Anyone else anemic before surgery?

My surgery is coming up and the Dr. called today to tell me to take iron (had blood taken yesterday). I've been taking it off and on, but am wondering how risky it is to go into surgery being anemic. I don't know my numbers, so I have no idea how anemic I am. I guess I could call tomorrow. Just curious if anyone is in the same boat and if so, what did your doctors tell you? One of the reasons I'm having this surgery is so that I can stop being anemic. I've been considered "slightly anemic" for years.

Thanks!
Laurie

i was anemic going into my surgery and had no problems. your dr wouldnt perform the surgery unless he thought it was safe. i had to take iron right up to my surgery too.

I was also anemic before my surgery, and my ob/gyn wasn't to overly concerned about it. It was my oncologist that found it, when I was getting blood work done for my breast cancer. I'm sure it came up when I went for my pre-op for my hysterectomy. I believe normal numbers are between 12 and 15, mine was in the 10 to 11 range. I was taking perscription iron pills twice a day. It was monitored every 3 months, and I gradually went down to once a day, now nothing. My numbers have been in the normal range for the last year and a half. Good luck with everything! I'll be thinking of you!

Yeah I have anemia off and on. Unfortunately I was when I went to my pcp a few weeks back. She gives me a rx for Icar (which is just iron in a rx form). I was really concerned w/my surg tomorrow. I'm afraid of tranfusions, not unless they super test them now.

I think it depends of how much anemic you are. If your numbers are around 10 your anemia is mild and you shouldnt have a problem. In my case, my numbers dropped down to 6 and they had to give me a blood transfusion. My doc wants to wait for my numbers to raise before the surgery, he put me on 3 iron pills a day, its why its not scheduled yet. Im also on medication to reduce the bleeding during my period so my hemoglobin has a chance to raise.

Every case is different. You should ask what your numbers are, and ask questions to your doc, how he feels about it, etc.

A little trick: take orange juice or vit C tablets with your iron pills, it increases the absorption of iron quite a bit. Avoid foods with calcium (avoid anti acid tablets too), it prevents the absorption of iron.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Thank you so much for responding! This site is so supportive, I can't believe it. Goin4it, I'm like you! I'm very afraid of blood transfusions. I had twins back in 2001 and lost a ton of blood (well, not literally ;-) and my Dr. knew how much I "didn't" want a blood transfusion, so he didn't give me one. I looked like a ghost for quite awhile after my c-section. Of course, I'm sure if I truly needed one, he wouldn't have hesitated, but I know he held off due to my concerns.

Thank you all so much again. I will call and ask my numbers today. I believe I was a 6 awhile ago as well, but have no idea what it is now.

Hugs!
Laurie

You don't need to fear transfusion. The screening and testing is insane. You can't donate blood or sell blood without a huge questionaire. I no longer "pass" the screening because I give IV therapy to my son (I'm not an RN, so they don't trust my technique). After you donate, the blood gets thoroughly screened as well.

I was severely anemic before I had surgery - my hematicrit was 21 (my normal is 42). My doctor did transfuse me, twice, to save my life. I was offered a third transfusion or iron and rest before my surgery. I wasn't allowed surgery until my crit came up to 34. Your surgeon won't do your surgery if you are too low or unless it is a surgery that can't be avoided (i.e., repair artery to stop blood loss). Hope this helps.

That's good to know, Sharpie. Thank you so much for responding. Glad it all worked out for you. Very scary!

Thanks again,

Laurie