| LyndaB
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Hi,
I've just been diagnosed as having borderline anemia. I was just curious to see if other beachers also have it and, if so, how have you been treating it, naturally or with medication? What do you find your symptoms are?
I've been very active up until this past weekend, going to the gym 4 or 5 days out of the week for both cardio and strength training. For the first time in a couple of years, I donated blood for the ARC on Saturday. The last time I tried to donate, they indicated my iron was too low, that was 2 years ago.
Sunday, the day after donating, I felt so fatigued. I thought I was experiencing a reaction to all the sugar-laden products I'd had after donating. On Monday, I went to the gym at 4 AM as usual, performed my aerobic for 1/2 hour and then, when I was in the middle of my strength training, I blacked out. I came home and felt so light-headed and nauseous that I did not go to work. I met with the doctor Monday and he scheduled blood tests, which were run on Tuesday. He was questioning anemia at that point.
Monday through Wednesday, I felt too tired to do anything, didn't work, didn't do much around the house, slept a lot. Finally, mid-afternoon on Wednesday I started to feel like I was getting some energy back. I had tried very hard to keep my diet intact during all this and eat properly.
Now, Thursday, I'm back at work, just got the results of the tests and am pondering what happens next. Although I feel better than earlier in the week, I am still very light-headed and can't wait to just feel like myself again, especially with my wedding coming up in a few weeks. I meet with the doctor again on Oct 5th for my complete physical and he indicates not to worry... we'll discuss it then.
Any helpful hints from someone who's "been there, done that"? |
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Thu Sep 23, 2004 2:41 pm |
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| khackett
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My family has anemia in it pretty strongly. So much so that if you don't take your vitamins, you will probably develop it.
So I've been taking a vitamin every day for years (well, when I remember) to combat that. I also eat more broccoli than God ever thought any one person could consume, so that also helps. Seek food with iron. And eat it.
I don't know what phase you're in, but try adding a bit of sugar (fruit, oranges are good). That may help at least a bit of the "fuzziness".
Best of luck! |
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Thu Sep 23, 2004 3:19 pm |
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| LyndaB
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Thanks Kate... I've also been taking vitamins religiously for a long time, but I guess perhaps the iron count was not high enough. I am also an avid brocolli eater, but don't get much red meat into the diet.
Thanks for your insight. I appreciate it.
Oh, and I'm about 2 months into Phase 2. I do get daily fruit (usually). I think I'm in for another couple of days of fuzziness until my blood starts building back up from the donation. :( |
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Thu Sep 23, 2004 3:58 pm |
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| khackett
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I don't eat red meat at all.
Let me pontificate a while. I, obviously, don't have the same issue but there may be someone in the fam. who has ideas. |
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Thu Sep 23, 2004 4:06 pm |
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| srwerner
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| Cooking with cast iron pans adds iron to your food. Don't know how much or if it's significant enough to counteract anemia. Have you tried iron supplements? |
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Thu Sep 23, 2004 5:38 pm |
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| LyndaB
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Haven't tried anything yet... thought I'd be ok with multi-vitamins every day and eating well.
Apparently, donating blood when you're borderline can also produce enough trauma on your system that it can throw you right over the edge into anemia. Pleasant thought...
I won't take any major steps until I meet with the doctor on 10/5.
Thanks for the responses... |
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Thu Sep 23, 2004 6:18 pm |
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| srwerner
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| Good luck Lynda! |
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Thu Sep 23, 2004 6:36 pm |
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| Kimboroni
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Oh, I just sent you a PM about water intake. You can disregard, as it sounds like you've pinpointed the trouble.
I've had anemia off and on pretty much my whole life. I ran a blood drive at my CC a couple of years ago, but couldn't donate because my blood was too orange or too light or something. That kind of sucked. At least we brought in 41 bags of blood that day!
I guess I'm doing what I usually do about my anemia-- ignoring it :shock:
When I was pregnant, the doc had to give me iron shots in my bum (ouch!), and he said I had to start eating red meat again, so I did. I took iron pills when I was in college the first time around (didn't graduate), but they made me so constipated that I had to stop.
