Question:
My Iron levels are extremely low & can't tolerate iron by mouth! Help!!

I am 18 months post-op and down about93lbs still exercising and still doing the low protein diet and feel FANTASTIC my doctor suggested me to have labs drawn. What a nightmare! My Iron level is a 2 and he put me on ferrous sulfate 325mg three times a day!! OK---that didn't work. Everytime I take it I vomit! I've tried with and without food and milk! I know I need something to help me boost them levels. Got any ideas?! Thanks!! 263/170    — kelley G. (posted on September 29, 2004)

September 29, 2004
First, if you had the RNY you dont want to use sulfate. You need furmarate. Check with Vitalady.com she has what she calls a 'gentle iron' which is also good for bariatric patients. Also, Bariatric Advantage has a great chewable iron.
   — star .

September 29, 2004
Can you eat spinich. That is supposed to help with iron. Praying you will be able to find something. Geri
   — Geralyn

September 29, 2004
Your doctor should know better! Ferrous Sulfate goes right through us--I know from experience. Vitalady know longer carries the "perfect iron" (at least I haven't been able to order it from her website for months). You can buy ferrous fumate in 28 mg capsules at Walmart. One capsule is supposed to be equivalent to 325 mg of ferrous sulfate. I take 2 with 500 mg of Vitamin C every morning and my blood levels and ferritn are perfect!
   — LLinderman

September 29, 2004
Ferrous sulfate, the name hurts my tummy and, um, other end. I was anemic my entire life before WLS. Go figure. I thought they were trying to kill me off with that stuff. There are oral irons out there that do not hurt. Either end. The 325mg fe sulfate is iron SALTS. The elemental iron is more like 65mg. So, it isn't as if you have to take a ton of 25's to reach that 325mg. Each 325mg = 65mg, just remember that when you shopl. Check the serving size (it might say 3 = 325mg, for example) and some actually do list their elemental iron. No, taking it with milk would cancel it out. Iron likes vit C, but never likes dairy, caffeine, whole grains or any other vites, minerals or meds. Some forms do not require an empty stomach, either. I cannot take anything on empty.
   — vitalady

September 29, 2004
I was put on iron at 3 months post op, and they told me to use the ferrous sulfate, after 3 months on it my iron levels had actually dropped 2 points. after reading on this site I switched to Carbonyl iron (I buy it at Walmart or CVS, the brand I buy is called FEOSOL) I just had my 9 month post op labs done and after taking the carbonyl iron for about 6 weeks, my iron level has DOUBLED, and is now normal. The carbonyl iron is also supposed to be easy on your digestive track, and I haven't had any problems. Also Iron should not be taken with milk, the calcium can interfere with the iron absorbtion.
   — Patricia T.

September 29, 2004
You really need to see a hemotologist. My iron levels have always been around a 5-7 for about 25 years. I went to get iron infusions and it has been about 9 months and my levels are arond 13-14. It is the best thing. I had surgery in april and my levels have maintained.
   — Steffanie J.

September 30, 2004
At 18 months my iron levels bottomed out also. I could not tolerate any oral iron. The only thing that worked for me were iron infusions. I had a mid line in my arm and received low dose infusions for 36 days straight. It was a pain in the rear, but that was Dec./Jan and all of my levels are really good. Do you know what your ferritin level is? I second the opinion that you should see a hematologist before things get really bad.
   — Pamela B.