Ferritin and Iron levels.

 UPDATED Sept 3, 2025

Happy to report that what I have done over the past 12 months has helped my Ferritin and Iron levels stay stable and a slight increase.

Part of the on going follow up after my Whipple Surgery is having blood work done at 3 and 6 month intervals. Blood work done in Nov 2024, a year post Whipple, showed my iron levels to be in the normal range, but the Ferritin levels had started to drop. Both my primary Doctor and dietitian recommend me increasing my daily iron intake to see if that would help raise my Ferritin level.

The duodenum is removed during the Whipple, and it plays a crucial role in iron absorption, so removing of this section of the small bowel reduces the body's ability to absorb iron.

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the body's cells and It's found in many cells, especially in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. A low ferritin level after the Whipple is common and is often due to impaired iron absorption caused by the removal of the duodenum; this can lead to iron deficiency anemia if not addressed with dietary changes or iron supplementation.
 

I have increased my iron intake by taking a Wampole Ferrous Iron pill (100mg of Elemental Iron) every morning along will a vitamin C pill, then later in the day and TBS of Wampole Tonic ( 5 mg Iron Ammonium Citrate) and a vitamin C pill.  Vitamin C helps your body absorb iron. I haven't noticed any stomach discomfort from the iron supplements but do notice my stool turns dark sometimes after taking the iron pill. My energy is good most days, not the same as it was pre Whipple but I think that is just part of getting older and the big change made to the digestive system. I take a Viokace (pancrelipase) tablet each time I eat, and I eat 8 or 9 small meals/snacks a day.

Blood work results.

Iron Normal Range is: 8 - 35 umoI/L

Nov 2024 results: 16 umoI/L normal

Feb 2025 results: 15 umoI/L normal

May 2025, results: 18 umoI/L normal

Aug 2025, results: 14 umoI/L normal

 

Ferritin Normal Range is: 30 -500 ug/L

Nov 2024 results: 26 ug/L LOW

Feb 2025 results: 42 ug/L normal

May 2025 results: 42 ug/L normal 

Aug 2025 results: 68 ug/L normal

Health Canada recommends to try and take 8 mg of iron for males and 18 mg for females.

Other things I added for more iron

Blackstrap Molasses

Chicken

Soy Milk

Boost Meal Replacement Powder

Shrimp

Cream of wheat

Eggs 


Pumpkin seeds


Cooking with cast iron pans


100 mg Elemental Iron

1 TBS 5 mg Iron

Iron Results

Ferritin Results