pre nursing stud/anemia

[amber74]

Hi everyone,

I am a mom of three doing my prereqs .I am a post op gastric bypass four years out.Lately I have had heart palps/tightness in chest and lethargic.I should also mention I am under care of a physician,I had labs drawn this week.The office called me right away and said I was 7.1/24.4 :They said I was anemic.

How low is this?I am taking oral iron and they want to recheck in a week.How low does it have to get when they try other treatments other than vitamins? Im worried that I will not be able to ever catch up with my malabsorbtion problems and monthly cycle.Has anyone dealt with post op gastric bypass patients that go anemic?

Thanks!

AMber

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

I dont know what your doctor has been treating you for, but i dont really see what they bypass would have to do with your anemia. Unless you have had problems from the start.

I think id probly go to a OB/GYN if it was a problem there that is causing it. Why wait to see how low it goes. Maybe a EGD/colonoscopy to check for any bleeding ulcers or diverticuli that might be causing it. Why not rule out all you can.

We will transfuse less than 8 if the patient is symptomatic, which it sounds as if you are.

[amber74]

Many gastric bypass patients turn anemic.The upper portion of the small intestine is bypassed.That is where iron absorbtion primarly takes place.Food is emptied a foot later.So,I am not absorbing what a "normal" person would.

[amber74]

well,the MA at my docs office was wacked.She told me to take oral iron with a hemoglobin of 7.1.

I started IV therapy with iron today for 15 days and then Im going to hemotologist on Thursday.