Postmenopausal Iron

I will be 56 at the time of my surgery, My NUT said I will need to take 3 Bariataric Advantage Iron pills a day 18 mg,  I thought postmenopausal women didn't need as much.  Do you all take extra iron each day?

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery recommends a total of 36 mg iron a day for postmenopausal women and 54 to 63 mg a day for women that still menstruate.  Unless, of course, you labs indicate you need more.  Many people do need more.

I had a hysterectomy a number of years ago, but still had one ovary when I had surgery at age 45 six years ago.  For 4 years, I was able to not take any iron beyond what was in my multi, but my levels started dropping (slowly at first, then more rapidly the next couple of years), so I added 60 mg of elemental carbonyl iron (with 400mg of Vit C). That gave me good lab results (meaning it stopped the falling level and brought it up just very slightly), but less than that probably wouldn't have been enough.  

I would start with what your NUT advised and see how it goes by the time you get your 6-month and 12-month labs.  Keep copies of all your lab work so you can see trends.  If I did not have them, I wouldn't have seen my iron dropping and the surgeons's office didn't note it, of course (and I would have been anemic by the time I let it drop another year).

Lora

I had a hysterectomy and have to take iron. My iron levels and ferritin dropped after my hysterectomy and another procedure. I've had to have two rounds of infusions post hysterectomy.

My last labs were good actually my ferritin is too high which they think is due to some inflammation I was dealing with.

Your labs will dictate what and how much you'll need to take.