Sleeve Vets- What did you do if you had low hemoglobin?

Hey All,

Did my yearly bloodwork, vitamin levels look great, all within normal limits including D, B12, and Iron and my healthy LDL was through the roof at 72, woo hoo..but

I have been feeling tired lately in the last 2-3 weeks and got the results that my hemoglobin was a bit lower than normal. I think this is considered anemia. I am going to call my bariatric doc and GP tomorrow but in the meantime I was curious, did any of you have low hemoglobin, and what did you do to raise it and shake the tiredness??

xo
Sass

I'll be interested to see the responses on this as I'm so tired all the time myself. I do hope you get to feeling better!

Hey, just wanted to give you a heads up, if you are tired have your GP check your blood/vitamin levels, I was low Potassium about 6 week out to about 4 months and this made me always tired. Low Potassium has to be addressed cause it can cause heart arrythmia. Some people are low iron which has the same result of a tired feeling.

Everything vitamin wise is normal now because I eat enough to maintain, but early out its hard

 Hey Sass,

Thank you so much for that information. I will schedule an appt with my GP ASAP. I do have some potassium supplements at home and will give those a try in the meantime. Just curious, did you take them in the morning or night? Wondering if I take them at night if they will keep me awake?

Hey, have a great trip to the Caribbean, how amazing. Can you imagine all the wonderful things you will do on this trip now post VSG vs. before VSG? Not to mention, you'll be catching the eye of many with your new hot body and that olive Italian skin. Have so much fun!

I am an MLT and also a sufferer of Anemia (have been since I was a teen) A normal HGB is between 12-16...you are not even considered transfusion stage until you are at 8 or below. After I had my daughter I dropped to 6.5 and was hospitalized a week. No tranfusion. As you eat and drink your body rebuilds. After my sleeve my HGB dropped to 7.7...again no transfusion...I was given iron and other vitamins thro my IV. Normally when you are anemic your RBC and HCT stays lower...they should check your Iron, TIBC, Ferritin, Folate, and B12. Also they should do a Transferrin. Your Iron can be normal and you still be anemic. My Iron stays kind of low but not as low as my TIBC and Ferritin. Aot of women have low HGB levels during and after menstration also. Hope I don't sound like a know it all. I've been working with blood, urine, poop, and other wonderful things (lol) since 2003. Hope this helps you out!

Thank you for the thorough , informed response! I will discuss it with them tomorrow and see. Its not crazy low or anything, its 11.2 and I think I had my period at the time but still worried cause im tired in the last few weeks. Just trying to get as healthy as possible for my move to the Caribbean in 3 weeks.

Thanks again!

Well your still in the normal...that's not enough to make you tired like that..did they check your potassium? Or your thyroid? it can make you tired also. Also if your not getting enough protein or fluid intake it can make you weak and tired.

I have regular (though temporary) bouts with anemia during my cycle. I am sensitive to small dips in my iron levels and I actually crave steak during that time. I have my husband trained now so he actually picks some up at the store whenever I start to get grouchy. : )

My OB-Gyn told me years ago to pull down my lower eyelid and see if there it a color change from dark pink to light pink. He said it is the way doctors used to check for iron deficiency years and years ago. Not sure how helpful that is, but it is more interesting than anything else.

I only eat tenderloin (filet mignon) as it is extremely lean and extremely tender. Since I can't eat much, it is worth it to me to spend more for a good cut of meat. My DH grills several filets at once and I keep it in the fridge. I cut up about two ounces at a time, pop it in a zip-loc and take it to work. By lunch time, it is room temperature and perfect to eat. My office mate thinks it is the grossest thing ever, but it works for me. I actually feel better after I eat it.

Liver is great for iron as well, but I can't stand it. Also, using a cast iron skillet transfers trace amounts of iron into all foods that are cooked in it.

I try to avoid iron pills whenever possible. They upset my entire system. Good luck. Upping your iron levels will make you feel better. Spinach and edamame (SP?) are good choices as well. Duck, oysters, and poultry also have a decent amount. The highest amounts are usually found in iron-fortified cereals, but that doesn't help much when you are sleeved and trying to avoid carbs.

I have been anemic since I was a child and was always given Iron for my low hemoglobin. As an adult, my hemoglobin has ran mostly between 11 and 12 so just slightly low and was never on an Iron supplement except during my pregnancy with my daughter. I always took a complete vitamin with Iron though.
Since surgery I have taken (2) Centrum Complete (with Iron) chewables a day with no extra Iron supplements and my Iron and hemoglobin are fine (just barely but still within the normal range). My surgeon requires 2 vitamins a day plus B-12 and calcium with vitamin D. If your vitamin doesn't contain the RA of Iron, then he requires an additional Iron supplement everyday for all his VSG female patients.

Sherri

Just went thru this over the last month, I have been borderline anemic for a few years.  (low iron)   I had my labs done, like you and talked to three of my doctors; the surgeon told me it was not from the low carbs I am getting, he told me to triple my B12 and drink more water, I was drinking 80 to 100 so I am trying for 100 every day.  Another doctor sent me home with a one touch sugar level *****er...I am in spec all times of day over two weeks, I'm done *****ing.  The 3rd said I am not worried about your iron levels, even though they are very low, but if you want you can take over the counter Iron supplements, so I bought BA 60 mlg chewable lime Iron (tastes great too).  They all looked at all my labs and said, on balance everything looks good.

So after consulting with the lab coats; I upped my carbs from 15-20 per day to closer to 40 a day and I tripled my B12 and I am taking that 60 mlg chewable Bariatric Advantage Iron AND I started drinking coffee again (one cup) and I have to say whatever it was, I am feeling back to normal again....  (shotgun approach)