Fastest way to increase my blood haemoglobin

[Trethew]

I’m due to have a hip replacement before Christmas. I desperately need and want this op but my Hb is 110 and I have been told that unless it is improved the op may be delayed. I am eating red meat, liver, lentils, kale, spinach, watercress etc etc. I am also taking ferrous fumarate 210 mg three times a day.

Is there anything else I can do? How much can I expect my Hb to increase with this regime?

Try to take the supplements on an empty stomach as lots of foods inhibit iron absorption if your digestive system can take it! Definitely try not to have any calcium with your liver, red meat or iron supplements.

Take your iron supplements with a 500mg if vitamin c as this aids absorption.

This link should help....

www.irondisorders.org/diet

Avoid tea too as that inhibits absorption

Never been in your situation but I have had low iron intermittently.

I find cutting right back on tea / coffee and eating salad with foods helps.

I like a bit of black pudding with cooked greens and tomatoes. Not to everyone's taste though!

You could ask if they would consider giving you an iron infusion. It seems silly to delay an operation for something quite easily fixed. Though actually, 110 is low, but not that low so hopefully your regime will boost it.

Taking your iron with orange juice can help absorption too.

Its not that low. DS was hospitalised last year with Hb of 58. He only went up to 80 after two red cell transfusions and an iron transfusion.

It takes 90 days for your body to produce new red cells through absorbing your tablets, food etc, so you aren't going to get much of a boost with food/tablets between now and Christmas.