Guest guest Posted July 12, 2002 Report Share Posted July 12, 2002 It's been 20 months since my surgery (open rny) and I've been fighting iron anemia the entire way. Did the pills..the shots for 12 weeks and now have had two iron infusions 6 months apart. Is there anyone else out there who has this problem or solutions. The infusion did help ALOT!!! The first one I believe was 1000 mg..the second doc (first one no longer is located here) so the second one said nope..500 and more often. I'd like to find out if anyone else has been having them and what they are using (just for info to take back to hemotologist too cuz this is all fairly new to her). I'm pretty much at goal and eat plenty of liver and spinich etc but am told im just not absorbing the iron. thanks, Debbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2002 Report Share Posted July 13, 2002 In a message dated 7/13/02 3:52:29 AM Pacific Daylight Time, bobmiedema@... writes: << I have never gone through shots or infusions for this problem, nor have I ever heard of them... but don't believe they are of any benefit. >> Well, Bob. I have just spent the last three months off of work due to severe anemia, and I do take iron supplements, liquid or pill form every day, and also went through once a week iron injections and B12 shots in the hip, which did not hold, and then on to THREE times a week iron by IV from a hematologist. As of last week, I am down to once a week iron IV, and my hematologist said that would probably be for LIFE, although when they drew my blood my hgb had dropped a little bit, so, maybe I'm not " there " yet. I started out with a hemaglobin of 7, hematocrit of 25, and a ferritin (which is your iron storage " warehouse " ) of 2 (IT SHOULD BE ABOUT 100 or MORE). My hematologist said that virtually had " zero " iron and had we not caught it early enough, and I just kept going like I was I could have died. It was my bariatric surgeon who insisted I see a hematologist. Had to convince the PCP to send me for a consult, and actually ended up finding one on my list of docs for my insurance, and since I have a PPO insurance, I don't need a formal referral, so I went on my own (of course originally referred from my surgeon - in Washington State - I live in CA now). Good thing I did, and now I am going back to work on a part time basis to start on Monday, but will probably continue the IV iron at least once a week for life, along with the iron pills and/or liquids. B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2002 Report Share Posted July 13, 2002 Debbie, Well, today marks my 23rd year, since I had my " open " gastric bypass surgery. I can assure you, that every day, of my post-op that I have been anemic. Iron is only digested from your food intake in the lower portion of your stomach. As an RNY patient, we no longer have the use of that vital processing in our system. We are required to depend, lifelong, on taking daily iron supplement to compensate. I have started again on taking my protein supplement shakes, each day, and can feel a gradual increase in my stamina and strength and also evidence of my iron supplement absorbtion. The red blood cells count is beginning to build back up... I have never gone through shots or infusions for this problem, nor have I ever heard of them... but don't believe they are of any benefit. All, bariatric Sourgeons state that because of the surgery's malabsorbtion problem, which is just what helps us to lose our excess weight, is also the main problem with our having anemia. So, it is going to have to be iron supplement, daily for the rest of our lives. You will gain very little benefit from the nutrional value of iron enriched foods, as you can't absorb/digest the neutrants from them...that is why the surgery is called a malabsorbtion alternative to Obesity. /// Bob ///Bob Iron Anemia? > It's been 20 months since my surgery (open rny) and I've been > fighting iron anemia the entire way. Did the pills..the shots for 12 > weeks and now have had two iron infusions 6 months apart. Is there > anyone else out there who has this problem or solutions. The infusion > did help ALOT!!! The first one I believe was 1000 mg..the second doc > (first one no longer is located here) so the second one said > nope..500 and more often. I'd like to find out if anyone else has > been having them and what they are using (just for info to take back > to hemotologist too cuz this is all fairly new to her). I'm pretty > much at goal and eat plenty of liver and spinich etc but am told im > just not absorbing the iron. > thanks, > Debbie > > > > Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG > > Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2002 Report Share Posted July 13, 2002 , Wow! My hemo has never been below 9.8.... You are fortunate that you are being taken care of. You have to take your physician's advice and follow their advice...we are all different. I am anemic, but have NOT so debilitating as yours. Well, we all have to make adjustments after having had surgery for weight loss. Take care of yourself, ///Bob Re: Iron Anemia? > << I have never gone through shots or infusions for this > problem, nor have I ever heard of them... but don't believe > they are of any benefit. >> > > > Well, Bob. I have just spent the last three months off of work due to severe > anemia, and I do take iron supplements, liquid or pill form every day, and > also went through once a week iron injections and B12 shots in the hip, which > did not hold, and then on to THREE times a week iron by IV from a > hematologist. As of last week, I am down to once a week iron IV, and my > hematologist said that would probably be for LIFE, although when they drew my > blood my hgb had dropped a little bit, so, maybe I'm not " there " yet. I > started out with a hemaglobin of 7, hematocrit of 25, and a ferritin (which > is your iron storage " warehouse " ) of 2 (IT SHOULD BE ABOUT 100 or MORE). My > hematologist said that virtually had " zero " iron and had we not caught it > early enough, and I just kept going like I was I could have died. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2002 Report Share Posted July 13, 2002 I went to see my doctor this week because I became convinced that something changed kind of suddenly about a month ago. Not screaming drastic, but a little more food and quicker emptying. I know the mind plays tricks and my weight has not gone up, but we're doing an upper GI to find out if the staple line is intact. Anyway, I was trying to talk to him about malabsorption and he's never 'fessed up to it before. I suscpected it's because he didn't want us " counting " on free calories. This time, he said of course there's probably some malabsorption with proximals and that's part of why it works. When I eat a high fat meal, I get the " oil slick " in the toilet. Not exactly scientific, but on that note, I rest my case. in Austin RNY April 1998 Re: Iron Anemia? > The popular myth is that proximals are not malabsorptive, only distals are. > They taught it at the conference, even. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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