The Red Cross gave me a list of foods to eat more of so I could try again. I'm certain that I'm eating way more of those foods now. My diet is much more varied now that I'm on the Beach. I'm eating tons more fruit, vegetables, and beans. I should get my blood tested soon and see how I'm doing. |
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Thu Sep 23, 2004 6:42 pm |
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| colliegirl
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After leaving the hospital with staph infection, I had it and took Vitamin B injections monthly for about a year. You cannot buy vitamins and get the same results and the blood needs to be monitored.
Don't let the condition carry on to where it progresses to prenacious. |
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Thu Sep 23, 2004 10:12 pm |
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| Gracee
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| I, too have had anemia off and on through my life. Should you have to take a supplement there is one called Slo-Fe that doesn't constipate like the average iron tab. The downside? It's pricey...but well worth the comfort it affords you. Good luck, Lynda. GRACE |
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Fri Sep 24, 2004 12:31 am |
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| jck2626
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Iron deficiency anemia can't just progress to pernicious anemia. They are two different conditions. Iron deficiency is simply due to an inadequate supply of iron, whereas pernicious anemia is a deficiency of B12 or failure to absorb B12, or a lack of intrinsic factor, necessary for intestinal absorbtion of B12.
This came straight out of my nursing textbook.
--Jenn |
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Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:20 am |
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| medstu2006
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I too had a similar thing happen to me after donating blood about a year ago. When they did the test where they float your blood in the blue stuff, it showed that I shouldn't donate. Then she spun a sample of my blood to test my hematocrit and said I was ok. After that, I had serious issues with exercise. I was running five days a week and now could hardly run a block or two without serious shortness of breath. Went to the doc and found out my iron levels were VERY low. I took iron pills twice daily for a few months and that got my iron back up, but it's still not great. I can tell how short on iron I am by my menstrual flow. I have not donated blood since as I am scared of it happening again.
I would suggest taking it easy on the exercise. Your body just does not have enough blood and enough oxygen carrying capacity to get enough oxygen to your muscles and brain. That's why you passed out. I am guessing your doctor will recommend an iron supplement for you. In fact, I don't think it would hurt to start taking one now twice daily since you're not seeing your doctor for a week or so. Be careful though, they can be constipating, but with the fiber in this diet, you should be ok.
Good luck!
Good luck! |
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Sun Sep 26, 2004 12:29 am |
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| ami
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It seems like SBD should help us avoid anemia.
According to my Vitamin Bible book to avoid anemia you should eat:
dark green leafy vegetables like spinach for example, whole grains, legumes, dried peaches, red meat, oysters, asparagus, oatmeal, egg yolk, cantaloupe, apricots, pumpkin, avocados, and dark rye flour.
I think if we eat the stuff recommended for P2 we'll be free of anemia.
BTW, I used to donate blood every 3 months and in several occasions they would not take it because it was low in iron. I asked my doctor about it and after taking another blood test he told me that I was NOT anemic, that the Red Cross expects a much higher level of iron in the blood they collect than the level considerated "normal".
I used to make sure I ate a nice steak with a good salad with a lot of greens and I even used to take iron pills for a couple of days after a blood donation. Now, I can't donate blood b/c every time I go my heart rate is over 100 and they won't take it either. Oh well, at least I did my part when I was younger. |
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Sun Sep 26, 2004 6:18 pm |
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| medstu2006
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| The problem with women is we're biologically set up to be low in iron. Pregnancy is a huge drain on iron stores as are monthly menses. |
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Sun Sep 26, 2004 7:09 pm |
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| audreyh1
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My iron count was just below normal a couple of years ago, and I then took multi-vitamin with iron - kind of sporadically, but off and on.
A couple of years later my iron count well back in the normal range and the Dr. said I could take the multi-vitamin without iron now.
I don't think I ever had any symptoms associated with anemia, but then again I was just under the healthy range.
Audrey |
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Mon Sep 27, 2004 12:25 am |
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