all suggestions and insight is greatly appreciated.

Unfortunately oral iron isn't always absorbed enough to support your body's iron supplies. You may want to try iron patches, but really you need an iron infusion if your ferretin is that low. It really isn't unusual for this to happen post-RNY so it's not anything that you are doing wrong. You may need to see a hematologist to get the infusion.

Edited to add: I have struggled with anemia all my life (pre-RNY) and had to have iron infusions several times. The hematologist said that my duodenum just didn't absorb the iron in my diet and supplements correctly and now I don't have one. I am watching my ferretin like a hawk and anticipate that in another year or so I'll need more infusions.

Do you break your proferrin in half before taking them? The coating can make it hard for our body to use the iron.

I don't break them in half. I'm going to start. Thank you for the suggestion.

I read that tip here on OH.

Are you taking your Proferrin 2-4 hours before/after taking calcium (either in a multivitamin or separately) or other meds like thyroid or antacids? They can impair absorption of iron, as can eggs, polyphenols (e.g. coffee, cocoa, tea), and phytate compounds.

I actually take it right before bed. Not anywhere close to any of my other meds.

My Ferritin dropped to 10 and I was suffering with severe restless legs (and exhaustion from not sleeping.)

My nutritionist told me to always take Vitamin C with my iron to help absorb it better. I haven't retested yet but I am finally sleeping so it has really helped me.

Maddy, If you are not having symptoms... you should be able to take and have time for oral iron to work. The big thing is it MUST have an intrinsic factor in this.

I know, I have had this problem , was found in 2001. My iron was so low they gave me two units of blood, was in medical crisis with twisted gut as well... This is when i found out how severe my anemia had become. Regular iron only cramps me, i was not absorbing any of it. Hgb was so low Dr would not tell me how low until I had recieved 2 units of PRBC's. Then he told me it was up to 9.2... never told me ferritin levels. I manage mine with out medical interventions, do not suggest you do that if you have insurance. All of my medical is self pay... so I don't go to the Dr unless critical. You now have baseline labs and are not in crisis. I would contact the Dr who told me to take iron and request a Rx for the one i have posted about just below... I would ask for script for 2 a day and start with one to make sure stomach tolerates.. and increase it to 2 a day every other day, and if tolerated go to 2 day... to build iron stores quickly.

There is one easy to swallow prescription capsule available, also in a generic.. name is FOLTRIN. It has everything in it that is required to absorb iron. There are some others but some of those also contain calcium which blocks iron abosrbtion.... DR first started me on 2 a day... one q 12 hours. I used them successfully for several years. Now it is too strong for my stomach to tolerate and i use a liver extract capsule....as below.

There is also a natural alternative . It is available from Carlson labs, There is a beef calf liver extract, grass fed, organic...180 capsules, about 70-80$. Directions call for 6 caps. a day. I take 2 a day. and eat a high iron meal with it... some kind of cooked greens and eggs 2 oz serving total...or a few raisins or 2 prunes. the powdered liver exract has everything neeeded in it to allow your body to be able to absorb the iron in it and in the food consumed with it.

There is also a Buffalo calf liver extract.. it works the same way and same dose and amount per bottle. I have used both. Am now using a home made one from home raised pastured pork livers. it works as well.

The important thing is do NOT let this slide,.. while you wait on someone to respond. ... decide how you will approach and get your iron source in every day.

It does take time to build iron with diet and suppleents but these have worked well for me.

Once I ate liver in one-2 oz portions 2 times every day except sunday..( I made a liver patty). for 6 weeks. it raised my Hgb by .8.. when one is at the cusp of being anemic and poor energy- this was enough to make me feel better. However i do not like liver that well and since it is so hard for me to eat it now.. once a week is sufficient...Capsules are just easier to get in me consistently.