Ferritin and Iron levels.

UPDATED July 2026, 2026

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

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

Dec 2025, results: 22 umoI/L normal

Mar 2026, results: 18 umoI/L normal

July 2026, results: 20 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

Dec 2025 results: 93 ug/L normal

Mar 2026 results: 163 ug/L normal

July 2026 results: 89 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

Chicken

Soy Milk

Boost Meal Replacement Powder

Shrimp

Cereal fortified with iron

Eggs  

Pumpkin seeds 

Cooking with cast iron pans 

100 mg Elemental Iron

1 TBS 5 mg Iron

Iron Levels July 2026

Ferritin Levels July 2026

Comments

Vitamins, minerals and energy.

UPDATED Mar, 2026. Happy to say blood work looks great, Ferritin, Iron, Vit D and Vit A are all back up into the normal range. I had been living a very active life since I was in my late 30’s. I started road biking , and then mountain biking and loved it. Mountain biking became my to go to exercise, and I loved peddling up the longest hills I could find . I took part in many races, single and multi day events, never really too win but to see what I was capable of doing, to see new wilderness areas and meet good people. Living with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) gave me a reason to take care of myself and keep pushing myself, I figured if I was able to ride a bike as much as I did there wasn’t anything wrong with me. In July 2023 polyps in my duodenum started to show signs of change, and a large flat adenoma was un able to be removed, so I decided to have the Whipple Surgery in Nov 2023. The surgery went okay, biopsies of the large adenoma showed high gr...

The importance of advocating for your self.

I went into the Whipple Surgery , Nov 17, 2023, with the belief that I would be home in 7 days and recovered in 3 months. The surgery it’s self went okay they tell me, but 4 days later I developed a pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) leak , followed by hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) leak and there were delays in acting on these complications. It got so bad 2 of my close friends had to come in and talk to the medical team to find out why a CT scan ordered on Nov 24, 2023 still wasn’t done 2 days after it was ordered. By the time the CT scan was done things had gotten much worst and it was the start of a very long recovery . This when I started to notice it was very important for me to pay attention, advocate for my self and my health care. Nobody knows your body and how you feel better than you. Unfortunately I didn’t start making notes or taking pictures until I was discharged, Jan 5, 2024, after 50 days in the hospital. I was sent home with 2 drains and a very active leak that was com...

Dec 5, 2023 update.

Originally posted to social media on Dec 5, 2023. "Day 19th, post Whipple Surgery. Things are going along smoothly, no great ups and downs, just some what of a even ride. Last week I had my first CT scan , and it showed a few pockets of fluid. Drains and meds were engaged to help treat these. On this past weekend, bloating, and pain started to return, even with 3 drains still drawing off fluid, pressure was growing. The medical team decided to send me for another CT scan. It showed another big pocket of fluid. Monday a new drain was installed to help. It drew off 450ml of fluid before I left the procedure room. Today was more of a spa day. Thank you @maureentowns for the fancy nails" Spa day Dec 5, 2023. Dec 5, 2023.

The FAP - Whipple Report

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