You only need Iron if your iron is low. Mine was low so I have to take a daily supplement. If the doctor didn't put you on Iron then you may not need it but you may want to double check with your surgeon. When was your surgery I know for my first two weeks all I could do was get in my fluids and my protein.....food came last and I didn't always get in what I needed to. I was lucky to get down 4 oz of blended soup or broth a day. Now I can pretty much do my six small meals with two of those being my protein drinks and get my fluids in. Depends on how far you are out of surgery because you still have a lot of swelling which prevents you from wanting to eat, drink, etc.

I agree with TWHorses, you are only about 2 1/2 weeks out, right? It takes a while before you can do it all. Just start with the fluids...and if you are drinking your protein, that counts toward your fluid ounces. You will gradually be able to increase the levels as you get farther out and more healing has taken place. Right now your pouch is probably sensitive, sometimes even a few sips can make you feel uncomfortably full, or crampy. Just do what you can, work on the fluids first and then add the protein. You will tolerate more as time goes on.

The iron...as a young female I am guessing that you might need it, but ask your doc. You won't be getting in enough iron to maintain a healthy hemoglobin level without supplements and you don't want to get anemia, it is no fun. It can make you exhausted all the time and if the levels fall too low it can lead to wrose things.

Hang in there, it will get easier!

If you are in the early days....first 4-6 weeks just do you best to get in fluids and protein and supplements. Track you daily intake but, don't get too hung up on numbers at this point. As far as the iron goes...I was not required to take iron supplements and periodic bloodwork indicates that my levels are fine. Have you had an iron defiency prior to surgery? If you are having difficulty relearning how and what to eat as far as real food goes perhaps a consult with a nut is in order. There are many suggestions of easy to digest stage appropriate food listed on WLS Recipes @
http://www.dailystrenght.org/groups/wls-recipes

If the difficulty continues a call to the surgeon is in order. Best to you. d

I will be 4 weeks on Tues. He did say to take Iron, not because I am low but he puts everyone on it. I want to eat even though I am not hungry. I miss food! LOL I can only eat a few small bits at a time.

I have not had the WLS yet, but when i had to get a colonascopy i was told that i was anemic. so then i had to get an endoscopy. they could not figure out way he thought maybe i had an ulcer in my stomach but nope not that either. I did tell the nurse that I have changed my diet big time (trying to get ready for my 2 week liquid phase before WLS) and she told me "Nah, I dont think that is it." Well I have to tell you i think it is, I go to the dr today but in the mean time I went to my WLS dr and i had bought the iron pills. I do not feel tired or anything.

I guess what i am saying is you might need the supplement at least for a while until your body adjust to the new way of eating.

Take care.
Babs