Iron

I had aortic valve replacement on Oct. 14, 2002 at Ochsner Hospital.  Had a great surgeon, Dr. John Ochsner.  Dr. Ochsner put me on iron medication after surgery. (324 mg.)  After I was released by Dr. Ochsner I returned home to South Mississippi and to my cardiologist.  My cardiologist has not changed any medications that Dr. Ochsner had started me on.  Since my release to my cardiologist I have begun taking a multivitamin containingn the same dosage of iron in my Rx.  Is it possible to get too much iron in your blood ?

[CCF-M.D.-RCJ]

Crazy Cajun,

Thanks for your question.

Yes, it is possible to take too much iron.  In fact, iron overdose used to be fairly common in children as some of the old pills looked like M&M's.

There are calculations that can be performed to determine how much iron you need to replete your stores, but many doctors simply give the iron until a response in the anemia is seen.

Make sure that the reason you are on the iron is to replete the stores lost from blood loss during the surgery.  If you were anemic (def: low blood count) before surgery, then the reason for that diagnosis needs to be determined.

Hope that helps.