X-Post: VSG, PPIs, Gluten, Iron Absorption - my research & experiment

Thanks Sara - I will message if any questions come up - right now I am going through the fridge and pantry, removing, among other things, everything made with regular soy sauce. Pain in the butt, really!

I am focusing on finding gluten free stuff that isn't just gluten free junk (like a lot of the fat free stuff out there). I think I will be best served by focussing on protein, vegetables, eggs, and a bit of dairy, since I seem to tolerate that well.

Very interesting. I'm a pre-opper--so I have to ask--are you glad you had the vsg or do these complications outweigh the benefit? Would you do it all over again?

Thank you so much for sharing your research!

Pam

I would go through this surgery EVERY SINGLE YEAR if that is what it took to keep feeling as good as I do now.

Although dealing with reflux and the iron is a pain, it is also something that isn't that difficult to remedy - if I really need to I can have iron infusions - just working on making this unecessary.

I have resolved a ton of health problems:

High blood pressure
Pre-diabetic
Uncontrolled PCOS
Lots of arthritis pain
High cholesterol
Urinary incontinence
Unable to exercise and losing mobility rapidly

Every single co-morbidity that I had with my obesity has resolved and if I need to have periodic iron infusions and take 20mg of Nexium a day for the rest of my life, it will still be worth it! I am SOOOO grateful for this surgery and believe that it has probably saved my life, and has certainly extended it, as well as provided for an imeasurable improvement in my quality of life!

Awesome! That is so good to hear! Admittedly, it's a little scary to hear about complications. But knowing you'd do it again (and again) gives me perspective about what a powerful tool this has been for you!

Thanks again!

Hugs,
Pam

I take Hemax which is a combo Iron/B12/Vitamin C/stool softener. My Ferritin was 10 this last go-round. 70-90 is considered 'optimal.'

Things to consider when taking iron:

--- No caffeine, Dairy, or whole grains 2 hours before or 1 hour after taking iron
--- No Synthroid/Levoxyl or any other for of levothyroxine within 4 hours either direction of taking iron. 

If you take thyroid meds, make sure you get full blood panesl done every 3 months, not just TSH.  Celiac's disease (gluten sensitivity) is heavily associated with thyroid disorders as is ferritin deficiency.

Thanks! I do follow the iron rules, though supposedly they are not required for the heme iron. Thyroid function has been tested and is fine, so we are looking to see if eliminating gluten helps resolve reflux AND absorption problems.

I will look in the Hemax - do you know what form of Iron it is?

thanks so much for sharing your info!

Margo, I was not able to get off Prilose****il I got off wheat/gluten. I got off wheat after reading the book "Wheat Belly" by Dr. William Davis. It changed my life. You can order it on Amazon. I thought I would never get off Prilosec. It was the last drug I had to ditch. I kept trying to reduce the dose, etc and would suffer terrible heartburn on day 2. Then, eliminating the wheat did the trick and I came off of it several weeks after wheat elimination. I have been totally wheat free now for 12 weeks. Good luck.

That is fantastic and encouraging to hear. Wheat Belly is one of the sources of information that I am finding convincing in terms of adopting a more paleo diet. I think that if I am feeling better, I will not be so crabby about eliminating a food item that has been a rather beloved component of my diet! The heartburn I get without the Nexium is horrendous and would love to eliminate it! So glad to hear of your fantastic results. I am thinking that I will give it a go for a few months, at least until we check the iron again, rather than the one month that the doctor asked me to try.

I am 3 months out and still take Prevaicid most days or else my tummy is grumbling.

I take 3 proferrin a day as my iron stores are non existent too and I give myself a B 12 shot monthly.  Hoping my numbers are better next blood check.