Feeling sick and tired, cant increase Ferritin levels

sunshinespring
on 4/12/19 3:09 pm - Bay Area, CA

Hello all,

My ferritin levels have dropped again to a low 6, I've posted before that I have to fight for infusions with my doctors and that is still the case, while I am feeling completely out of it, she doesn't seem to care about it.

I've tried so many iron supplements, take 4-5 pills everyday of blood builder, I eat liver, greens, done the beet juicing even if I dump from the sugar on the beets (weird but I dump with them)

I feel I've done it all and I am conscious that this is going to be a lifelong issue since my gastric bypass in 2008, I am trying to figure out how can I help myself, if you have found a way to increase the iron/ ferritin levels please let me know,

My old doctor approved me in the past years for 2 rounds of infusions when I was a low 2 and the second time a 4, my current doctor says that I am an 8 and I am fine,

I feel really sick at this point and while I wait for the county to change my doctors I am afraid to drop even lower.

Thank you.

Au_Contraire
on 4/12/19 3:59 pm

You poor thing! Can you switch to a new doc?

sunshinespring
on 4/12/19 4:20 pm - Bay Area, CA

Hello,

I've been trying for a while, I have called directly to the county and asked for help hopefully they can help me, I just hate to complain about the doctor but is time I do something and advocate for my health.

Au_Contraire
on 4/12/19 4:31 pm

It sounds like you are not being listened to by this doc at all. Complain away! We must be out own best advocates. Keep us posted,and good luck!

Gwen M.
on 4/15/19 5:10 am
VSG on 03/13/14

Good!! Sadly, we are often the only advocate we have for our own health. :/

I know you've said you've tried everything, but I was wondering if you've tried sublingual iron? The kind that dissolve under your tongue? I know that some people have better absorption with those.

VSG with Dr. Salameh - 3/13/2014
Diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and started Vyvanse - 7/22/2016
Reconstructive Surgeries with Dr. Michaels - 6/5/2017 (LBL & brachioplasty), 8/14/2017 (UBL & mastopexy), 11/6/2017 (medial leg lift)

Age 42 Height 5'4" HW 319 (1/3/2014) SW 293 (3/13/2014) CW 149 (7/16/2017)
Next Goal 145 - normal BMI | Total Weight Lost 170

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sunshinespring
on 4/16/19 2:31 pm - Bay Area, CA

Hello Gwen,

yes I have tried it and no change, so far the ones that move my numbers a little bit is Proferrin and blood builder and I mean my numbers move from like 8 to 9 in a month or last December I was super excited I went from 8 to 12, not sure why maybe because this last couple months I've had lots of tummy issues.

still looking for something that will help and still waiting for the doctors to reply to my request, is been a week and is time to call in and see what's going to happen.

Regards,

Grim_Traveller
on 4/12/19 6:41 pm
RNY on 08/21/12

Some people just don't absorb iron well. Even without WLS. Back in my grandparents day, Geritol, "for iron poor blood," was all the rage.

6'3" tall, male.

Highest weight was 475. RNY on 08/21/12. Current weight: 198.

M1 -24; M2 -21; M3 -19; M4 -21; M5 -13; M6 -21; M7 -10; M8 -16; M9 -10; M10 -8; M11 -6; M12 -5.

sunshinespring
on 4/12/19 6:51 pm - Bay Area, CA

This one I have not tried, I will look into it and go buy it right away,

Thank you!

catwoman7
on 4/12/19 7:43 pm
RNY on 06/03/15

I don't think he meant it that way. He was just saying that even non-WLS patients have trouble absorbing iron and have since the dawn of time, thus, those old Geritol commercials. I remember them from when I was a kid.

with a ferritin level that low, infusions are the only thing that's going to bring it up.

RNY 06/03/15 by Michael Garren (Madison, WI)

HW: 373 SW: 316 GW: 150 LW: 138 CW: 163

Grim_Traveller
on 4/13/19 3:26 am
RNY on 08/21/12

Yup.

6'3" tall, male.

Highest weight was 475. RNY on 08/21/12. Current weight: 198.

M1 -24; M2 -21; M3 -19; M4 -21; M5 -13; M6 -21; M7 -10; M8 -16; M9 -10; M10 -8; M11 -6; M12 -5.

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