new to this, I feel terrible - Anemia Message Board

worrywort · 06-10-2008, 08:25 PM

I have been feeling yucky for a while so I had some blood work done, I am anemic, I have very heavy cycles so that is most likely why and I don't eat red meat.
my hemoglobin is 9.6
hemocrit 29.0
mcv 67.7
mch 22.5
I have rapid heart rate, headaches, head rushes and I bruise so easy!!! heart palpitations also! I am taking slow realease Iron 50 mg each twice daily. Is it o.k to take a multivitamin also, I don't want to Iron O.d

Any advice please.
much appreciated!
Carly

FLFLOWERGIRL · 06-10-2008, 09:07 PM

Yes, you really need to be taking a multivitamin to help in the rebuilding of new red blood cells. Have you had your Ferritin tested? If you have not had your B-12 and folate checked you should also have that done. I take sublingual B-12 complex, and it seems to help me with energy. Your numbers are very low, I'm not so sure that you are on enough iron, especially if you are dealing with a low ferritin and heavy cycles. You may be spinning your wheels. Keep up with your CBC's and ferritin to make sure that you are in fact getting the right amount of iron to recover your numbers. I had to take 300 mgs of iron for 1 year to get from 8.5 to optimal normal range. I don't think that you need to worry about iron overload at this time, it is almost impossible right now. Good luck and feel better soon. FLFLOWERGIRL