Skip to main content

Ferritin and Iron levels.

 UPDATED Mar 19, 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
 
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


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

Eggs 


Cooking with cast iron pans




100 mg Elemental Iron

1 TBS 5 mg Iron



Iron results 

Iron Mar 2026
 



Ferritin Mar 2026

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The number of polyps / adenomas change after Whipple Surgery, and start of taking a Proton Pump Inhibitor(PPI) why?

   UPDATED Mar 16 2026 The number of polyps / adenoma, in my remaining colon, rectum and stomach, has increased since after my Whipple Surgery , and I started taking a Proton Pump Inhibitor. The Whipple re-configures the digestive tract, and creates a new connection between the stomach and the small intestine (jejunum). Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are prescribed to patients after a Whipple to prevent ulcers and bleeding in the upper digestive tract . Do Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) cause an  increase the numbers of polyps with   Familial Adenomatous Polyposis , FAP ? There is a study,  Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science, that seems to suggest that using a Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) for over 12 months is a significant risk factor for developing advanced colon polyps. As of June 17, 2025 there are now several small  Fundic Gland Polyps in my stomach, this is the 1st time I can remember or seen any word of these, and not sure if this because...
Post a Comment
Read more

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...
6 comments
Read more

What's it like Volunteering on a trail day.

 I decided to try and retire this year, not sure financially this was a good decision, but mental and physical I know I have to try and I know it will help keep me healthy. If I stay healhty and active I will stay out of the hospital I hope. A trail day is helping repair and maintain a multi use ( horse back, hiking, running and mountain biking) network of trails. I live in a beautiful part of the world, the foot hills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. There are several networks of trails and trail associations here, we are very lucky. I think my favorite trails to work on are the old classic trails in Kananaskis Country . Most of these trails haven't seen any attention in many years, so they are over grown and eroded. The trails are often in a remote wilderness area, so getting to them can often be an adventure, we hike, bike and use e bikes to get to locations. You have to be prepared to be there for several hours, with enough food, water and extra layers in case the weather chan...
Post a Comment
Read more