6 months weigh in

miss_erynn

Today I had my 6 month weigh in! Officially lost 76lbs, 11 inches in my waist, 10 inches in my arms and 8 inches in my legs! AMAZING!

However, my iron, at my 3 month weigh in, was extremely low (was reading 44)...it is now 31, which is dangerous. I even take ferrous gluconate everyday, together with the prenatal.

They also have told me I am hypoglycemic and am running the risk for diabetes.

I'm pretty scared....... and am actually starting to regreat the surgery. I was healthier than I am now pre-surgery when I was at my heaviest. I can't eat meat now, I can hardly eat carbs, I get sick so often, low iron, may be diabetic now AFTER surgery....

anyone experience anything similar? I'm pretty down in the dumps.

JfMarrs

Congratulations on your loss and sorry to hear about your troubles. My doctor told me to take my iron pill with a vitamin c pill before bed every day. He said the vitamin c will help my body absorb the iron and that iron reserves build the most when you are sleeping. He also said to make sure not to take calcium pills within 2 to 4 hours of iron since they counteract each other somehow.

miss_erynn

Yep! Iron blocks all other absorption..................however, since I'm not even absorbing the iron at this rate, there would be no difference in when I take them.

Maybe I should talk with my damily doctor instead of my bariatric surgeon... maybe he'll have an answer for how to deal with the low iron!

trud72

great work honey x :bigsmile:

Laura8603

You may need to get iron infusions. If your PCP will not do this for you, go to a hematologist. Also vitalady.com has iron that many post-ops I know take. Thankfully I absorb iron just fine. It does matter when you take it. Do not take it within 2 hours of calcium, either calcium alone or calcium in your multivitamin. I take mine with vitamin c at bedtime.

miss_erynn

I am thinking maybe I should start taking my vitamins like this:

8:00 a.m. - calcium citrate and D3

12:00 - nexium (anti-acid), prenatal and B12

3:00 - biotin

5:30 - calcium citrate

10:00 p.m. - iron and vitamin C

thoughts?

I am absolutely TERRIFED of needles and will NOT allow myself to be hooked up to any drips for any amount of time. No chance in hell.

I had a terribly experience when I was in the hospital due to complications from surgery (developed a pouch infection). The IV machine I was hooked up to caught on fire WITH ME STILL HOOKED UP TO IT. I was scared straight, ended up having to get a flush and ripped the IV right out of my arm. I was bruised for months and refuse IVs now.

Laura8603

You need another multivitamin. We RNYers need to take it twice a day. Otherwise, looks good.

If you want to avoid infusions, I would write to vitalady and ask about what iron she recommends. I forget which one she recommends for people low in iron. She is wonderful.

miss_erynn

My RN and dietician said one a day is all I need. All my other levels were great!

But thanks for the website - I am going to email her!!!

veggibus

I have also been instructed to take 2 multivitamins a day just to double my iron intake.
I'd think about checking again with your surgeon.

Sorry to hear about your IV experience. That must have been horrible!

pjmcinnis

Check with your doctor, but I am chronically low in iron, and mine was so low that I was sleeping 12-14hrs a day. My team recommended Ferrous Sulfate as it is the most absorbable form of Iron. I was on 900 mg a day, took one with my multi in the morning and two just before bed. It took some time, but I am feeling better. It may take your body a while to get used to the iron... I also found that I was sick to my stomach and it was the iron causing this (noticed this when pregnant as well). Also, I am taking the Opurity Multivitamin which is designed for weightloss patients and only need one a day).

It may take awhile to find what works for you, but it will happen.