Iron-Deficiency Anemia? Looking for insight...

Hi, everyone!

I started feeling very fatigued and weak in about November or December and it got progressively worse.  I recently went to my PCP and she did some labs which showed iron deficiency anemia.  Here are my relevant numbers:

 

Iron  24  (37-145)  LOW

Transferrin 393 (200-360) HIGH

Calculated TIBC 550  (250-460) HIGH

% Saturation 4% (20-55%)  LOW

Ferritin 10 (13-400) LOW

Hemoglobin 11.3 (11.9-15.8)   LOW

Hematocrit 36.6 (37.4-48.3) LOW

MCV 76 (82-99) LOW

MCH 24 (27-33) LOW

RDW-CV 17 (11-15) HIGH

 

 

 

OK, so I've been taking bariatric advantage, which is an iron plus "c" vitamin for years.  My doctor told me to double it.  So I'd be getting about 300% of recommended iron.  She is also sending me to a gastroenterologist to make sure there is no GI bleeding. 

 

My questions for you all...

 

Is this iron deficiency serious - like are my numbers bad or pretty standard with anemia?  

 

Should a try a different type of iron rather than the bariatirc advantage?  What has worked for you?

 

Are sleeve patients prone to this kind of anemia?

 

Thanks so much for any insights and ideas!  

 

Your ferritin is VERY low.  I doubt you can bring that number up with supplements.  I would make an appointment with a Hematologist ASAP.  My ferritin was 10 and I was prescribed iron infusions.  I had to go through 3 rounds of infusions to get my ferritin up to a good range.  If it goes below 50 my PCP has me go in for infusions.  Many WLS peeps just do not absorb iron orally.

Look at your vitamin bottle label.  Does it have calcium?  Iron and calcium can not be taken together.  Iron needs to be taken with vitamin C and at least 2 hours apart from calcium.  Iron also should not be taken with coffee or black tea.  They block absorption.

I didn't realize that was considered super low... I thought my ferritin looked kind of borderline and close o the lower end of normal.

 

I do take my iron and C separately for other things, but thank for for thinking to mention that.  I didn't know about the coffee thing - eek!  I will be more mindful of that for sure - thank you!  

Rocky is right. Try to find hema that treats other WLS people. They often are more understanding about our poor or lack of absorptions of iron. 

Once you bring it up with infusions- you may be able to keep it up with summplements . But getting it up from the low you are - may take a very very long time - if it is even possible. 

In last few years I had total of 3 series of iron infusions.  For now - this is working.  When my ferritin drops below 30 I get infusions. 

 

I wonder if the gastroentrologist would about able to do infusions?  I have a PPO, so I can "self-refer" if I need too, so I can try to find a hematologist if the GI doctor cannot help.

 

Thank you for your response! 

some can - some don't know what they are talking about.  I have a good gastro now - but my first one - was an "educated moron". I dropped him after one visit.  

 

My gastro would not, so my PCP. Referred me to a hematologist.

i got an infusion last May and then numbers were starting to dive again by End of November so I went for another infusion at the end of December since I had met my deductible for last year.

he says I will probably be a twice a year patient from now on.

i just don't absorb enough iron from food .... And the supplements make my reflux worse, and the PPi's reduce acid, so food is not as broken down ... So not as much iron available from food ..... Sort of a vicious cycle.

Where your ferritin is, that is still a tiny dose of iron. I know people who take 10 times that much, and still cannot bribg yheir ferritin up without iron infusions.

This is very, very serious. Both in day to day living and permanent damage. And if you were ever injured, bled, needed surgery in a hurry, etc, you are totally screwed. You have just about zero reserves.

I would run to a hematologist, preferably one who knows about WLS, and ask for iron infusions.

If your user name indicates you are looking into plastic surgery, fix your iron and ferritin first. Any good plastic surgeon should refuse to do plastics if they knew these numbers.

A lot of VSGers think they are not prone to vitamin and mineral deficiencies, but they are. This is common.

PS If you take too much of that brand of iron, you will get horribly constipated. Heme iron is better and non constipating, as is carbonyl iron.

Thanks!  I already had plastics a couple of years ago, so it's kind of an outdated username. LOL!

 

I didn't think VSG would be prone to any deficiencies, honestly.  As long as I took my vitamins.  Yeah, obviously I was wrong! 

I'm glad you posted this.  Gives the rest of us an important "heads-up"!