Last month I got a full blood panel done and found out I was iron-deficient. The lab value was 9.3 outside of the "normal" values of 12-15. So I started taking a bunch of Iron and B 12 and I thought I was actually feeling better. However, when I got a recheck yesterday the thing was still going down -- now it's 8.7. It's weird. I do feel better. I'm not so tired, and I don't have any of the symptoms they talk about online like chewing ice or eating dirt or extreme pallor and etcetera.

What I'm wondering is if maybe my serum iron *is* improving even though my levels appear to be going down. Is that possible? I just don't feel that bad.

Anybody with any experience with this?

Sorry. I don't know anything about this issue. I just wanted to wish you good luck in dealing with it!

I and 1 1/2 years post sleeve and was sleeved 8/28/2010. I had my 1st work up after surgery with my PCP in January 2011. Everything was great. I am down 85 lbs and to my goal wt of 150. I just returned back to my PCP January 2012 for my annual checkup and I am now anemic. My Hgb is 9.1 & Hct is 31.5. All of my blood levels are low related to anemia. I went in today for an iron study work up. I am very concerned about this. Has anyone else had any problems with anemia after the sleeve??? If so, what did you do about it? Thanks for your help and advise.

This is what I'm finding out about anemia.

First of all, the proton pump inhibitors also slow Iron absorption. Most people who are anemic who are taking one take their iron very far apart from their prilosec.

If you're taking a drugstore variety iron pill, chances are you're not going to be able to absorb it, Plus there is really not enough of it in one pill to make a difference, You have to take three or four of them a day and that can get cumbersome if you're also taking other meds.

food with iron pills slows absorption.

Huge chelator of iron is BLACK TEA, Studies have shown it blocks 65 percent of the iron you take in -- and that's from one cup. coffee is different. It will slow absorption if you drink caffeine with your iron or after it, but not if you have a cup of coffee one hour beforehand.

The most bioavailable iron is in liquid form. Get some Floradix, stop drinking tea, and if you take a Prevacid, etc; in the morning, take your floradix at night with a couple of c chewables.

I havent been taking anything. I just got my labs back this week informing me that I needed to follow up with an iron study lab and possibly EGD and or colon check to make sure that I dont have any bleeding anywhere. I am hoping and praying that this is all lack of iron intake problem v/s anything else. I dont eat much meat so I feel pretty sure that its all lack of nutrition based. I am waiting on outcome of labs today and will follow up with doctor on Monday with resluts and directions.

How is this going CW? I too was found to be low iron and have not had my recheck yet. I have heard iron is the toughest one to get back up once it is low. IN addition to taking iron I have really stepped up iron rich food- artichokes, oysters, yes liver too lol.