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Hemoglobin level reach 10 after a month of taking the supplements?

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hello, practically my whole life I've been waiting for a breast-enlargement when i finally finished the army and was released I was supposed to get the operation but the doctor said i had severe anemia and he could not perform the operation until I improved my condition my hemoglobin level was 8.3 (20 years of mal nourishment I'll admit, not to mention 2 years of starving in the army) anyways the doctor said I need a hemoglobin level of at least 10 to do the surgery. So, I started taking iron supplements but i really hate them they bloat me and give me horrid stomach aches and i don't know how much more of this i can take!!So my question is, will my hemoglobin level reach 10 after a month of taking the supplements? Or will i have to wait more? Please help me I'm going crazy!

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Category: Family Physician-GP
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With reference to your query regarding that you have been waiting for breast enlargement surgery for the last couple of years as you were in Army and now since you are anemic, they have postponed the surgery until you satisfy the surgeon who is going to operate on you showing your hemoglobin level is fit enough to undergo surgery. I believe your hemoglobin level was 8.3 and your surgeon had put you on iron supplements for your hemoglobin to reach the satisfactory level of at least 10. At the same time you are getting some bloating sensation and stomachaches when you take these iron supplements. Some people experience these side effects but it will settle down in course of time. You have to take these things either with food or shortly after eating will minimize the side effects. Instead of 3 tabs a day you can take only one and if the tab containing ferrous sulphate that is not suitable because of side effects, you can change it to ferrous gluconate because it contains less concentrated dose of iron. However, it may take a longer time to restore to an optimum level. In addition to these supplements you can also take iron-rich foods like dark green vegetables, brown rice, iron fortified cereals, beans, nuts, meat, apricots, prunes and raisins. In case you find it difficult to include iron in your diet, you can contact a dietician for detailed personalized evidence about how you can change your diet. Your GP will be monitoring you every 3-4 weeks to know how you are responding to the treatment. When once the Hemoglobin levels and red cells are normal and also treat the other causes for anemia. Then when once your HB level satisfy the surgeon, then he will advise you for surgery. So the only thing is you have to wait a little bit, and don't think it will be too long, when you had already waited enough of years.


Dr. John Monheit
Category: Family Physician-GP
Experience: 
Residecny: North Colorado Family Medicine
Medical School: The Chicago Medical Center
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