Take your iron

I've been pretty compliant since surgery with the majority of my vitamins and track everything for tends and adjust as necessary. 

The one supplement that I have always struggled with any consistency is iron.  Yanno the rules, the 2 hours away from calcium, dairy, caffeine, grains!  So since I've NEVER in my life had iron problems (even while pregnant) I just seem to ignore the iron. 

Holy Mackerel, my ferritin dropped significantly since December.  Last May it was 12.4 (just above range low of 10).  So in December I had them redraw most of my labs since I'd met my max out of pocket and ferritin was at 15, going in the RIGHT direction.

Doc called yesterday to see if I was taking iron, ummmm NO not regularly.  So I get my butt chewed out and told take it every day and come in for new labs in 6 weeks.  We will probably be looking at infusions.  My ferritin went from 15 to 8 in 5 months.  Unsaturated IBC 361 (H), Iron Saturation is 17% (L).  Serum Iron and H&H are fine.

So even though I've NEVER, EVER had problems with iron being low in my life even when pregnant and I don't have a monthly anymore (hysterectomy) I'm now anemic.  WHICH explains the lack of energy that continues to plague me.  All of others are good, Bs and D rock.  Did not have a PTH test done, not going to worry about it right now with D and Calcium fine and PTH was good in December.

Thank you for the reminder.  Like you, I don't have a cycle anymore and with the timing, iron sometimes gets forgotten. 

I also do not have the cycle anymore... yet my iron dropped...

 thanks for the kick in the pants.. I take iron last right before bed and I forget a lot of the time.. and I have been feeling tired so thanks for the kick in the butt to not forget!

you might want to ask about taking iron before bed.  I think you are supposed to set up for an hour after taking iron for it to absorb.


Tamara

 I didn't know that thanks Tamara, I acutally take it at 9 and I don't go to bed until 11 I just mean it's the last thing I take.. but I will be sure to take it with enough time before I go to sleep! 

thanks again

 My little trick is that I take my iron in the am with my other vitamins but calcium later in the day b/c they are my TREATS (Calcet rocks!). Iron at 1 month was a bit low but surgeon didn't say I should take more. However, since my copper is high and iron beats out copper, I take extra every other day.

Yea.. what she said people...

BTW: that's why I decided to take the profferin ES. Heme iron.  It can be taken with food, coffee, tea, even calcium...

Wait, I have the Proferrin ES also but wasn't taking it consistant either because of my coffee addiction.  I didn't realize the Heme Iron didn't have to be separated also. 

I'm going to do the Proferrin and Poly-Iron 150 daily and see what happens.  I also have Tender Iron I could take.  Actually waiting on a response from Michelle on what she suggest. 

See I DO buy the iron fully anticipating taking it.  :(

I just take it with the rest of my pills-  they might decrease the absorption but at least I'm getting something.

Pup