[HEATHER HANNAH]

I Just Went To The Dr. For My 6 Month Check Up Since My Surgery. They Said My Iron Was Pretty Low, Does Anyone Have Any Suggestions On How To Increase My Iron? I Already Take 4 Chewable Vitamins A Day!!


Thanks

[fr1endly2]

The e store here at the site
sells iron supplements.
BARIATRIC Advantage...
Bariatric Advantage® Chewable Iron (29mg) - Passion Fruit (90 Count)
maybe those would help!!!!
GOOD luck and better work it now before it gets any lower!

[DocSanae]

Link to the eStore.
The registration is separate from the board itself, so you need to register there.
RenewedReflections eStore
I hope you'll find something you like, the sales here does help in the upkeep of the board.

[LittleLisaMarie]

Originally Posted by HEATHER HANNAH

I Just Went To The Dr. For My 6 Month Check Up Since My Surgery. They Said My Iron Was Pretty Low, Does Anyone Have Any Suggestions On How To Increase My Iron? I Already Take 4 Chewable Vitamins A Day!!


Thanks

My suggestion is to call back the dr and ask what he suggests. There are different forms of iron and ask how much he thinks you should take. Some people let their iron get so low they require injections to keep it up. Once your iron stores get depleted they are very difficult to get back up. Good luck to you.

LittleLisaMarie

[yma]

I take optisource chewable vitamins. Specifically for people who hade bypass surgery. My bloodwork had been perfect so far.

[BreeChick]

In oklahoma a lot of docs are just giving their postops b-12 shots early on. In KCMO where I had mine the doc only would if you showed a need for it. The GI doc I saw here explained to me that some types of anemia are helped by the b-12 shots and others not...I'd tested low about a year ago but it wasn't until my new PCP that he just set me up for b-12 shots every 3 weeks or as I felt I needed them. What's interesting that no one seems to have an explanation for is that I've kept most of all my blood panels and there seems to be a long term slow drop in the red blood count.
The GI doc did a full blood work up to see if the B-12 shots were helping or if I was going to need iron transfusions..thankly the b-12 shots do seem to be helping!! I've read too many time of the ladies having to do iron transfusions..what is that about anyway? Makes me wonder you know?

When I tested pos for the anemia I was talking 4 b-12 sublinguals a day!!...I kid you not and had been for months and months ...I won't even say what that equals to because it's embarrassingly high!

[DocSanae]

It's a fairly well known fact that anemia can devolop after gastric surgery--any surgery that reduces the size of your stomach, whether the surgery be for weightloss, gastric cancer, or reccurent gastric ulcers. Also, the iron deficiency anemia may not show up until years later as your iron is slowly depleted because what you are supplementing doesn't get absorbed well enough to completely replace what is depleted. I've seen plenty of patients with low hemoglobin and blood cell counts due to this, because we have a lot more gastric cancer post ops here than in the US.
The lower portion of the stomach to the upper part of the intestines that is instrumental in absorbing VB12 and iron, is bypassed by RNY as you all know, so, even if you take plenty of VB12 and iron orally, sometimes, not enough is absorbed. VB12 shots act better because they are absorbed more directly into the blood stream. The nasal VB12 sprays are also better, as the absorption takes place through your nasal membranes into your blood stream. Iron transfultion means IV iron shots, again getting the rion directly into the blood stream, so it will be carried to where the iron will be used. Anemia also is more common with women, because of our monthly loss. Age is also another factor, elderly people (70s, 80s and above) often devolop anemia, due both to poor absorption and poor productivity, and probably poor diet as well.

[MsVickie]

Doc Is right again ! LOL wer are so lucky to have her. My Dr told me I would be getting regular B12 injections after the surgery. So call ya Dr. and find out. Take care

[ddam7]

i am anemic because of gastric bypass surgery.I think i am going to need shots or intervenious b12 injections dont seem to be helping nor dors iron supplements. has anyone has the shots or intervenious do they hurt? how long is the treatments how often any info please i feel very weak thanks ddam7

[DocSanae]

IV shots don't hurt that much, just the prick to your skin into the vein, then, getting the med in is painless.
Actually, if iron supplements don't seem to be helping, they you probably need prescribed iron pills, but these pills can be rough on your pouch, so, then IV iron shots. Depending on the lab results, once or twice a week for a total of 10 shots first round is the program I put my patients on when they need iron shots. Of course, this may differ with drs.
You should contact your surgeon and talk over the treatment with your surgeon, or your PCP if your surgeon refers you back to your PCP.

Once your anemia is resolved, then you will have to talk things over with your drs about how to maintain, whether you need regular VB12 shots and iron shota, or pills and supplements are enough.

P.S. Welcome to the board, thank you for joining us, and (((((((HUGS)))))))) May yoru journey go well.