Iron Question

I'm almost 3 years post-op and VERYcompliant, even pro-active, about getting my blood work done.  After reading Kathy's post I just realized that my PCP didn't order the Iron Panel or Ferritin as well as a few other mineral tests in my "big" lab work-up in August.  My Hemoglobin was 13.8 (low normal) and my Hematocrit was 41%  (mid normal) so I'm hoping that is an indication that my Iron & Ferritin are also OK but I'll ask the doc about it when I see him in December.   In fact, I think I'll call his office to ask that the tests that were missed in August be added to my routine lab tests scheduled for later this month.  He runs routine labs (CBC, Lipid Profile & B-12) every 4-6 months, depending on how I'm doing, but only does the full screening once a year.   I take Bariatric Advantage chewable Iron (29mg) daily and so far low Iron has only been a problem after surgeries where I developed hematomas.  So I've learned to double my Iron dosage before & after surgery to help keep the levels up.  I needed Iron transfusions (3) after my first hematoma and required 3 units of blood after my 2nd hematoma.  I've seen a hematologist & she thinks taking the BA 29mg Iron will suffice.  I hope so.  Does anyone have other suggestions? Thanks! Vickie J.

Hi Vickie I'm also a little more than 3 yrs post-op, and I too have been very compliant and was taking two Bariatric Advantage irons per day this whole time.  My doc too had not been drawing the ferritin, TIBC, et****il well spring of this year he did part, but forgot the ferritin; then August I guess it was, we finally got them all in and learned my ferritin was very low (9) , TBIC was very high (592) - but my hemoglobin and hematocrit were all within normal range (low end - but within normal).  So yes, it is very possible to have been taking iron the whole time, have normal hemoglobin and hematocrit, so technically not be anemic; but have low ferritin/high TIBC, which would make you iron deficient.  For me, my ferritin was low enough that it caused a mild heart attack which showed up in blood work with the heart attack enzyme ( troponin)  that shows heart damage!  Soooo this isn't anything to fool around with.  I got an iron infusion to bring everything up and am going today, actually, to see where my levels stand at this point.  I'm switching to Tender Iron to see if that won't work better at keeping my levels up.   Definitely call and get that ferritin, TIBC and sat % checked.  Very important!

I agree that the ferritin test is very important. My hemoglobin and hematocrit are normal but my ferritin is under 50.  I am trying to get my ferritin to 100.

Two things: we start our proxies on 150mg elemental iron (plus C)

My iron and ferritin are DYNAMIC, but my H&H areusually quite low.

The H&H refer to the health of the cell more so than the actual iron. In my case, my cells do not mature (120 days is full, min die at about 60 days), so it's called hemolytuic anemia, has nothing whatsoever to do with my WLS or iron (which took the doc a year to bang into my head--could NOT believe I couldn't fix it!).

So, it is also possible to have lousy H&H and fabulous iron and ferritin.

You need the whole package to actually SEE.