5 years out with severe anemia

Anyone with the sleeve anemic?   My first post op blood work was anemic.   I got out the cast iron pots.   I cook in the skillet and also take 2 cans of diced tomatoes and cook in a cast iron pot.  Get lots of iron from pan and vit C from tomatoes.   I do this once a week 1/2 cup at 1 meal a day.   I have not resorted to more vit because the bariactric vit I take have 150 percent of iron I need.   I will tell everyone if this has worked at next blood draw.

Anemia can happen with sleeves, it isn't common but it can happen.  How long after surgery did you have your labs drawn?

IDB1095

you asked me how long it was before labs were drawn.   It was 4 months after surgery.  I am hopeful I will improve as time goes on.

It may not be just iron that you want.  i suspect you need B12 as well merely because you are an anemic sleeved person.  Here is why;

Your stomach produces an enzyme called Intrinsic Factor or IF.  Your body needs IF to absorb B12.  Sometimes, rarely, with a smaller stomach people do not produce enough IF to absorb B12 and they become anemic.  When that happens the fix is usually pretty easy, you take B12 via a different route such as under your tongue or via injection.  Have you had your B12 checked?

If you only checked your iron 4 months post op and you are low I question if it is this.  Usually you have enough iron stores to last a good year or so before it shows up on your labs.  Has your doc ruled out other causes such as bleeding somewhere?

I had the RNY in April of 2008.  I haven't had issues up til now.  It is like a 360 in my behavior.  I have been up til now unable to sit still long enough to watch tv.  Jumping up doing things that pop into my mind.  Now I don't ever wanna get up.  I'm so very very tired all the time. I've lost a total of 300 lbs.  I'm scheduled for an appointment with a plastic surgeon in June to plan my skin removal on my tummy.  I guess I'll need to put that on hold until I get this issue taken care of. 

http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/oknee/blog/2010/03/26/all- about-iron/

this link goes to an excellent post about iron supplements. Please read it, the lady who wrote it is very active on the Ontario forum, and an expert on WLS and iron.

Thank you so very much!!!

Try this link, its excellent information.

I contacted my Dr and she is referring me to a hematologist...thank you all for your help...I can always count on good advise here!!!