Iron levels keep going down...advice needed from the ladies xx

[emma-louise]

Before I had my bypass done 4 yrs in sept at Salford hospital,dr ammori and his team told me I needed to sort my heavy periods out due to me having issues with my iron level being on the lower side.
He advised once I had my bypass,and iron is not easy absorbed afterwards I would run into problems and become very ill.

So before my operation was scheduled I had a mirena coil fitted at my local hospital,so I was putting things in place to help with my health after the bypass.
This became a nightmare!!...the coil made me bleed for 8 mths,headaches and started having the most painful(boil) type spots on my face.
I hated the damn thing,several times I wanted to ask to be took out but kept thinking of my health after the bypass.

Had my gastric bypass done....and was loosing my weight steady..but lost someone else too..
The coil fell out into the loo..all those months of coping with it.
I was not having another done!

Anyway while back on here I posted my iron level was at 9,doctors says I need to improve it.
So increased iron to 3 a day,they gave me bad stomach aches so switched to another type,they are a little better but not free of stomach pains.
Had bloods done again Monday,and whilst having my b12 on Friday I asked the nurse to check my results.
She told me iron is at 4..

What are the recommended iron levels? I'm not sure and the nurse says she's wasn't too sure either,but I've a letter coming in the post as the doctor would like to speak to me about my recent bloods.
As I asked them to check calcuim level,iron,etc.

I've tryed so many tablets to help with blood loss and even asked to have a hysterectomy but they said no,I'm too young.
It was also mentioned I might have to have iron transfusion.
Now it's started to dawn on me the reason I'm cold all the time(I wear 3 pairs a socks on feet)just feeling tired,going a tiny bit dizzy.
It seems like the doctors warning me before my operation is all coming true..
How can I ever get my iron level right,when a bypassed body doesn't absorb iron well?
And what does iron level 4 mean?
Sorry this is sooo long x

 

[chrisa]

Aww dear you are having a time of it Emma, I don't now either what the required levels are did the nurse not tell you. Maybe you should make a n appointment with your GP and find out once and for all what is going on? xx

 

[emma-louise]

Aww dear you are having a time of it Emma, I don't now either what the required levels are did the nurse not tell you. Maybe you should make a n appointment with your GP and find out once and for all what is going on? xx

Hi Chrisa,

Yes I've made an appointment to get into the doctors,the nurse couldn't advise at all x

 

[Yvessa]

From googling the internet I think 13 is the lowest it should be
Common laboratory  values: CBC, electrolytes, lipoproteins, albumin, wbc with differential etc

 

[chrisa]

Pleased you going to get some advice and help that's good info Yvessa be interesting to see if the doc says the same xx

 

[Yvessa]

Is it possible to try the implant or the mini pill? The implant stopped my periods for years,

 

[dottydalmation]

I assume it's you are referring to your haemoglobin (Hb ) being 4? Yes definitely anaemic, tablets will not fix this. You will also need to have your Ferritin level checked, this is your iron store and is a true indicator of your anaemia. I have the same problem and have ferrinject iron infusion . After I have full dose it's like having a spray tan! I fill with colour and energy!
I'm also a midwife so understand the blood values if you need any help. Blood transfusion will not help either, you need a haematology referral ASAP.

 

[emma-louise]

Is it possible to try the implant or the mini pill? The implant stopped my periods for years,

If these are hormone based I have to be careful as breast cancer runs in the family so I'm advised not to have anything hormone based.
So I don't know what I can try yvessa x

 

[emma-louise]

I assume it's you are referring to your haemoglobin (Hb ) being 4? Yes definitely anaemic, tablets will not fix this. You will also need to have your Ferritin level checked, this is your iron store and is a true indicator of your anaemia. I have the same problem and have ferrinject iron infusion . After I have full dose it's like having a spray tan! I fill with colour and energy! I'm also a midwife so understand the blood values if you need any help. Blood transfusion will not help either, you need a haematology referral ASAP.

Hi I was just told I'm at level 4 I was 9 but that was only several weeks ago,it seems to have gone down quickly.
I'm in the doctors in 2 weeks so I don't know what they may suggest,and to be honest my local hospital is appalling so I'm dreading if I've got to go there.

