Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 I am having an issue with postural hypotension. I am not on any bp meds, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, etc. I have been having this problem for about 6 weeks now. I have a low bp anyways.. 100/50 when lying or sitting and it drops to about 80/50 or lower when standing.. and I black out. I have fallen a couple timesbut forrtunately havent injured myself except for a few bruises. Do any of you have any ideas other than ferritin, iron stores.. I am having lab tests done this week.. so hopefully I will gain some answers.. I am also seeing my pcp on Tuesday. Peachy hugs, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 In a message dated 8/30/2003 11:51:45 AM Eastern Standard Time, Gigi1078@... writes: Do any of you have any ideas other than ferritin, iron stores.. My BIL 78 years old takes meds for this. Fay Bayuk **300/166 10/23/01 Dr. Open RNY 150 cm Click for My Profile http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=Bayuk951061008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 > Is there a way to find out if you are anemic without going to a doc. Faye, you can go to a community blood center and ask them to check your iron to see if you would be a candidate for platelet pheresis. Ask them to do the kind that they put the blood in a machine for a couple of minutes. It will give you the hemoglobin. That will give you a very basic view of the iron in your blood. It should be no lower than about 12.0. They will do it without charge. That being said, be aware that my hemoglobin has maintained around the 12.0 to 12.7 range, but my ferritin level, which is a measure of your iron store in the body, dropped to below range. So even if your hemoglobin is in range, you can still be anemic as the blood can continue to pull iron from the " warehouse " to keep it's supply relatively normal. And the only way I know of to check ferritin is to have a doctor order lab work for that, along with other measures of iron. You might also consider actually giving platelets at some point. They do not take red blood cells in the process. They hook you to a machine that cycles your blood through a centrifuge. It pulls out the platelets and returns the other components to you. Takes about 2 1/2 hour total, including the manditory interview every time you donate. My center has individual TVs and headsets and a wide selection of movies to watch. I just saw About Schmidt on Wednesday at the blood center! My surgeon said platelet donation was okay because it didn't collect red blood cells, but he said I am NOT to donate whole blood, which does, of course, include the red blood cells. Platelets are vital for those who are undergoing chemotherapy and those with various other diseases. The preceding was an unpaid advertisement for the cancer patients who desperately need platelets. :-) Sheri In Sunny Florida Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 Fay, You can try donating blood; they'll reject you if your hematocrit is below 37, I believe. BUT your hematocrit is just a reflection of your blood's current state, and it could be marginally OK while your long-term iron storage protein, ferritin, has levels in the toilet. As I've seen over the past two years, your ferritin is almost equally important to hematocrit and hemoglobin. If you are worried about seeming like a hypochondriac, don't be. Anemia, and even the " rare " pernicious anemia, are both common in post-ops. Z Open RNY 09/17/01 310/126/141 (goal was 160) then/lowest/now http://www.ziobro.us/index.html From: fbayuk@... Sent: Sat 8/30/2003 4:32 AM To: Graduate-OSSG Subject: Anemia Is there a way to find out if you are anemic without going to a doc. Fay Bayuk **300/166 10/23/01 Dr. Open RNY 150 cm Click for My Profile http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=Bayuk951061008 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 BUT your hematocrit is just a reflection of your blood's current state, and it could be marginally OK while your long-term iron storage protein, ferritin, has levels in the toilet. //////////// , Thanks for sharing this, my crit has been between 23-27. I hope to find out next week that it's higher. Now (thanks Pam) I know what labs I was supposed to be getting and hopefully those numbers will help. I feel better since doing the protein drinks, liquid iron, trinsicon and water but last week was a nightmare and way too scary (passed out 3x at the barber with my son). I have to get this resolved, quickly! p.s. I'm dealing with this with my PCP (who, bless her heart, suggested otc iron) because while my surgeon is an excellent " cutter " and I trust him in that regard completely, I don't care for him. LoriNY Open RNY 4/00 O'Malley, Rochester, NY Anemia > > > Is there a way to find out if you are anemic without going to a doc. > > > > Fay Bayuk > **300/166 > 10/23/01 > Dr. > Open RNY 150 cm > Click for My Profile > http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=Bayuk951061008 > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 30, 2003 Report Share Posted August 30, 2003 Sheri, I asked awhile back about other types of blood donation besides whole blood and someone recommended platelets and said how much this helps cancer patients. Then someone else posted that we're not supposed to donate platelets either, but I can't remember why. Something having to do with protein comes to mind, but I just can't remember exactly what was said because