What causes iron deficiency anemia? I take iron, I had gastric bypass surgery 5 !
Question: I had gastric bypass surgery 5 years ago, but since i"ve been anemic my doctor has been giving me iron shots, every month I go in for a shot, every time he tests me, my hemoglobins are lower, its to the point where I'm very scared, what could it be?, my liver?
Answers: I had gastric bypass surgery 5 years ago, but since i"ve been anemic my doctor has been giving me iron shots, every month I go in for a shot, every time he tests me, my hemoglobins are lower, its to the point where I'm very scared, what could it be?, my liver?
Hiya! My first response is, WOW there are other people like me? I'm 5.5 yrs post op, & I'm scared out of my mind with my Iron deficiency. my hemoglobin got sooooo low i was hospitalized and given blood transfusions! I've been to the hemotologist, had MRIs, endoscopys, colonoscopy, blood clots, dizzyniss, black outs, bla bla bla... all because my iron level was a 2 when it should have been 50-100, my hemoglobin got down to a 5, when it should have been 12-16... so then i go through all of this, only to start complaining i don't feel right, and after 6 weeks of iron infusion therapy, my iron dropped after only 2 weeks of being not in therapy. (and it wasn't because of my period).... So... my suggestions for you are get some b-12 shots, go for iv iron therepy... and join the club!
oh and one more thing, if it's your thyroid, liver, or kidneys, they run blood work for that... if it's your colon, they do a colonoscopy to check for cancer, if its your period see your obgyn
My husband has been anemic for a year and the doc is sending him for a colonoscopy...long term anemia is one sign of internal bleeding...
Anemia may be caused by your body not producing enough iron (therefore the shots should help), could be from bleeding which the shots may help a little but not if bleeding continues, or your body may not be able to absorb iron even when it is available (the shots don't help because the body can't use them). These are just 3 possible common reasons. You really need to ask your doctor and have an organ panel done.
I went through the same thing. I had my bypass 6 years ago. It is just the way your body works after the surgery. Our bodies no longer absorb iron the way they did before. It took me a year of treatments with iron iv's to completely recover. I saw a hemotologist, I suggest you do the same. He may want to increase your treatments to every 3 weeks. It just takes time and careful monitoring. Good luck!!
Different things cause Iron Deficiency Anemia. I have it and am currently am on iron. My reasons were mernoragghia and the fact that I am considered a "Chronic Coumadin/Warfarin" patient (history of stroke) which didn't help. So that is one reason. As for you....this is what I know..
"Iron deficiency anemia can also be due to bleeding lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. Fecal occult blood testing, upper endoscopy and lower endoscopy should be performed to identify bleeding lesions. In men and post-menopausal women the chances are higher that bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract could be due to colon polyp or colorectal cancer. "
Have you talked to you doctor and asked the questions? Write them down. That is their field, eduction and knowledge and your best source to understanding of what is going on in your health. Ask them to give you literature or resources to find out because you are concerned. Best of luck!