Low Ferritin Iron Saturation

I had hemolytic anemia since 2004. If you look it up, it's this:
6 tests are out of whack on CBC.
RBC
WBC
HGB
HCT are all low
MCV
MCH are high

Cells are born to live about 120 days and they mature in that time. Mine were only living to about 60 days, so they were "fat and fluffy" as one doc said vs firm and smaller and able to do their job,. I've had plenty of iron and ferritin since the 90's, but getting it delivered in the little "cars" was something else. To make a long story of expensive tests very short, I took what this ND said, what THAT ND said, what the vitamin books said, added in theinfo that i 2004 I started taking a mild drug for rosacea that depletes folic.

So, in the last year, I knitted all that together, added copper and more folic, and folic levels went back to normal, CBC was normal in Feb and has only one number that is ONE number off right now.

I can hardly wait to talk to my hema because I've insisted all along that if it was on my labs it could be fixed with a pill! LOL (not true always, but in this case, it was) and to think, a bottle of folic or copper is less than $5 each.

And I learn something new every day. When I increased the folic only a little, nothing changed. But I was thinking, wait, that was one of the things that denied me long term disability ins. So, hema can't fix it. Folic didn't fix it. Not stopping the sulfa drug. So, I added MORE folic and that teeny bit of copper.

So far, so good. Folic levels are back where they belong, CBC looks normal. Iron & ferritin are over there doing their own thing mighty darned well.

I have always taken B Complex since I can remember ...(not regularly but often enough) After all my research on taking iron I learned that copper and zinc can be depleted from taking iron...So I added a little bit of both. My zinc was a little low and no copper test was done...but I figured I'd add it anyway since everything else is kinda low too. I also learned that one little tiny deficiency (or near deficiency) somewhere else can throw your entire system outta whack...So I looked at the entire picture and am trying to get everything in balance at once rather than working on one thing at a time...I believe the body is like a clock and you can't get the clock running if there is a little tiny gear outta place.  That's how I approached this. Sure...I hope I got things going in the right direction...I will be shocked if nothing changed, I admit...because I do have a tiny bit of hope that I learned enough to help myself.  One week...and I will know if what I learned helped me at all...Can't say I didn't try though! 

Exactly right. I think of it as a huge brick structure, protein foundation. But if one brick starts to chip away, the whole building can shift. Pull the foundation out from under and you never know WHICH bricks will start to crumnle or at what speed.

Hi Michelle! Just a couple of quick questions. Does the iron that you sell have sorbitol or any sugar alcohol in it? And... Does ALL iron HAVE to be taken with vitamin C in order to be absorbed? Thanks so much J.S. PS -  I plan on placing an order with you after I get an answer to these questions.  I am 7 years out from proximal RNY, and had my yearly labs run last week.  The surgeon called to tell me that my ferritin is low (didn't say how low) and that all of my vitamin levels have dropped, but are still in the normal range.  I have been religious about taking my vitamins for these 7 years.  I haven't supplemented iron though, because my original surgeon said that the iron in my Centrum Chewables was enough.  I would really like to start a new vitamin/calcium regimin with your products.  Any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated.  Oh, BTW, I CANNOT consume even trace amounts of sugar alcohols.

Hi there,
I recently went top urgent care because of a fall and the Dr. told me that I needed to see my primary care physician as I was looking kinda weak and tired.  I told him that I was feeling weak, dizzy and had been very tired.  I contacted my primary physician and they ordered lab work.  I then received a frantic call requesting that I come in for an appt.  My labs were terrible.  My Iron was 1.5.  I can't remember anything else but they were freaking out.  Oral Iron is not being absorbed by my system because of the vagotomy I had to have post op and all of the revisions I had to my RNY.  I am scheduled to see a hematologist on the 30th.  I feel terrible and just want to feel better soon.  Any ideas??????
Thanks,
Char

P.S. I am 4 years post op and I am at or below my goal weight. 

Since the RNY I have been taking 30mg ferrous fumerate. Even with that iron supplementation I ended up with a ferritn level of 1.

The hematologist wanted to go the conservitive method for 2 months. He perscribed ferrous sulfate which is not well absorbed by those of us s/p RNY. After speaking with his nurse I switched to carbonyl iron and /or the ferrous fumirate 3 times a day. I alternated the 2 irons. I bought the carbonyl iron at Wamart. I did not use the tender iron although I do hear good things about it.

After 2 months my numbers improved. I was pleasantly surprised I was so sure I would need the iron infusions. My numbers are not quite normal, but enough improved that I don't have to see the hematolgist until December. He decreased my iron to 2x time a day except when I am on my period and then I take it 3x a day.

I did have my iron checked this week, but I don't know the results yet.

Belinda

i have been to the doctors many times over the past year, and have told her that i've not felt well and what was going on... for other health reasons i have to go every 3 months..  and have labs done each time..  and the anemia kept showing up, and she would just say it's nothing to be concerned with... well , she finally referred me to a hemotoligist and they started me on iv iron therapy  3 times a week for 10 sessions, and my ferritin is sitting at <1 , iron sats are at 2, and HGB is at 8... so hopefully things will finally get better for me... 

Intersting.  I just got my labs back today & my hemoglobin was 11.6 (barely normal) but my serum ferretin was 1.  the doctor made absolutely NO mention of the need for either aniron or blood transfusion--she just said to begin taking an iron supplement.  Should I be concerned about this advise?  This was a PCP *****viewed labs & made reccomendations.  Does this warrant a call to my rny surgeon? 

You need to call your surgeon.  Your ferritin needs to be at least 50 and closer to 100.  I can't believe she was not alarmed.  I would be very worried.  I think Tender Iron is the best to raise ferritin.  Good luck!

We both had surgery with Dr.Bauman. Diane wasnt concerned by my labs at all, but my PCP was. Diane thought as long as my hemoglobin was just on the side of low wasnt a biggie. My PCP thinks my Ferratin level of 6 is why Im soooo tired and that infusions may be the answer if we cant raise it in the next few months. I dont think youll get anywhere with Diane regarding what to take. As long as I was on an iron supplement she seemed non plussed.