Question:
Non-absorption of iron

I had open RNY on 1/13/00..I weighed 305lbs and I am 5'7. Today I weigh 147lbs. All of my blood work was coming back great until I found out I was pregnant with twins. Those boys were born 9 weeks early on the day of my RNY 1/13/02.The babies are fine and I am the one with the problems. I cant get my iron levels up at all no matter what I take. I am having an iron infusion this Friday at the hospital and it should take 6 hours but I will have enough iron in me to last a year and then I can start getting B12 shots since getting them now would be pointless since you need iron to make them work and I have none. I was admitted to the hospital a few weeks ago for being so disoriented. I didnt know what was going on ...I had to get 2 blood transfusions and stay the night...it was scary to all of a sudden just not feel like you have control over your own body anymore. I was just wondering if anyone else if having iron/anemia problems 3 or more years out from surgery    — Debbie M. (posted on December 11, 2002)

December 11, 2002
I take Chromagen Forte (a prescription from my surgeon) He has us take this everyday for the rest of our lives. Did you ever try that one? I am only 15 months out so I am wondering if this will happen to me?
   — MARSHA D.

December 11, 2002
Go to www.starrwalker.com. They have liquid vitamins and minerals, including a liquid molecular iron (tastes like water - I promise!). You can't order from their site yet but you can call them and order over the phone. I am using many of their products, including their Vitamin Perfect liquid multivitamin.
   — cddgo

December 12, 2002
Yes, non-absorption of iron is normal after RNY. That's why we use special (not expensive, necessarily) irons and watch our own labs. We can watch the numbers as they begin to come down and start corrective action BEFORE we get totally down. I was ALWAYS anemic pre-op, but posie, after the 2nd yr, got the hang of it and am more than fine now. And I'm distal.
   — vitalady