I had a gastric bypass about 6 years old. Fast forward to today. I was recently hospitalized with severe anemia (hemoglobin 5.2). I had to have emergency blood transfusions. I'm still receiving weekly IV-iron infusions (8 weeks). I am also deficient in several nutrients despite taking my bariatric vitamins. My bariatric surgeon figured out the reason for the anemia. Two ulcers detected by an EGD (upper scope). I was slowly bleeding out. At one point, my family thought I was falling asleep... when I was really passing out. Anemia hurts. Your whole body aches. Recovery is slow... the fatigue is unreal but I'll get there.

I'm happy that you figured it out and are being treated! I had severe anemia as a child, its horrible to deal with! Glad you're on the mend!

1. Iron Deficiency and Anemia 10 Years After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass for Severe Obesity

2. Iron Deficiency After Gastric Bypass Surgery

3. Risks of Bariatric Surgery: Anemia

4. Anemia After Bariatric Surgery: More than Just Iron Deficiency

5. Hematological Disorders following Gastric Bypass Surgery: Emerging Concepts of the Interplay between Nutritional Deficiency and Inflammation

Edited September 5, 20242 yr by Missouri-Lee's Summit

Glad the cause has been found and you are on the road to recovery.

I have pernicious anemia and for that reason at the first surgical consultation the surgeon said she thought sleeve would be the better option for me due to later complications with anemia and bypass. I was also told that unlike most sleeve patients who can stop the recommended bariatric vitamin regime after the first year that I was consider continuing on them for the rest of my life, I don't have an issue with that as no harm in taking them.

sorry that happened to you. I know there are some people for whom oral iron supplements don't "work" that well, so they have to have occasional iron infusions, although that doesn't seem to be super common (although I'm only basing that on how often I read/hear about it here and on other forums, so it may be more common than I think). Were you getting your ferritin levels checked at least yearly? It takes a long time for your iron stores to deplete, so I'm a little surprised they didn't catch this before it became a crisis. Although you did say there was some bleeding in your digestive tract, so maybe that was the culprit (?) . Anyway, I'm so sorry you're having to deal with this.

EDITED to add: interesting articles. And yes, bleeding in the digestive tract can definitely cause iron deficiency anemia. One of the articles talked about inflammation (which is common in obese patients) can also throw off chemical balances, which can affect vitamin/mineral absorption (for example, iron - probably explains why some people don't absorb oral iron supplements that well - although I've read they tend to do better with heme rather than non-heme iron - in fact, I know of several who take Proferrin, a heme source, because it "works" better for them than other forms of iron supplements). Anyway, interesting topic. thanks for posting the articles. And again, sorry you're dealing with this.

Edited September 5, 20242 yr by catwoman7

Yes, the ulcers were definitely the culprits. I had an EGD (upper scope) to confirm it. I was slowly bleeding out. The weekly IV-iron infusions haven't shown any rapid results. I've been told that this is a slow process and could take weeks, if not months, before my labs are in ideal ranges. My hemoglobin is no longer in the fives. It is only in the eights, but that's progress.

I am still dragging. No energy. I am a food pantry volunteer. I also provide transportation to at least three families who don't have a car. A homeless man named Gordon relies on me to help him with enough water and protein-rich canned food for the week. My husband keeps telling me that I can't help anyone unless I help myself (heal) first. It's hard for me to do that. It was during one of these pantry trips that I passed out in the parking lot (while in the lineup car queue for assistance). I hadn't been diagnosed at that point, so it was quite scary. Fortunately, one of the families I pick up for was with me. Who knows what would have happened had I been alone...

I have other conditions that helped to mask the problem. For one, I have Hashimoto's, a common thyroid disorder. I was used to being fatigued from that. I am also a chronic pain patient and take heavy doses of morphine, so I am used to being in pain (and anemia hurts.)

My daughter is a PharmD and two of my three sons are M.D.s so I have plenty of support and knowledge in my corner. My primary doctor is also my youngest son's medical school classmate. She is like a daughter to me... Which just goes to show that a person can have all these medical types in your life... and STILL succumb to something like this.