Question:
How low can your iron level be and the doctor still operate?

My iron level was 10.6 and the doctor said it should be about 12. How long will it take me to raise it that high. My surgery is penciled in for the 20th of December. Thanks, Kalena    — Kalena B. (posted on December 2, 2004)

December 2, 2004
I had one of my plastic surgeries with a level in the low 10's. It was because I lost almost 5 units of blood with my first PS and even though I had been given 3 units, 4 months later it still was not back to normal. I did take iron supplements for a while but they constipated me so bad I quit. I eventually was able to get my level up to 12.5 but it took iron transfusions. I don't know if it would have held that level if I had not had a 3rd PS a few weeks ago. My level is 10.3 now. I will try the ferrous gluconate this time and see if that works better. Previously I had been told to take ferrous sulfact which I find out we do not absorb. If it doesn't get back closer to normal over the next 3 months I suspect my internist will have me get iron infusions again. It's not a hard thing to do but does take 4-5 hours each day for 4 days in a row and costs $1000 per treatment. I nearly died when I saw the bill. My insurance paid it at 90% because that was the contractural agreement, but even still. It is insane to cost that amount for basically a bag of glucose and 250mg of iron. What a rip. Money aside, it did do the trick and quickly. I won't be having any more PS until I win the lottery so at least this time it would likely hold long term, or at least I can hope. <p>If you are ore WLS and have the low iron then I would think increasing your does to 2 to 3 times the normal would do it, but I would discuss with your PCP first before just doing it on your own. Good Luck and I hope your surgery comes off as scheduled.
   — zoedogcbr

December 2, 2004
You need longer than that to build up the iron. I had 6 iron infusions over 2 wks and that even took 2 month after to get it to a normal level. I wouldn't want any surgery unless I was 100%. That is talking from experience of complications. Best of luck!
   — ZZ S.