8 years Out

Ok, I am 8 years out as of this past September. All has gone exceptionally well, I had an extended anchor cut TT last August, and have been thrilled with the result.

My issue is that in the past year or two, my labs have been consistantly showing absorbtion problems. I am severly anemic at 4 (saturation should be 15-55), my hemoglobin is at 8 (should be 12.1-15.0), my b12 is 151 (should be 271-870). My doctor has written an rx for iron supplements, which make me super sick and I get weekly b12 injections at work (I work in a Dr office).

Let me tell you People... Anemia is not fun. I can't tell you the effects that it has on your body. I feel light headed and dizzy, cold, no energy, winded easily, heart palpitations, night sweats, inability to concentrate...generally logey. I thought I may have a thyroid condition, but I found out that these symptoms are also caused by Anemia/low iron.

This has not been any kind of issue until now. My labs have always been good, nothing in my eating patterns/habits have changed. Also, I have slowly been picking up weight. Since my TT, I've gained 10-12 pounds. NOTHING takes it off. I think I've gained back 25 pounds in the last 2 years. Seriously, NOTHING in my habits have changed.

I'm wondering if there's anyone else out there who's as far out as I am experiencing these same things. My Docs think that the further out we get, the more of these issues will crop up. My WLS surgeon is no longer practicing in my state, so no help there...

Any thoughts?

Talk to your dr. about iron infusions. I've been getting them and it is a quicker way to get your iron level back up. Of course mine doesn't stay up and this has been a struggle since this was discovered about a year ago. I've exp. the same trying symptoms of lethargy, weakness, coldness and I also have been diagnosed with hypothyroid since the surgery 3 years ago so  it has been a real struggle.

I have trouble getting someone to follow my labs like they need to be followed. My obgyn said let your surgeon do it, surgeon doesn't have time says let your reg. dr. do it, reg. dr. has no exp. with WLS and is c lueless. I found a sympathetic NP who is willing to order what I ask her to order as far as labs and then I have to analyze them myself with vitalady help and detrmine my own plan of action. This is rediculous but the only way I can keep an eye on my levels. 

Hope this helps. 

I do the same as Torrie, take my list of labs I want done to my PCP, then check with Michelle (Vitalady) as to her recommendations of what I should take.

You might want to try Vitalady Tendor Iron.  That formula has helped many others on this board who are anemic.

Michele

Hi... Here's a re-post of info that might be helpful if you are looking for a physician, who specializes in Nutrition.  I believe that that Endocrinologists are a similar option, but check with your insurance coverage to be certain.  Hope that you both feel better soon! 
Ro


The best way to locate a Metabolic Physician in your area is to contact the ABPNS.

American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists

Here's the link that lists Metabolic Physicians!

http://main.uab.edu/ipnec/show.asp?durki=47279

   Ro

My ferritin was 5 .....6 months ago....My HGB was 11 (So yours is far worse)  I had high platelets  and so many deformed kinds of blood cells and several other low blood counts and my iron saturation was 4.5....
I HAD iron deficiency anemia...My B-12 was FINE at 1127...In six month though it plummetted to 700's...So I'm watching that closely!

I did a ton of research on Iron because my doc also gave me iron that gave me horrible side effects (ferrous sulfate-iron salts)....I was given two months to try to raise my levels before she requested blood transfusions and/or iron infusions.  Long story short....I found the best results seemed to be with a non-toxic iron that had no side effects, or yucky bloody taste and can be taken in high doses. Even safe for kids, but is highly aborbed because unlike Iron salts it doesn't need stomach acid and our by passed small intestines to work (reason Iron salts don't work)... Try  carbonyl iron....or "Tender Iron"...I get the only chewable one I can find thru Vitadlady.com...They taste sweet like honey...I chew them up with some Vit C as ascobic acid and I take a 2 mg copper cap (copper help iron absorb)....I was taking 13 tablets of Tender Iron (each having 25 mg...for a total of 325 mg)  along with Ester C at night.  I was also taking another form of chewable iron as amino acid chelate (108 mg)   I probably didn't need both iron...but it got me absorbing in two months!

I did this for two months and had labs redone....all my low blood counts raised into normal ranges and my blood platelets went to normal too!  My Feritin climbed to 16 as did my iron saturation to 16.5
I continued the routine for another month and stopped the Iron as amino acid chelate...but continued all else the same.  6 months after the initial readings...My Ferritin is 44....My HGB is 14....Iron saturation is high at 50.4!  So I cut back now to 10 a day rather than 13 try to get my ferritin a bit higher and maintain my levels.  (Also my actual Iron was too high!) 

I began feeling better after two weeks on Tender Iron...Recently I thought I was regressing backwards...and since found out I have hypothyroidism back after 4 years of normals and no meds!  OH WELL!  So just as I was begininng to feel great again...I feel like nothing changed! Can't seem to win over the sleepies!  I will be sooooo glad to have BOTH these problems fixed! 

You're right ...it sucks!  Get on some tender iron...It REALLY made a difference!

Good luck and I hope you find relief soon!  I don't see my doc for my thyroid meds for another 2 weeks....Appts take FOREVER here ...just to get a prescription...So I won't see relief for a good month once I start my meds! Oh well....

I am 6 years out and I am having exactly the same problem as you.  My stats are similar to
yours.  Just completed colonoscopy (clear) going for endoscopy on Thursday.  You are right, anemia is NO fun.  If the endoscopy is clear, I am told the next visit will the the gyno.  I have gained about 15lbs and I attribute that to not much activity.  I hope you find an answer to help you.  I am beginning my search..Let me know how you are doing.