Question:
Do i need to take iron after surgery?

I will be taking a chewable vitamin after surgery with iron in it should I still take more iron?I hear that if you still have your periods than you should take it?Can I get liquid or are the pills small enough to swallow?    — natalie J. (posted on September 28, 2003)

September 28, 2003
This various from surgeon to surgeon and person to person. My surgeon chooses to watch our labs and add in extra iron if we need it. The drawback is it can cause constipation problems, so he feels unless the labs say we need it he doesn't want to add any problems. I take 1 chewable multi-vitamin twice a day. I have never had a tendency towards anemia, so that would factor in too. I'd let your surgeon decide this one.
   — zoedogcbr

September 28, 2003
I didn't and ended up anemic at my 3 month labs. Get your blood checked--finger stuck and check the hemocrite level. It will give you a heads up! But don't self-medicate with iron, it will make you sick if your iron is already okay.
   — who A.

September 28, 2003
Like the previous posters, the only iron I take is what's in my two chewable multivitamins. I still have my periods, and my blood levels have been fine. Some people do need to take extra iron, but you should follow your doc's advice. I would not take it upon myself to supplement iron (or anything for that matter) unless the lab results indicated you need more.
   — Vespa R.

September 28, 2003
To answer your questin directly, yes. If the food does not pass thru the stomach or first lil bit of intestine, you will eventually add iron. You can add just a little at first to slow the descent, and yes, there are small iron pills that are well absorbed & gentle. They are NOT ferrous sulfate. Your gender or age doesn't matter. Your need for iron is related to your inability to absorb it fro food in adequate quantities. For some, it drops like a stone, THUD. For others, it floats gently down, like a feather. That's why I suggest you keep copies of your labs, pre-op til forever and compare your levels to see where you're going and how fast.
   — vitalady