Re: Iron decicient anemia

[Guest guest]

I am 3 years post op, proximal RNY. I have the same problem as you-SEVERE

iron deficiency, normal B12 & folate/folic acid. In fact the B12 and folic

acid have gone UP in the past year--I take B12 sublingually (Under tongue)

and some heavy duty vitamin/mineral supplements. Very weird, I know, but it

CAN happen, even though most docs would argue the point-I am living proof.

When I first was diagnosed with severe anemia and had my first blood

transfusion 2 years ago, my PCP ordered all kinds of tests because he simply

could NOT believe that I did not have a GI bleed. He also had me thoroughly

check out gynecolically to make sure nothing was wrong there, either.

Everything was perfectly normal.

I will say this much--I have always had very regular, EXTREMELY heavy periods

since I was 12 years old-I am now 52 and STILL have them, every single month!

I was moderately anemic for many years , with a red blood cell count of

between 9.5 and 10, even before my surgery, most likely because of this

monthly heavy blood loss. SO when I lost more iron after the RNY, I diped

down to very low levels-between 6 & 7. Perhaps that is your problem too-maybe

you were already somewhat anemic pre-op? I just had a procedure done 3 months

ago to reduce heavy menstrual bleeding-it's called an endometrial abalation.

Most people have great success with it, and it's not painful--unfortunately

it did not significantly reduce my menstrual bleeding, but I am the

exception, not the rule.

If you want to chat about your iron issues, post to me privately and I will

give you all the info I can. I have been dealing with this for over 2 years

now. By the way, I have had 2 dexa scans since my RNY surgery- the first one

after 1.5 years, and the second one just last month--my bone density is very

good. So, since we malabsorb calcium and iron from the same area of the

digestive tract ( I believe?), you would expect me to be calcium deficient as

well, which only furthers my theory that much of my iron damage was

pre-surgical. Your body has 2 kinds of iron--circulating and

stored(ferritin). My ferritin level is 1--which means I essentially have no

stored iron. Any iron that I can manage to get-from supplements, IV

treatments, transfusions, just gives a temporary boost to the circulating

iron. It is never enough to replace the stored iron. I, for one, am PRAYING

for menopause LOL!!

Hope this helps,

Fran