Severe anemia

[froufrou 678]

I am just wondering if anyone else here has suffered from severe anemia. Just a quick background, I had the sleeve, which leaked. Then RNY. I am vegetarian. I am wondering if the surgeries (I had stents put in when I had the leak (total of 7 attempts and then it had to be sewn in place) have damaged something that is leading to anemia?

I have had anemia for a couple of years now - I had a series of 5 infusions of Iron, but it didn't do much for me.

I asked my obgyn (who was checking hormones) to add in my Iron levels, and sure enough it's still low and so I am going back to see her. I KNOW she's going to flag me now for a colonoscopy, because I guess that's a conclusion you could make from my anemia. I really don't want to have to go through a whole slew of testing if this is a common thing in bariatric surgeries.

Here are my blood test results - no other bloods were out of whack.

Ferritin 6

Iron Binding Capacity 395

Saturation 6

Iron Total 23

Hemoglobin 11.6

Hemocrit 35.3

MCV 79.3

MCH 26.1

RDW 16

I would just really appreciate some feedback from people who might have been through the same thing.

[liveaboard15 1,293]

Wow those Iron levels are very very low. Mine were slightly low 3 months ago and i take an extra iron supplement and it went back to normal. have you had a complete blood count done to see how your red blood cells are doing? Ive read that a blood transfusion can help too. Is it possible for you to see a hematologists and see if they can figure out what they can do for you?

[catwoman7 11,225]

that ferritin level is crazy low. They usually give you infusions when it gets below 20 or so (some hematologists will do an infusion even when it's higher than 20). I'm surprised your previous infusions didn't do anything as that usually does the trick. Hopefully someone will refer you to a hematologist since they specialize in that area.

[cheryl o 60]

just curious, how are your periods? My heavy periods attributed to my low Iron, had an ablation and my numbers went up some. I just finished 5 rounds of the iron infusion. How long after your last infusion did you have your follow-up bloodwork?

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[DoOverGirl 1]

Hi there! I have been anemic all my life. I recently saw a hematologist at the suggestion of my dietician. My ferritin was at 3, and he immediately had me do Iron infusions. He also discovered that I was severely B12 deficient. Has your doctor checked your other Vitamins? I've been able to maintain (although its been 6 months) But what worked for me was the 5 infusions along with b12 shots. For the first 4 weeks the shots were weekly and now I am maintaining at 1 a month. Also, post surgery I am doing the iron melts with Vitamin C. I have more bloodwork in March to see if its sustained the levels. Lastly, I HIGHLY recommend a hematologist rather than a PCP/OBGYN. My PCP and GYN just kind of brushed it off and told me to take vitamins. The one that got to the bottom of the cause of my anemia was a Hemo.

[LuluM 0]

I’ve been facing the same problems. I had surgery in 2003 and I had my first Iron infusion 2018. I take monthly injections for past two years and now I’m asking again for an infusion. My question is to you where did you get iron melts?

[jamiewalton46 3]

I have been anemic my whole life. Been seeing a hematologist for 5 years. Why are you going to a obgyn ? You need a hematologist. Iron infusion work you just need them more often most likely some people need them monthly according to my hematologist. Yes Bariatric surgery causes anemia. You don’t need a colonoscopy you need a infusion. My numbers were similar to your before my surgery I get infusion 2 or 3 times per year so I am not worried