my surgeon and low iron

Hi all, there was a post the other day about low iron, well I know my iron has been really low for a long time and I now have the blood work results to prove it. My hubby kept at me to clean the house or just get motivated and do more then just sit around or sleep too much. I had a rather large hernia repaired along with a TT back in December then in March, my gall bladder had to go, so that did not help me with my iron. I am taking iron pills 3 times a day with half a vitamin C and have been doing this amount since December. Anyway, I had my bloodwork done last week and after two days i called my surgeons office to see it the results were in, they were and i was scheduled to come back in today. Normal iron levels range between 50 and 170... mine is 27! I asked about the transfusion that was talked about but my surgeon did not want to do it that way, instead of sitting there for hours and getting one dose, he wants me to have 5 small doses taking about an hour each time, I was told I should start feeling better after just a few doses! I really hope this helps. I think anemia will always be a problem, my mom has the same problem and it may just be in the genes so I will most likely always need extra iron. My son will be home on leave before he is sent to Okinawa Japan for 2 years and I sure as heck did not want to be too tired to enjoy his visit. Plus or family vacation is coming up and having some energy would be great. thanks Donna R 177/150 ish

Hi Donna, I too have had low iron. It was first detected last year. My number was at 14!!!! I tried taking liquid iron and iron tablets but it was soon discovered that due to the surgery I do not absorb it. I now receive iron infusions. I had my first one last year which lasted about 3 hours (because I had practically no iron in me). I have since gone back twice. My irons levels are monitored about every 3-5 months. My infusions now only last about 2 hours, usually a little less. It's no problem at all. I figure, if this is the worst thing that can happen to me as a direct result of the gastric bypass then I'm well ahead of the game. Stay healthy Sue C. No. Plainfield, NJ

Hi Sue, i just had the first of 5 IV infusions today, I don't feel any difference yet but i did not expect to. what were your symptoms of low iron? except for looking pale, i think i had all the other symptoms like tired, irratable, lack of concentration. just to name a few I may end up have to do this all the time, I will just have ti wait and see what the surgeon says. Donna

Prior to diagnosis my symptoms were mainly extreme fatigue & lack of concentration. After my first infusion I didn't feel any difference until a day or two later. I definitely will have to have these infusions for the rest of my life but as I said before....it's really no big deal. Just make sure you're iron/vitamin levels are checked regularly. Now my infusions are just boosters.....when my iron drops I go in for an infusion. Good Luck.... I'll be in touch my email address is: [email protected]

my husband just thought i was being lazy and an airhead... I showed him the symptoms and he did not comment on them, so i hope he sees now why I have been such an air head and lazy... LOL thanks.

I have been receiving iron transfusions yearly for the past three years. I also get a dose weekly for 6 weeks. My hematologist said they are safer than the large transfusion. I find it usually takes about 3 weeks before I start to feel a difference. Every 12 months my levels fall quickly and I need to start the transfusions again.

I think my surgeon does not like the huge dose too, that is why i am getting 5 dose in a row. I will keep up to date on my iron and maybe even see a hematologist to boot thanks Donna

I too was diagnosed with low iron in October of last year, despite numerous iron pills a day, my levels (even though the would increase) would not reach normal. After doing some research I learned that if your B-12 is low no matter how much iron you ingest, you can only absorb so much, I also learned that it is common for post-ops to have low B-12 levels. I had min checked and sure enough it was low. I received a B-12 shot from my doc once a day for a week, then weekly for a month and now am getting them every other week, and I take oral B-12 in between shots, and since then I feel so much better and now I only take one iron pill a day (prescription strength) and am doing well. I am not sure if you have had your B-12 checked or not, but its worth a try.

hi Mary kate, i had all my blood work done at the same time, b 12 was perfect. only other thing that was low was vitamin K, but i am going to ask my surgeon about gettting B 12 injections anyway so see if they help. Thanks Donna