Question:
Is my Iron Level ever going to be NORMAL AGAIN?

My Iron level was 23 a week ago.....that scares me.....after all I have been through.....I am taking Ferrous Sulfate (Iron Pills) to increase it..... how long can it take to get WNL at this point.....can I be taking something else that won't be hard on my bowels.....what if I increase my protein intake by 15-20 gr a day? Any and all replies are appreciated!    — Robert B. (posted on August 26, 2002)

August 25, 2002
Hi Robert! Wow, a guy with an iron prob, and I thought it just affected us gals. I have always had a problem with my iron. I was doubling up on my iron BEFORE surgery to keep WNL to be approved. The first 9 months post, I was dragging all the time. My iron was chronically low. I did find that I had to take more than most WLS folks do. They had talked about putting me on a prescription iron, but that was before I increased it on my own and increased my level. I have been feeling so much better since my levels increased. Please be careful with iron though. Increase in small increments as too much can be quite dangerous. You will have to get labs done frequently and watch those numbers. It takes about a month after increasing for it to show up in the numbers too. And if you are taking the correct kind of iron, you shouldn't have a difficult time with your bowel habits. If you are, then YOU aren't absorbing the iron, your POOP is:~) I have had that prob before and I don't want to go there again! Increasing your protein won't affect your iron value. Hope you get it all figured out. It is tough at first, but once you get all the values where they should be, you know what you are taking is finally correct. That is a relief!
   — Cheri M.

August 25, 2002
Since ferrous sulfate is not well absorbed, it may take a LONNNNNNNNNG time. You might want to try a more absorbable form of iron to speed up the process. The other irons will not as likely to be hard on pouch or bowel. Also, iron is taken with C only, no other vites, minerals or meds for at least an hour (some meds are further apart), no caffeine or dairy products. And non fe sulfate CAN be taken with a little food. Again, you don't have to sacrifice your innards to get iron. Using a protein supplement to bring up your total protein & albumin will help that iron have something to hang onto.
   — vitalady

August 27, 2002
Robert, You should be taking the ferrous fumerate form of iron. This has better absorbtion in our bodies. I use Ferro-Sequels, they are a small capsule that I haven't had any problems taking so far. My energy level seems to be fine although I haven't had any lab work yet. Remember to take your B-12 as this helps with the iron utilization also. Hope this helps!
   — Janine B.