anemia and lo b12

I know i havent been posting.... nor reading the boards but i guess I havent been feeling well  for some time. FINALLY, overdue i had some blood work  done and i am very lo b12 and anermic.  SO i had a b12 shot will have another in one month and i was told to take an iron supplement.  U think this will help? any experience and knowledge from others will be welcomed. I been very LO energy,  moody and down and i just thought it was busy life,  work and having a bout with shingles this summer... so i neglected the signs. 

Yup, b12 shots are a quick way to raise your levels. Do you still take the sublinguals? It sure wouldn't hurt, since its watersoulable and you pee out any extra.  Anemic? Well, that depends on what levels were off and by how much. If it was just your hemoglobin then yes, start taking an iron supplement (caution: my cause constipation). If you ferritin was bottomed out as well, then you may have a mal absorbtion issue in there. A lot of post ops have to get iron infusions (me included) because we don't absorb iron from our supplements or food.   Check your labs (you do keep a copy don't you??) and talk with your doctor.  This will definately cause low energy!!! Its actaully a double whammy of low energy!! Get on some iron right away!!  HUGS

I've been FAITHFUL to my vitamins since my surgery, including B12 and iron.  I recently found out I was anemic too (my B12 was fine).  I had to up my iron to 2 tablets per day.  (I also had the Novasure procedure to stop / slow down my periods.)

In conjunction, I found out I had a thyroid problem and am now taking meds for that.  All in all, I am slowly feeling better!

Do you follow a regularl vitamin schedule?  My doctor told me I'd need to for the rest of my life!

Best of luck to you!

Laina

Well i wasnt prepared i guess to hear i was deficient and know what to ask.  OF course thats why i came here cause everyone will help me and know  what to ask.  MY hubby is seeing our PCP  monday will get a copy of my blood work  up for me to go over! thanks everyone 

Lisa, I would ask for all your lab results including the results from before your surgery.  I have an excel file with all my results since 5/04.  It helps to see if your levels are going down, not just staying in normal ranges. I try to keep my B-12 level above 1000.  Also the ferritin level is very important as it is your iron stores.  I am trying to get my ferritin above 50 and closer to 100.  I read somewhere that ferrous sulfate can irritate the pouch so I don't take that.  I take Tender Iron from vitalady.com.  It is meant to be swallowed but I chew them and they taste good.  Good luck!

They gave you "a shot"? And you are not being tested in a week to see where it took you? I'm thinking I am way more demanding than most ppl, huh? Pernicious (B1) amenia cripples, so hopefully, you will follow avidly. I do a weekly shot and still can't reach levels of 1000!

I'm thinking you may have been taking not the right iron for you or not enough of it or not taking it properly, so moving to the right dose and type might help. Here's the iron rules:
1. iron always with vit C (cheap kind, not ester) alone together for at least one hour (ok with fruit or veggie)
2. iron is never taken with caffeine, dairy, egg or whole grain
3. never with any other vites, minerals or meds
4. remember, alone together for at least an hour (the rule for normies is 2 hrs)

Personally, I take no pills on empty (except Actonel--another subject), so always have something in my pouch before adding pills. Iron prefers an acidic environment, which we do not have, so a couple apple slices, even a bite or 3 of carrot or something will create a little lining for your pouch and generate a speck of acid. If it bothers your tummy, try a saltine. not my first choice, but better than taking no iron.

OMG vitalady thanks! i guess i take my multi w/ iron  at the wrong time of day! thanks so much! love ya

OK, I know docs tell us to take "multi with iron" and think that covers it. Grab your bottle. How many mg iron? OK, got vit C in there, check? Now check the iron rules again and see if there is anything ELSE in there, like calcium or any other vites or minerals. Check?

So, one wonders why put iron in there at all, except to sell them? I dunno., Mine have iron, too. But it's just invisible to me. I take 300mg (elemental) per day and that holds fabulous iron levels for me. Not "ok" or "fine", but fabulous by MY picky standards.

So, basically, you've not had any iron all this time?

Lynn i am getting a copy of my work up this afternoon.  THANKS! i will also compare it to the other times i had my blood work done! hugs

I probably have not been getting the iron from my chewable centrum  for 2.5 years now. eeeks Well i will take the iron now but my ferritan level was lo at a 5? so i guess i havent been absorbing it.  I sure hope all this is why i am zero with energy, completely anti social  for months now , tired all the time and soooooooooooo MOODY! i just want to feel better.