Low Iron

I'm coming up on 3 years po and this last set of labs showed my iron to be low. Going to my pc tomorrow to discuss this. In the mean time I've started taking iron supplements. Which cause another problem....constipation (ick) I saw on the other board how this seems to be a problem with older po's. How do you take care of this and is this one of the side effects? I am really hoping that since I was like 3 weeks post op from plastics that it caused my iron to be low (I had alot of drainage and bleeding)

Suz, I was in the middle of posting a similar question At the same time. Hopefully we'll get some answers. As for the constipation? "Ounce of prevention is worth a pound....." Had a problem early out but Increased my fiber and have not had any problems In over 1 ½ years. I'm interested to see if this in fact A problem with older Post-Ops. Let us know what info you get from your Doc. Best Wishes- Dx

What kind of iron are you taking. I hope it is not ferrous sulfate. While we do absorb some of it, it is not the best iron for us to take. Also, remember that you may have to educate your PCP as to what we can absorb and not absorb. I see a lot of pcps on here prescribing things for people that are useless.

My iron started dipping around 6 months post, nowhere near too low, but a bad trend that we decided to head off. I don't think I eat a lot of Iron bearing foods, not nearly as much as I did pre-op. Perhaps if I ate more, and ran less, I wouldn't need to suppliment. I do Slow-FE and it seems to keep my Iron in the desirable range. It doesn't seem to have the negative effect(s) other Iron suppliments have for me. The negative effects I speak of were constipation, and occassional cramping though I am not 100% sure this is related to Iron, though it started after I took the normal Iron, and ended when I stopped. As a note, I am very proximal RNY, so my malabsorbtion is likely at the minimal end of the spectrum. Tek

I got a low iron reading at about one year out. Hadn't needed a supplement until that time (post menopausal). Started taking a supplement, small dosage. It had the desired effect- good levels, and bad effect- constipation. Three prunes a day makes me a happy gal!

Carbonyl iron works for me without the side effect of constipation. Deb

I will soon be 3 years post op and my last blood work shows I am anemic. My pcp said to get Ferrous Sulfate. I had to start with that because of the insurance company. What can I say - constipation! I threw those babies away. I am picking up a prescription for Nu-Iron after work. Has anyone taken it?

Hey Suz, I developed anemia after my first round of reconstructive surgery 3 years ago, and it went down hill after, resulting in severe anemia after round two, a year ago. I did infusions, pills, everything, nothing helped. My last ventue was with something Tooter recommended on the boards one day, called Solgars Gentle Iron. I take this, and in combination (due to the severe constipation I suffer with iron supplements) I take Zelnorm (perscription) at night, Benefiber in the morning and 100 mg tablet of Chlorophyll during the afternoon. Keeps me regular, as long as I don't take iron more than 3-4 times a week. My last labs came back with normal iron levels, saturation and serum. Hope this helps Wendy