I have been battling anemia since my intake exam. It has become a problem for me. They said that if I am still anemic before surgery they won't do it.

My surgeon though, ALSO asked me to lose 20 pounds (which I did.) Then the nutritionist asked me to lose 10 more pounds (Which I did. ) The anemia is worse than EVER. And they want me to go on a liquid fast for two weeks before surgery. How is that going to solve my anemia?

I feel caught between a rock and a hard place.

I am trying to eat Iron rich foods. I have been taking a one a day plus iron. Eating total Cereal for Breakfast and three ounces of red meat at dinner, while still keeping it to the 1200 calorie limit I've been set at. But I'm still anemic. And on nov 3 I am stupposed to start a liquid fast to shrink my liver.

I expect my rbc to go downhill from there unless I cure myself real good. Any ideas? I'm so frustrated. It's like starving myself while curing a chronic problem. It's way too hard. I am doing all the nutritionist said and even she's at a loss. How long does it normally take to cure anemia?

I'm getting so discouraged. Does anyone know what I can do , especially during a liquid only phase of the pre op diet, to cure myself of chronic anemia? I am taking the one-a-day plus iron pill. Should I go buy extra iron tablets and kind of take a bunch of them each day or something? I am so frustrated and I really don't know what to do. My nutritionist gve up and said ask the pcp. My pcp just shrugged and asked abut my periods. No magic shot in the arm to take it away or anything. I still feel like this is going to jeapordize getting the surgery. I've tried so hard to lose all the weight and do everythng they said. I hate to not get the surgery after all this.

can you help me?

What about asking your doctor about taking actual Iron supplements vs a general vitamen with addl iron in it......

I was fortunate-I was ok when my blood work was done right before surgery but it was luck of the draw for me. When I get really anemic (and I can tell even without bloodwork-I am sure you can too) I have to take the little iron pills (from CVS/Walgreens) 3x a day to get my levels back up. That is triple the dose on the bottle but that is what my pcp told me to take. It isn't enough sometimes for me to just take my regular vitamen plus iron (post band I take Flinstones chewables with iron) and eat protein/iron rich food.

I think the reason your doc asked about your periods (they asked me too due to the anemia) is to see if you're bleeding more than normal AND anemic or just anemic..... I don't really have issues with bleeding so my doctor said he wasn't concerned.

Yes I have an appointment to see the pcp again next friday. A week away still. But the clock is really ticking and I want to be doing something while I wait for another week to go by, to try to help. I went and bought the little iron tabs. I figure if it didn't hurt you to take a few more than prescribed, it won't kill me to take one or two extra over what it says either. My doc can ixnay it when I see him if he wants to. Thanks.