it was awhile ago. Has anyone else heard anything like this? ---------------------------------------- Terry Mayers 5DollarHosting.com http://www.5dollarhosting.com .... because it shouldn't cost a fortune to make a fortune! Re: Anemia > > > Is there a way to find out if you are anemic without going to a doc. > > > Faye, you can go to a community blood center and ask them to check > your iron to see if you would be a candidate for platelet pheresis. > Ask them to do the kind that they put the blood in a machine for a > couple of minutes. It will give you the hemoglobin. That will give > you a very basic view of the iron in your blood. It should be no > lower than about 12.0. They will do it without charge. > > > That being said, be aware that my hemoglobin has maintained around > the 12.0 to 12.7 range, but my ferritin level, which is a measure of > your iron store in the body, dropped to below range. So even if your > hemoglobin is in range, you can still be anemic as the blood can > continue to pull iron from the " warehouse " to keep it's supply > relatively normal. And the only way I know of to check ferritin is to > have a doctor order lab work for that, along with other measures of > iron. > > You might also consider actually giving platelets at some point. They > do not take red blood cells in the process. They hook you to a > machine that cycles your blood through a centrifuge. It pulls out the > platelets and returns the other components to you. Takes about 2 1/2 > hour total, including the manditory interview every time you donate. > My center has individual TVs and headsets and a wide selection of > movies to watch. I just saw About Schmidt on Wednesday at the blood > center! My surgeon said platelet donation was okay because it didn't > collect red blood cells, but he said I am NOT to donate whole blood, > which does, of course, include the red blood cells. Platelets are > vital for those who are undergoing chemotherapy and those with > various other diseases. The preceding was an unpaid advertisement for > the cancer patients who desperately need platelets. :-) > > Sheri > In Sunny Florida > > > > > 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 October 17, 2003 Report Share Posted October 17, 2003 I am 3 1/2 years out and my ferritan was at 18 then i had my first tummy tuck in January with a few complications and then before my second tummy tuck in June they found me to be anemic. Now i see a Hemotolgist and my ferritan is now in the negatives and my hemo's are below normal as well. I had my first infusion this past monday and it took 7 hours and i will have to go probably once a month for at the very least 3 months I feel like shit and i am losing hair and am exhausted all of the time even with massive amounts of sleep. I am also very depressed now. So, you see no iron can cause many many problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 17, 2003 Report Share Posted October 17, 2003 , I am sorry for the problems you are having with low iron. I was wondering if you've ever taken iron during the past 3 1/2 years post op? Thanks, Diane LAP RNY 9/99 > I am 3 1/2 years out and my ferritan was at 18 then i had my first tummy tuck > in January with a few complications and then before my second tummy tuck in > June they found me to be anemic. Now i see a Hemotolgist and my ferritan is > now in the negatives and my hemo's are below normal as well. I had my first > infusion this past monday and it took 7 hours and i will have to go probably once > a month for at the very least 3 months > > I feel like shit and i am losing hair and am exhausted all of the time even > with massive amounts of sleep. I am also very depressed now. So, you see no > iron can cause many many problems. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2003 Report Share Posted October 18, 2003 Hi from the " other " . I too was having major issues with anemia until posted about Chromagen Forte. I asked my doctor for a prescription and my iron levels are finally going in the other direction. I saw my hematologist yesterday and he is encouraged that this may solve my problem. Since you are already seeing a hematologist, I assume you've tried all the prescription irons. I'm sorry you've had to go the infusion route and hope you get better soon! from Washington Lap RNY Sept 2001, Dr. Wittgrove Minus 203.5 pounds 333.5/130 http://www.wworw.com > I am 3 1/2 years out and my ferritan was at 18 then i had my first tummy tuck > in January with a few complications and then before my second tummy tuck in > June they found me to be anemic. Now i see a Hemotolgist and my ferritan is > now in the negatives and my hemo's are below normal as well. I had my first > infusion this past monday and it took 7 hours and i will have to go probably once > a month for at the very least 3 months > > I feel like shit and i am losing hair and am exhausted all of the time even > with massive amounts of sleep. I am also very depressed now. So, you see no > iron can cause many many problems. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2005 Report Share Posted September 1, 2005 I second the motion on going to your family doctor after surgery (when your able) to get blood work done. I was so weak I could hardly move around. Went to have blood work done and my iron was really low. Now on liquid iron meds and am already feeling better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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