Anyone else anemic?

I have been feeling terribly fatigued for a while, having to sit down and rest after the slightest exertion ... like combing my hair!  Then I began to have almost-fainting spells.  The doctor did bloodwork and found that I am severely anemic.  I eat plenty of iron-rich foods and take a multi-vitamin with iron, but the numbers continue to plummet.  Anyone else have problems with this?  Any suggestions?  (I'm continuing with medical tests.)  Thanks, y'all.  
--Dorothy

How is your B12?

Are you just anemic with your hemoglobin and hematocrit? or both of those and your ferritin?

You know your multivite probably also has calcium. Calcium and iron fight for the same receptors, so neither should be counted in a multivite that contains both.

Calcium should be taken away from (2 hours at least) iron, coffee, teas.

Iron should be taken away (at lesat 2 hours) from dairy, calcium, coffee, teas, whole grains, nuts, eggs. (and umm.. maybe something else, but my mental hamster is napping now).

Riddle me those things joker!

My ferritin was horrible at 1 year labs.  I take Hemaplex (got at Vitamin Shoppe) and while I am in the normie range of normal now, its still just a few points above low normal and not even near where Vitalady suggests our "ought to be" levels. 

I assume (you know..  assUme) that iron rich foods eaten with the same things that the iron supplements are not to be taken are also not absorbed well, since they all fight for the same receptors. 

BOo, sorry you feel so puny, ladyfriend.

I can't remember about the ferritin ... and Doc #2 took my bloodwork report, grumble. 

Thanks for the guidelines for iron-taking.  Natcherly, I didn't know any of that stuff, heh heh.  I'll amend my bad habits!

Thanks, BL, me friend :-)
--Dorothy

Dont make  me truck over to your side of town and strong arm your doctors, cuz I will doo it!!

Please ask them to send you copies of your labs and be pushy about it, and then track them.  My docs can say "within normal limits!!" but they dont have a clue what my last tests were (and that I am trending down, and that aint normal!) and so, I just cant place my trust in their word.

I only knew about those guidelines because my ferritin was so pooopy the first time and got larned up quick!!

And dont let them tell you 'ITS NORMAL" boss them that you want a copy of your labs!!  *hairy eyeball to them*

Muwah!  you are welcome!

Also, if you can take your calcium in a vitamin C rich environment, it helps better absorption too!  (she learned after her 2 year labs didnt show that much more improvement after supplementing for a year).

And adding this, if your hemoglobin is the issue BUT NOT YOUR FERRITIN, then the Hemaplex will rock it. 

If its BOTH, then the Hemaplex will not address the ferritin issue as aggressively as it ought to be.

thanks for all the good info, Brandi - I have to say, I don't understand all this. but I know I can come to OH and talk to folks who do!  hurray!

Amen about hooray for folks who know and will share!! 

I have always been borderline anemic and this surgery hasn't helped with that! I find that the heme iron is the most easily absorbed (I take Proferrin) and also is easy on my stomach, and non-constipating. I have taken some guidance from Andrea at www.wlsvitagarten.com, but it does seem to have worked for me so far.

Good luck - it can be a pain in the butt trying to get those numbers up. You may want to consider an infusion in the short term, just to get things closer to normal.

I have never been anemic but my older brother, who is getting sleeved friday, is borderline. So I will report anything that his surgeon recommends and will be interested to see what else is posted on this. Hope you can get some relief as I understand it can really mess you up and it can also make you feel hungry a lot.  My sister in law has this problem and she says she has dreams of eating meat.   Diane

I became anemic right after my VSG. Started taking Iron suppliments. Did another blood test three months latter. Still low iron. My Dr. said to take it with Vitamin C as it helps with the absorbtion. My blood work shows that my iron is within normal range but at the low end of normal.

Going to have another blood test next month.

I can tell when my iron is low. I get cold. Sometimes I will shiver.

Only problem with Iron suppliments is it constipates the hell out of me.