How To Increase Iron Levels In Blood Through Dietary Supplements?

In preparation for hip revisions surgery(Stryker lawsuit variety which is causing me high levels of heavy metal poisoning) my surgeon insists upon a level of 13+ hemoglobin to operate. My level has run from 11.9 to 12.6 but he won t operate until I hit his optimum hemoglobin level. I have taken prescriptive iron supplements to no avail so he wants to give me iron infusion therapy along with shots of Procrit for three weeks prior to surgery to bring my numbers up. I went to a hematologist who stated she wouldn t want to do such a thing to me and have me to come back and sue her ....how bad ARE the risks with carrying out this procedure? If I have the procedure done at my surgeon s hospital it will require a 1 1/2 hour drive home following the infusion/shot. I am concerned I could experience reactive symptoms on my trip home (NJ Turnpike- very traffic). I am a 69-year-old female and I suffer from mitral valve and tricuspid valve prolapse, have controlled hypertension, enalapril, alprazolam, levothyroxine and citalopram daily. I also suffer from rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. Do you recommend my doing these treatments at a local hospital(which does not standardly perform this procedure) or indeed to have the treatments at all? Is there some other way I might raise my iron/hemaglobiin levels,possibly through adding other dietary supplements to assist the absorption of the iron pills? My surgeon works out of an excellent hospital (Englewood Medical Center) which is a bloodless hospital. Thanks for your input.