Anemia????

I haven't been feeling well lately. It just really started this week but I have been so tired that I don't feel like I can make it through the day. I force myself not to go home early. Isn't this the stage that anemia begins to show up? I'm about 3 1/2 months out? I've gotta make an appointment anyway with my family doctor. I'll get him to check my iron. Rachel

Good idea to get your iron checked. I think I also felt that way around that time. I started supplementing my daily vitamins with some sublingual B-12. It helped a little bit. I hope you feel better soon! Kathy

Are u taking ur vits? i was slack on mine and started feeling really tired alot.. and my levels were on the lowest end of normal at my 6 mth.. and now im taking them more and feel better.. but just doing a normal iron check wont show if youre deficient if youre that early out. theyll have to check your feratin levels which is different. So you might wanna call Dr b's and ask the nut what they think if you are taking ur vits regularly and still feel that way? Jen Hope u feel better soon!!!

I SUFFERED FROM UNBELIEVABLE EXHAUSTION FOR 10 MONTHS ... ABSOLUTELY HAVE YOUR DOC CHECK YOU OUT, BUT ALSO, ARE YOU ON SUBLINGUAL B-12? START WITH 500 mcg & ADD 500 EACH WEE****IL YOU BEGIN TO FEEL MORE ENERGY. DUE TO OUR MALABSORPTION ISSUES, YOU MAY NEED QUITE A BIT; WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT. WITH THAT & MY HEART ISSUES, I WAS USING 5,000 mcg FOR MONTHS ... NOW, I'M USING AROUND 2,500 - 5,000 DEPENDING ON HOW MY HEART IS DOING. ALSO, ARE YOU ON A SPECIALLY-FORMULATED VITAMIN/MINERAL SUPPLEMENT JUST FOR GASTRIC BYPASS PATIENTS, &, ARE YOU TAKING THEM DAILY? I'M USING OPTISOURCE FROM WALGREENS (CHEWABLES 4 TIMES A DAY) & I'VE USED VISTA VITAMINS WITH CHELATED MINERALS WHICH I ACTUALLY FEEL BETTER ON BUT MY POUCH DOESN'T LIKE THE CAPSULES. GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICk

Hey Rachel, Its not the iron level, but your H&H that will show up in a complete CBC. You just need to take some good vitamins. I see this all the time here, especially, it seems people are taking Flintstones and other things. THAT is why I am such a HUGE proponant of Vista Vitamins. Right after my surgery last month my PCP thought I was pale and thin and anemic, so I had some blood tests run, and no, my levels were all good. It was just that my body had been through a lot. My plastics doc said the other day it was the same as if I had a huge tumor removed, and it just takes a lot. B Vitamins are not what you are lacking, its protein. You need to eat red meat, and drink a lot of protein shakes and boost your vitamins. Please, please take the Vistas, they are soooo worth it!!! You can get an Iron infusion via IV if it is bad enough, but if you order the vitamins now, and start right on them, you will be able to build it quickly. Eat Chili, Steak, and not overcooked meat. Just up your iron intake and spinach, broccoli and other things that carry iron, dark green leafy veggies. It will make you tired, tired tired and listless and if your zinc is low, your hair will start to fall out. Please take care of yourself. I use the www.profect.com to supplement when I am low, and I just feel it. So I take my vitamins and up my protein, almost overnight, I can feel better, but I have never had low blood levels....knock on wood.... since surgery in 08/05 I just attribute that to Vistas! Deb

Thanks for all the info. I take optisource vitamins. But, I admit, I haven't been taking them as well as I should. The last couple of days I have been taking them religiously. I know I need to up my protein. My hair is starting to fall out. I will probably go to my PCP this week for blood work just to check. Dr. Bour will do blood work at 6 months. Thanks for the advice again. Rachel

GOOD FOR YOU FOR GETTING BACK ON THE VITAMIN TRAIN, MS RACHEL! I WENT THROUGH A PERIOD OF TIME WHERE I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE ANY PILLS ... I WAS "PILLed OUT"! BUT, I GOT TO FEELING REALLY BAD, REALLY FAST ... SO ... ON AVERAGE, NO LESS THAN 75 GRAMS OF PROTEIN DAILY ... BETTER EVEN TO SHOOT FOR 100 GRAMS A DAY FOR THE AVERAGE SIZED WOMAN. ALSO, START TAKING 2-3 TIMES THE NORMAL DOSAGE OF BIOTIN ... IT IS REAL HELPFUL FOR HAIR, SKIN & NAIL HEALTH. WHEN YOUR HAIR QUITS FALLING OUT, CUT BACK THE BIOTIN BY ONE DOSAGE A DAY UNTIL YOU GET TO A NORMAL DOSAGE OR UNTIL YOU SEE NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON YOUR SKIN, HAIR OR NAILS. REMEMBER, WE SOMETIMES HAVE TO TAKE MORE THAN THE NORMAL DOSAGE DUE TO OUR MALABSORPTION ISSUES. I'VE ALSO HEARD THAT ZINC IS GOOD FOR YOUR HAIR, BUT I HAVEN'T TRIED THAT PERSONALLY. GOD BLESS YOU ... DAWN & NICk