Low Iron

[Kalipso2 25]

i'm almost 3 years post op and just 5 pounds shy from my personal goal weight. this past summer i went to my family doctor for a routine physical and she ran some blood tests. one of the tests came back for low Iron. i took an Iron supplement for a few months then stopped because i felt that i should be at a normal level. i just went in again for a routine exam and had her test my blood. i just got the results today and once again, my iron is low.

i thought because my periods are always really, really bad that was the reason for the low iron but i made sure i went in between my cycle to get an accurate reading. here are my levels:

hemoglobin 10.5 (should be between 11.5-15.0)

MCH 24.5 (should be between 27.0-34.0)

MCHC 30.3 (should be between 32.0-36.0)

Iron, Serum 19 (should be between 35-155)

Iron Saturation 5 (should be between 15-55)

Ferritin, Serum (should be between 13-150)

i don't know what any of it means. i just got a letter from my doctor in the mail saying to start taking iron supplements. some of the research online said to eat leafy green veggies and red meat. i don't eat those at all. will i be stuck on supplements forever? has anyone else had any problems with their iron levels?

[Jachut 487]

Yes, but my haemoglobin level was waaaay lower, down to 4 - it was 10 five years ago when banded. But that was a combination of reasons, not just beign banded.

Iron levels take months and months to come up again on supplements, its taken me since last August to get back up to normal levels and that's with supplements AND with my band being totally unfilled AND going into early menopause due to radiation and chemotherapy, so no more periods to lose iron.. But you cant take a supplement just for a couple of months and you have to address the reasons why its low. Iron can be a problem with bandsters due to the difficulty of eating read meat and leafy greens, anyway, but add in periods etc and it can be a struggle for many women to keep levels up. Also, you need to be careful that you're not following dietary practices that make iron absorption difficult - coffee or tea with meals for example.

i have to say, I never *felt* low in iron but the difference now - my hair has stopped shedding (i thought it was just me, Iv'e shed hair for years) and I look soooo much better - better colour and no dark undereye circles. I also find my runs much more pleasant, no feeling of lead legs.

[trishfish 1]

I have "lower" Iron levels but they make me do sleepy! My nutritionist had said that Calcium binds with iton and do my body is recognizing it as calcium....so like high iron cereals with milk are really in all actuality being absorbed as calcium. Out my inkjet with spinich and cheese is really not doing much in the way of iron. I take my iron supplement at night far away from any sort of calcium enriched foods. Hope you find a way that works for you!

[Keia 4]

i'm almost 3 years post op and just 5 pounds shy from my personal goal weight. this past summer i went to my family doctor for a routine physical and she ran some blood tests. one of the tests came back for low Iron. i took an Iron supplement for a few months then stopped because i felt that i should be at a normal level. i just went in again for a routine exam and had her test my blood. i just got the results today and once again, my iron is low.

i thought because my periods are always really, really bad that was the reason for the low iron but i made sure i went in between my cycle to get an accurate reading. here are my levels:

hemoglobin 10.5 (should be between 11.5-15.0)

MCH 24.5 (should be between 27.0-34.0)

MCHC 30.3 (should be between 32.0-36.0)

Iron, Serum 19 (should be between 35-155)

Iron Saturation 5 (should be between 15-55)

Ferritin, Serum (should be between 13-150)

i don't know what any of it means. i just got a letter from my doctor in the mail saying to start taking iron supplements. some of the research online said to eat leafy green veggies and red meat. i don't eat those at all. will i be stuck on supplements forever? has anyone else had any problems with their iron levels?

My iron has been low since I was a teenager. My doctor just told me to start taking Vitamin C, it helps with the absorption of iron. Also, when taking Calcium and iron supplements, make sure they're 2 hours apart. Just like another posted stated, calcium will always be absorbed when competing with other Vitamins.

And, yes, you have to get used to taking them daily. Good luck!