 

[Yvessa]

They are hormone based sadly surely they would reconsider the hysterectomy on health grounds?

 

[emma-louise]

They are hormone based sadly surely they would reconsider the hysterectomy on health grounds?

I'm starting to wonder this too,
I can't carry on like this,and wonder if I should suggest this option again when I'm at the GPs.
On saying this it's quite a major op isn't it,and I've really had enough of hospitals and operations.

 

[Yvessa]

I is definitely and it will affect your hormones big time. Maybe wait and sw how the infusions go? Also get in touch with angiemason who's having similar issues.

 

[natclaire33)]

When I saw my gp and he agreed to refer me to the bariatric physician he did a set of blood tests they all came back fine apart from my blood sugar being little high so had to have a fasting test thankfully that came back normal. When I saw the physician on tuesday just gone and she agreed to refer me for surgery she said that I needed to take iron tablets so will tell my gp to do another blood test to check the iron levels as I was boarding on anaemic, I am now confused so am waiting for the gp to contact me apaet from over the counter iron tablets any other suggestions about how to get more iron into me would be gratefully received, thanks everyone

 

[ThinnerJemima]

This is what I had towards the end of last year, and there's an approximate plan to have this annually.

Intramuscular : one jab in each thigh
Hydroxocobalamin 1mg - regular B12, have this any way, the more the merrier
Cholecalciferol 300,000 units - D3

Intravenously : one baggie at a time
Ferinject 1000mg - Iron
Pabrinex ampule I & ampule II - vitamin B & C

My iron was then high above normal range in my last 3 month bloods, waiting to see what it is now. I'm reckoning in normal and dropping (like the proverbial stone).

This is the only thing that made my January surgery happen, and until I can resolve my nutrition issues this is probably my best option.

 

[emma-louise]

This is what I had towards the end of last year, and there's an approximate plan to have this annually. Intramuscular : one jab in each thigh Hydroxocobalamin 1mg - regular B12, have this any way, the more the merrier Cholecalciferol 300,000 units - D3 Intravenously : one baggie at a time Ferinject 1000mg - Iron Pabrinex ampule I & ampule II - vitamin B & C My iron was then high above normal range in my last 3 month bloods, waiting to see what it is now. I'm reckoning in normal and dropping (like the proverbial stone). This is the only thing that made my January surgery happen, and until I can resolve my nutrition issues this is probably my best option.

Do you mind me asking what deficiencies do you have to have these injections etc?
When they last did my bloods I asked them to have everything Checked,as I was deficient in some levels.
Regarding my iron that's a 4,they didn't seem that bothered as I wasn't offered a soonish appointment to discuss bloods.
But my last period confirmed that it's not healthy to be loosing this amount every month.
So not sure what's going to happen,and I'm just left feeling cold all the time,going dizzy again and my feet feeling numb at times?

 

[ThinnerJemima]

I was deficient just about everything, things that are too low or too high on my form are in bold, there were only 7 lines that weren't bold.

Iron should be 13-150, in December I was high after the infusion, but a bleeding ulcer for 6 weeks, surgery in January has now dropped that to 50 on the test I had a couple of weeks ago. I'm normal now, but my next one in 3 months will be another interesting read.

I'm cold & tired all the time. My periods have stopped since my bypass last May, my hair (everywhere) and nails have also stopped growing.

If my iron was 4, I'd probably be pressing the panic button.

 

[emma-louise]

I was deficient just about everything, things that are too low or too high on my form are in bold, there were only 7 lines that weren't bold. Iron should be 13-150, in December I was high after the infusion, but a bleeding ulcer for 6 weeks, surgery in January has now dropped that to 50 on the test I had a couple of weeks ago. I'm normal now, but my next one in 3 months will be another interesting read. I'm cold & tired all the time. My periods have stopped since my bypass last May, my hair (everywhere) and nails have also stopped growing. If my iron was 4, I'd probably be pressing the panic button.

I'm in doctors Friday,I'm cold and tired all the time too.
It does seem at sometimes I've swapped my "fat" health issues with a set of new ones(if you know what I mean).
Makes me wonder why they aren't worried about my iron levels??..I'm confused.