Iron question

Thanks for the hope!!! I really hate getting the infusions but I also hated what the mega doses of iron the dr. prescribed did to me.. you know...

I was anemic two months ago with "Iron Deficiency Anemia" (my B 12 was good-high) ...I researched iron supplements and decided to try a non toxic highly absorbable iron called carbonyl iron...I was given two months to try to raise my low blood counts and low iron and ferritin..My GP prescribed ferrous sulfate.  It made me ill, constipated and in pain. I refused to take it and decided to learn about iron.  The Carbonyl Iron worked like a dream!  NO side effects.  I escaped iron infusions and blood transfusions.  I felt the difference about two weeks after taking them...and I had no idea how well it actually worked.  I'm still Iron deficient, but I am no longer anemic! And my red blood cells are all back in normal ranges...except for my RDW which is still high at the moment as I heal!  I also took omega-3...excess vitamin C,  B complex and CoQ10 for cell rejuvenation.  Since high doses of iron depletes zinc...I take copper too since zinc depletes copper.....I truly believe the key is to find the right balance and keep all vitamin levels in their good levels or you defeat any signs of healing.  I could be wrong...I'm not a doctor...but it worked for me and the odds were not good as you know... Get all your vitamin levels checked and keep a graph of their levels...Watch what makes things better or worse.  I have never allowed anyone to label or completely catagorize me in any way. I am unique and I am individual. I take what I know about myself and my surgery and habits and I figured out what I needed from a complete blood work up....My doc didn't take time to do this for me.  She still hasn't even let me know that I am not anemic and the test results came in two weeks ago.  Nice!  She has not told me I am magnesium deficient or that my PTH was high...The test results came back  2 1/2 months ago.  I went and had the results printed for myself.   I'm not waiting for my doc to help me. I'm helping myself.  I would probably be having iron infusions today if I had taken the Ferrous sulfate my doc prescribed and not started working on my magnesium deficiency too.  I use "Tender Iron" by Vitalady (Vitalady.com)...It's chewable, non toxic in high doses, tastes good, has little to no side effects (i had none), is absorbable for WLS people and it saved me!  I take 325 mg daily with vitamin C (ascorbic acid)  Bariatric Advantage has recently switched to a carbonyl iron too! I have not tried it.  I just noticed the formula change recently.  Good luck Sorry for the edit...I always mix up what mineral depletes the other...It is zinc that depletes copper...I had to fix that! 

Thanks for all the info... I will be ordering some asap! I couldn't stand all the side effects from the type that the docs had me on for 2 yrs that caused me all kinds of problems... Just had my labs come back yesterday and I have an iron count of 58 which is awesome for me it has been yrs since I have even come close to the low end of normal... What should I be shooting for? I am going to try this iron you mention and see if it will work for me, I can't imagine not having infusions...it would be awesome!!!

it takes awhile to find the right combo of iron to start bringing your levels up and holding steady.

my friend started with bottom end of iron and nearly invisible ferritin. Her CBC was ok. she was on injections for a years weekly, then every other week, then 3 weeks, then 4, then last was in 2006 now. Altho the docs said she could't absorb oral iron, it was just THAT iron she couldn't absorb. She takes a combo of two.

So, her ferritin of 9 went as high as 437 before she had to trim it back a bit. Iron holds about 90 now. CBC is still good.

So, it CAN be done, but you have to be diligent about trying different products and the right dose.

iron is never ferrous sulfate (and I'm not crazy about any ferrous forms), always taken with vit C (and now I'm thinking copper, too), alone together for an hour. I take mine with a few bites of fruit or veggie.

Not with caffeine, dairly, egg or whole grains, or any other vites, mnerals or meds.

Thanks for the advise it has been quite awhile since I have taken it orally and I didn't know about some of the things that you shouldn't take it with... appreciate the info.

I wanted to ask your advice on this one... my iron is 58, transferrin 256, tibc 324, %saturation 18. Copper 86... I ordered the tender iron and vitamin C... what might be a good place to start with dosage? I realize I will need to see what actually works for my body but I really don't know where to begin. Thanks