Question:
Have anyone had their surgery cancelled due to hemoglobin/hct levels low?

I was schedueld to have a tummy tuck on July 13th but the day before I went to my pre-admission testing. They took my blood and the report came back that my hemoglobin was 8.7 and my hct(hemacrits) was 26.6 and they would not perform the surgery. They said that my hemoglobin needs to be at least a 10 or better and my hemacrits need to be a 30 or better. Please help. I need to hear from doctors and anyone that this has happened to and a word of advice and encouragement. Now, my primary doctor has put me on iron pills four times a day with a multivitamin. My PS office will perform the surgery at the end of next month if my levels are up by the 19th of August. Do you think my hemoglobin level will build up in one month by my iron supplements. Advise pleasssssssse! Thanks in advance.    — JONEEN R. (posted on July 15, 2005)

July 15, 2005
Dear Joneen, I made it all the way through hospital check-in before they pulled the plug on my WLS. I was furious, especially after enduring that bowel prep. For a solid month, I took the iron, ate iron-rich foods and focused on getting those numbers in range. My hemoglobin went from 8 to 11.2 in one month. Admittedly, I was pre weightloss surgery, but I believe you can do it. If I can be of any further help, please post again. Sincerely, Tere R.
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 15, 2005
Chlorphyoll 2-3imes a day. this will get your H&H up better and faster then any iron tablets your taking. it comes in liquid(mix 2 TPs in water or pinapple juice) or take the 100mg tablets..2 at a time.you can see an inprovemnt before that next surgery. youll see it in a week..but im sure they will taken your bloods in 3 weeks. either way you will be good to go!All the Best! Tracey
   — traceybubbles

July 15, 2005
My sister went to a hematologist and he had her go to the hospital out patient and have IV procrit at least i think that was the name of it, it was advertised on tv as being mainly for chemo pt who suffer anemia.
   — deniece M.

July 15, 2005
I have been dealing with blood problems for along time now. My blood is way to thick.My advice to you would be eat as much protein as you can and keep checking with your doc.If those numbers don't come up in 1-2 weeks you should ask to see a hemotolgist to find out what's going on.
   — jani204

July 16, 2005
Yes, this happened to me. I was scheduled to have a breast lift and my hemoglobin had bottomed out at 8.2 I was on oral iron for six weeks with minimal improvemet, something like .2. The only thing that helped was iron IV infusions. I had surgery 6 months after it was origionally scheduled.
   — Pamela B.