I’ve always been anemic, even as a child. I had my Gastric Bypass in December 2012. As of late I’ve had an increasing problem with my blood levels and several of my vitamins and minerals testing dangerously low, especially my Iron levels.

I found an article on the issue and how intravenous infusions may successfully address the issue: http://bariatrictimes.com/intravenous-micronutrient-therapy-imnt-for-gastric-bypass-patients-a-solution-to-complications-of-an-often-unrecognized-problem/

Has anybody else had this problem and if so what option(s) did you explore to address it?

Have you been taking the recommended vitamin and mineral supplements?

16 hours ago, Stetdadee said:

I’ve always been anemic, even as a child. I had my Gastric Bypass in December 2012. As of late I’ve had an increasing problem with my blood levels and several of my Vitamins and minerals testing dangerously low, especially my Iron levels.

I found an article on the issue and how intravenous infusions may successfully address the issue: http://bariatrictimes.com/intravenous-micronutrient-therapy-imnt-for-gastric-bypass-patients-a-solution-to-complications-of-an-often-unrecognized-problem/

Has anybody else had this problem and if so what option(s) did you explore to address it?

A friend of mine who had RNY several years ago has severe Iron deficiencies. She regularly gets Iron Infusions.

Don't know if the iron infusions hurt, but baby the shots sure do, they do what they call Z-track, but they sting and then ache & ache.

Don't know if the Iron infusions hurt, but baby the shots sure do, they do what they call Z-track, but they sting and then ache & ache.

The iron infusion doesn't hurt at all unlike the rotten injections. Much more effective too. But trying to get one in Ireland is like gold dust. They just won't do them here (I had one for anaemia in Australia).

Make sure you’re NOT taking your iron supplements at the same time (or within 2 hours) as the following items as they will interfere with absorption of each other:

- Calcium

- Multi vitamins containing iron & calcium (instead take a multi that doesn’t contain iron such as One A Day Women’s 50+ Advantage and then take iron by itself and 2-4 hours earlier or later)

- Thyroid medication

- Heartburn / GERD medication

- Caffeine / coffee

Note that some post-ops do not absorb iron supplements well, even when taken at the right time and/or dosage. For those people, periodic iron infusions may be required long term.

I get iron infusions. Started with them before my surgery cause always running anemic. You just sit in the chair and get an IV drip with the meds for about hr. My doc rechecks my labs every 3 months to see when I need more.