Low Iron

[gpmed 623]

Labs at my six-month follow up show my Iron is a little low. Explains why I've been tired lately! My surgeon had initially advised me not to take iron because it was upsetting my stomach and turning my stool black. Going back on supplements now. Does anyone know if it takes a relatively short or long time to turn around a slight iron deficiency? Wondering how long it might take to have a bit more energy.

[AvaFern 3,516]

My Iron lab values have always been fine, however periodically I would forget about Vitamins for awhile and start to feel crummy. Within a week of taking my B12 and Iron, I started feeling better and I was always fine within two weeks. I'm not sure if the same will be true for you, but it's been a fairly consistent time span for me. About six weeks ago I started feeling horrible and I went back to taking my iron, which helped, but then I got crazy and added Multivitamins, which made me sick and for some reason ridiculously fatigued. When I went back to just taking my iron and Biotin, I felt better within two weeks, so from rough experience, Vitamins have fixed most of my woes in two weeks or so.

Also, make sure you're taking your B12...that can contribute to anemia especially in sleeve patients. And in my experience, pay the extra for the stomach friendly vitamins. Multivitamins with iron in them make me super sick and iron supplements that are not specially coated also make me sick. I use the purple Feosol bottle, which is specifically branded as being very stomach friendly and it doesn't bother me at all.

[gpmed 623]

Thank you for the great info! I take B12 and multivitamins religiously. My B12 is actually higher now than before surgery. I'm asking my surgeon's office if I can take the other kind of Iron you mentioned. They seemed to really want us to take ferrous sulfide for whatever reason when they covered Vitamins before surgery. Something gentler on my stomach would be awesome.

[Miss Mac 6,262]

I take sublingual B12 and my values have been fine for two years.

[kaitlynm 335]

Can you ask your Dr for an Iron shot? I was really low before and that perked me right up. They would give me the shot and then tell me to take the supplements.

[gpmed 623]

So I sent a note to my surgeon's office through a special email system they have and asked if I should go back on Iron and if so, if I could try a different kind. I got a terse reply that I should take iron if my PCP prescribes it and I could schedule an appointment with them if I have further questions. Wait weeks for an appointment and pay another $40 copay for an answer to a simple question? No thank you. I'm just going to take the iron I have and get another kind if it starts upsetting my stomach. I'll see how I feel and see what happens.