Thank goodness insurance covered mine. I have no idea what the cost would have been.

Since you exclusively eat red meat, I doubt you will ever get to be one of the cool kids. I think you are better off though, so don't go changing to try to fit in.

So I wanted to post the results of my iron infusion I opted for the all day version of the infusion vs. several visits over several weeks. I had 1,000 mg of iron dextran and it took about 6-1/2 hours. The doctor wanted to give me 1,200, but the hospital policy limited it to 1,000. I ended up working from home the next day, but not because I felt bad from the infusion. There were delays in the procedure and I didn't end up getting home until 1 am. If I hadn't been so desperate to feel better, I would have left and done it another time, but I wasn't leaving until it was done. No side effects, no complications. I had labs done 2 weeks later and my results were great. The doctor is very pleased with them and I feel a gazillion times better (took a week or so to really feel like I was back to "normal"). My Ferritin was 3, Iron was 11 and Hemoglobin was 8.0.Ferritin is now 239 (actually a tad high), Iron is 57, and Hemoglobin is 10.4. I have a standing order with the lab now to get everything checked every 2 months and will get another infusion when the numbers decline or I start to feel how I did before. If you are struggling with low levels and low energy, push the doctor to get an infusion sooner rather than later.

Thanks. We were trying most of everything on your list already. Taking it 2-3 times a day. I had not heard about the tea thing, but I typically was taking it with water. I get new labs run next Thursday, so I am anxious to see what they show. I am considering trying the iron patch instead of the pills because they do tear up my stomach. I will see the doctor in 2 weeks and ask her about that. They also had me trying Vitron C for my iron which combines Vitamin C with the iron (65 mg). They also suggested taking Emergen-C at the same time (to add the Vitamin C). I am definitely feeling better since the infusion.

You have to aggressively push the issue. I have been dealing with plummeting numbers for months now. Bariatric surgeon kept wanting me to try different things, like different iron tablets, patches, etc. When the levels didn't improve (and instead went down again), I made an appointment with my primary care and we discussed things that had been done thus far. He wanted to rule out other issues like ulcers, review prior colonoscopy results, etc. He then referred me to a hematologist. She too took a conservative approach as she had a patient recently have a bad reaction to the infusion and she felt she needed to exhaust other options and she put me on more oral iron (different kind, strength). She gave me lab slips for one that day to get a baseline, and one 4 weeks out, and another one 8 weeks out.

After I got the baseline results, I immediately called her and told her I did not want to wait any longer as the levels had gone down again. I am typing this from the hospital while I am getting a mega dose of iron. It takes 6 hours to get the whole dose in. It's been a long day with issues on the dosing amount (got here at 9 am, it is now 8 pm-but I am supposed to be done at 11 pm and am getting out tonight). There was an option to go multiple times over multiple weeks or months, but I was done with dragging this out. So, make the appointment. Be insistent.

They had never measured my ferritin before this last time (just iron and hemoglobin-among other things). My ferritin is 3, so I would start the process now so you don't end up like me.

My hemoglobin was 13.7 in January 2015, 12.9 December 2015, 10.5 December 2016, 9.4 March, April, May 2017, 9.1 June 19th, 8.0 July 17th.

Iron was 63 May 2016, 22 April 2017, 16 in May and June, 11 on July 17th. Ferritin of 3 on July 17th. I had my RNY May 2015.

Even with all of these results, I would still have had the surgery. Definitely the risks of not having it far outweighed this issue that I am now working to resolve.

I agree with the other posts, Urgent Care won't likely solve the issue. Be insistent with your PCP. Good luck.

I had posted about this topic recently and people replied and gave me good information. i have been my own advocate and after getting the last "baseline" labs that the hematologist sent me for (prior to adding additional oral iron), the numbers had continued to decline. I received the results while out of the country, and on my first day home I called the doctor and told her that I did not think I should wait until the next labs came back before proceeding. She immediately submitted the request to insurance last week Tuesday. The insurance has approved it; now I am waiting for the hospital to have a bed for me. I opted for the overnight stay to get it all done in one shot vs. multiple visits. They approved Iron Dextran. I know there are other options out there, but this was the doctor's recommendation and what insurance approved. Does anyone have any experience with this? Is there anything I need to know prior to the infusion? What can I expect? What should I be doing on my own to help with the process? I know they give me a small dose with an antihistamine to see if I have a reaction, then they administer the full dose. What else should I be asking the doctor? Many people recommended that they test my ferritin levels. Not sure why that wasn't done in the many tests up until recently, but I just had it done and my Ferritin is a 3. Not sure what it was before, but it is definitely in the tank now. My other levels are Hemoglobin 8 and Iron of 11. The hemoglobin and iron have gone down to these levels even since my test one month before.

How long after the infusion will I start to feel more energy? I have definitely hit the wall and am anxious to get the infusion. I am a high energy person, so this is really bothering me to not be able to do all the things I want to do. Thanks for any tips and advice.

Thanks for the info. I had seen a previous post you had made about injectafer, so I will mention it to the doctor. I know he won't do any of this himself, but will refer me. I had asked about infusions before, so I'm definitely ready for them. I just need to get a doctor to do it if they think it is the right thing. I will ask about testing ferratin. It is odd that my bariatric surgeon has never run that test, although they take about a dozen vials when I go in for labs. I do eat shrimp just about every day, and of course chicken, steak, and green leafy vegies. Since I'm using the patch now, I'm not sure what to do about adding vitamin C to help with them.

Thanks again.

I liked it alot. My husband, daughter, and her boyfriend went and all liked it too I thought the effects were great..I have seen the musical three times in the last 20 years. Two at the big LA theatres, one local. I love the story every time. And I love Lumiere.

Wanted to add that one day you can have crackers again. Today (at nearly 2 years out), I had 4 crackers with a Laughing Cow cheese wedge as a snack in the afternoon.

That is great news about your Mom and hubby. So happy for you and your family.

I know it is super late, but had to say I have purchased my tickets at the fancy reclining seat theater to see Beauty and the Beast next weekend. I tried to get opening weekend tickets (a few weeks ago) and they were already sold out. I love all Disney movies. My kids loved Lion King, so I guess that was one of my favorites too.

If I recall correctly, I was on liquids for a week (but didn't do protein drinks for quite a while). Then I had soft foods for a week or so, whi*****luded refried beans with cheese, eggs, mashed potatoes with cheese (this was only during this time-potatoes were off limits for quite some time after that), greek yogurt. I was able to eat cheese and deli lunch meat, soft fish and scallops by the 4th week. Follow your surgeon's plan and listen to your body. I was also able to eat beef jerky during week 3, but had to chew it to smithereens. It really helped with protein because I eat it throughout the day in little bits and pieces.