low iron and primary care dr wont order iron infusion

I seen weight loss surgeon on Wednesday last week and again my ferretin was 8.  I am taking the iron in my multi vitamin plus the extra iron int the integra iron

Integra iron is made of ferrous fumarate and polysaccharate iron  which is equivalant to 125 mg of elemental iron.

It is suppose to restore the stored iron levels.

My surgeon says i need the iron infusion.  We called my primary care physician to see if he would order them so it will be closer to home but he does not feel comfortable ordering them. 

My hemoglobin is 12 and my hematocrit is 34.9.

My weight loss surgeon is 1 hour and 15 minutes from work.  I guess I will be making the trip to Hickory to have the iron infusions.

Some days I am really tired, other days I am okay.  Really frustrated with primary care physician.


Tamara

Ugh, Tamara! So sorry that your primary care physician wouldn't order the tests! Glad to hear that you are not wiped out by the low iron! I am always worried this might be an issue for me when I get my surgery, as I have borderline iron now.  Hopefully you won't have to have many infusions!

yeah my iron was borderline before sugery.  I encourage you to start taking iron now.  Even if you have the sleeve you want all of your labs to be good going into surgery.  I wish I had known mine was that low at pre op.

Tamara

Thanks for the tip... My iron is also low and hoping to have surgery soon.... So I will jump on some Iron supplements now... Thanks for the advice!

that is tough... but have you consider taking heme iron? I do not thing the iron you taking will help you much,  Carbonyl Iron is best for us - based on some of sutied and people opinoins. Then there is the heme iron - even better.  I take that  and I get good results...

http://wlsvitagarten.com/2010/07/28/iron-deficient-anemia-as -complication-of-rny/

Actually I didn't absorb the carbonyl iron either.  I was taking 100 mg of carbonyl iron daily and my iron was 8 so that is why they switched me to the integra iron


Tamara

It may be time to look for a new PCP

I would definitely switch to heme, as a matter of fact I DID!! I got the infusions from a hematologist, maybe your PCP will give you a referral to a hematologist and let the specialist order you some infusions?? :D

And, definitely add some heme iron into the mix if you can, it should absorb much better than the fumarate and polysaccharide irons, neither of which are good in low acid environments (like the ones created in tiny pouches).

Huggles!!
~Sarah~