Time to find a new hematologist - mine sucks

[star0210]

Last week I emailed my pre-op labs and the ones I had run 2 weeks ago to my hematologist. I included a note about my surgery and altered anatomy, what and how much oral iron I've been taking daily, and my symptoms. I asked for an iron infusion.

His nurse finally called me back today and said he looked over it and said no need for infusion because my h&h are fine.

That's exactly what I figured he'd say but since I'm already an established patient there I thought I would try anyway.

So in 3 months time my total iron dropped from 91 to 36. My iron sat is low at 14%. My ferritin actually rose from 20 to 48....which is weird to me given my total iron fell so much. And that's with taking 5 Vitalady tender iron plus 2 Proferrin ES tablets everyday.

Guess I'll start calling around.

 

[newanatomy]

How is the constipation issue since switching to the patch? I should be receiving my patches in a couple of days, here's hoping.

 

[star0210]

it is completely resolved since I stopped taking oral calcium!
I'm more regular now than I think I ever have been in my whole life!

 

[southernlady]

Star, I finally got mine to agree to it even tho my hemoglobin was fine. But then I had Secondary RLS. AND took the medical recommendations by neuros and sleep specialists on what the minimum was for the resolution of those symptoms. Documents are here: http://bariatricfacts.org/threads/low-iron-or-what-to-take-to-a-hematologist.1498/

It also helped my case when I told her that while my hemoglobin (checking account) was fine, the ferritin as the savings account backing it up was in serious trouble and my hemoglobin was writing checks that it would soon be unable to cash.

 

[star0210]

Star, I finally got mine to agree to it even tho my hemoglobin was fine. But then I had Secondary RLS. AND took the medical recommendations by neuros and sleep specialists on what the minimum was for the resolution of those symptoms. Documents are here: http://bariatricfacts.org/threads/low-iron-or-what-to-take-to-a-hematologist.1498/

It also helped my case when I told her that while my hemoglobin (checking account) was fine, the ferritin as the savings account backing it up was in serious trouble and my hemoglobin was writing checks that it would soon be unable to cash.

Yeah I included lots of that in my email to him. I also had those conversations with him back during my followup visits after I had the iron infusion before. He won't budge. And from those conversations, I knew sending the email was going to be useless, but I figured it couldn't hurt to try.
So...now to find a new hematologist. It's such a pain to find a doctor!

 

[newanatomy]

it is completely resolved since I stopped taking oral calcium!
I'm more regular now than I think I ever have been in my whole life!

Oooh, that is very exciting news!! I have been taking two doses of Miralax, and 6 stool softeners a day plus a ton of magnesium and extra fiber. I would love to ditch the Miralax and the stool softeners and go down to a normal dose of magnesium. My patches will be here any day now.

 

[Charris]

Oooh, that is very exciting news!! I have been taking two doses of Miralax, and 6 stool softeners a day plus a ton of magnesium and extra fiber. I would love to ditch the Miralax and the stool softeners and go down to a normal dose of magnesium. My patches will be here any day now.

Who do you talk to about getting these patches? Primary, bariatric, hemotologist?

 

[star0210]

Www.patchmd.com
They're not prescription. Anybody can order them.

 

[newanatomy]

I had to get mine from Amazon because on the official Patch MD site, the D3 with Calcium was on back order.

 

[swimbikerun]

That's not right. I'm so very sorry you are going through this. A question for admin is are people allowed in circumstances like this to say what general area they are from? If we know, we could message the person and find out who they had so we don't patronize them. I wouldn't want to support a fellow bariatric brother/sister in the treatment (or lack thereof) they got. If there was a forum area where people could say an area and type of doc, then their contact/userid, people could hear from the person themselves.

 

[southernlady]

That's not right. I'm so very sorry you are going through this. A question for admin is are people allowed in circumstances like this to say what general area they are from? If we know, we could message the person and find out who they had so we don't patronize them. I wouldn't want to support a fellow bariatric brother/sister in the treatment (or lack thereof) they got. If there was a forum area where people could say an area and type of doc, then their contact/userid, people could hear from the person themselves.

It's up to the individual. But a general statement of what US State or what country a person is located is not going to be an issue. Example, I am in NC but most of my doctors are in SC. However, thanks to moving around, I know some doctors in the south part of MI/Toledo, OH area, along the coast near Wilmington, NC and in east Tennessee. None of that information is terribly private in this day and age.

Using the Personal Conversation with a person for more detailed info is more doable.