Re: Re: Alisa:Iron question

[Guest guest]

Hey, Alisa,

I think it's our bodies shifting. I had two slow months - according to me, not

my doc <g>. I was doing the " dance " - down 3, up 2. I also didn't have a

period for three months and had to take hormones to get it (twice, as they

didn't work the first time). Talk about holding fluid and being frustrated!

But, I kept up with my exercise and protein and as of today, have dropped a

bunch and am about 1# from the Century Club <g>. I had finally gotten my period

and now that it's over, I am losing steadily again. My doc's nutritionist says

men average about 1# a day and women average about .5# a day. We are right on

target.

The other reason I don't think it's iron is because I don't take any extra. My

doc doesn't have any take iron until our 6 month labs - she wants us to get it

in our vitamin supplement and in iron-rich food. I just got the results of my 6

month labs and my iron level is perfect - I don't need any extra (thank goodness

as I hate iron pills).

Our bodies are going to fluctuate - we lose fast then slow down then pick back

up. As long as we do what we are supposed to do, we will be on track. I know

it's frustrating, I wanted to scream those two months, but I also knew I was

doing what I was supposed to do and I would start up again with a steady loss.

Happy Holidays!

Hugs,

[Guest guest]

Alisa,

<<Shift baby shift! LOL.>>

LOL!

<<I'm just glad that I'm in the downhill rush and it's all good!!!>>

Me, too - for both of us. The " dance " is not fun!

<<I've been working out hard for a while and the scale was SLOWWWWWWWWWWLY

moving and now bam! But I am definitely happy!!!!!!!!!>>

Yup, what I am coming out of, too!

But, like I always say, better the scale is going down - even slowly - then up!!

Hugs,

[Guest guest]

Hi --

I am so glad that your labs came back good on the iron levels.

I don't want to second guess your doctor, but I want YOU to be aware of some

research regarding this surgery and the after-effects.

The blood levels are the last place for iron to show up as deficient (same as

with calcium). We have storage of iron in our bodies, and the stores will keep

the blood levels ok, until the stores are depleted. Then blod transfusions are

often required to get the iron levels back up.

So -- instead of seeing if your iron levels are 'OK' on your labs, you might

want to check them yourself each round of labs. Make sure that they are not only

in the 'acceptable' levels, but they are not lower than they were in the

previous set of labs. Get a copy of the results from pre-surgery, and each of

your post-op labs. Make sure the levels are not lower, even if that lower

number is still in the 'acceptable' range...

Does this make sense?

just a thought...

jb-bb

BromleyH@... wrote:

Hey, Alisa,

I think it's our bodies shifting. I had two slow months - according to me, not

my doc <g>. I was doing the " dance " - down 3, up 2. I also didn't have a

period for three months and had to take hormones to get it (twice, as they

didn't work the first time). Talk about holding fluid and being frustrated!

But, I kept up with my exercise and protein and as of today, have dropped a

bunch and am about 1# from the Century Club <g>. I had finally gotten my period

and now that it's over, I am losing steadily again. My doc's nutritionist says

men average about 1# a day and women average about .5# a day. We are right on

target.

The other reason I don't think it's iron is because I don't take any extra. My

doc doesn't have any take iron until our 6 month labs - she wants us to get it

in our vitamin supplement and in iron-rich food. I just got the results of my 6

month labs and my iron level is perfect - I don't need any extra (thank goodness

as I hate iron pills).

Our bodies are going to fluctuate - we lose fast then slow down then pick back

up. As long as we do what we are supposed to do, we will be on track. I know

it's frustrating, I wanted to scream those two months, but I also knew I was

doing what I was supposed to do and I would start up again with a steady loss.

Happy Holidays!

Hugs,

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Jodi for your concern <g>, and yes, I check my levels myself whenever I

have labs drawn. I always make comparisons. My iron at 6 months was well

within normal - not even close to low - actually hadn't varied since pre-ops

labs. I had a talk with my doc and the nutrionist for her office and they feel

that with my multi-vit and iron-rich foods, there is no reason right now to add

iron pills. Too much iron in the body can affect us in adverse ways - and not

just constipation - but, can be really harmful to our bodies. True, as WLS

patients, we are different than the average person taking vitamins, but we still

do need to be careful of too much iron.

The only time I was every anemic was when I was pregnant with son #2. I stopped

taking my prenatal vits because they made me really ill (I had terrible nausea

with both pregnancies). My ob had me start taking them at night and that helped

a lot.

I take my multi and my sublingual B-12 and my calcium everyday. I once forgot

my B-12 for about 3 days and when I started taking it again, felt no different.

I know some say if they go without and then take one, they feel a burst of

energy. I don't. Don't know why - guess it's just how my body works <g>. But,

I take them for all the reasons I am supposed to take them.

Believe me, I have had lots of talks with my doc and nutrionist about iron as it

was a huge concern of mine.

Thanks again, Jodi. The care and concern on this loop is just awesome!

Hugs,