posted 07-15-2003 03:28 PM            

Common Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia

Extreme weakness and tiredness
Confusion or loss of concentration
Shortness of breath especially on exertion
Rapid heartbeat, palpitations
Chest pain
Possible hairloss
Headache
Wounds that heal slowly
Dizziness or fainting
Difficulty sleeping
Pale skin colour
Pale fingernails (often with vertical lines)
Pale lips, ear lobes and mucous membrane
(draw down your lower eyelid, if you are anemic
the mucous membrane will often appear whitish
pink instead of a vibrant healthy colour)

Some Symptoms of Vitamin B-12 Deficiency

Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Constipation
Flatulence (gas)
Depression
Confusion
Poor memory
Burning of mouth and tongue
Menstrual disturbances
Nervous system problems such as numbness,
tingling, needles and pins feeling in hands
and feet
Neuritis
Pain and stiffness in spine
Difficulty walking and maintaining
balance after prolonged deficiency
Psychological symptoms.

posted 08-04-2003 10:42 AM            

The one symptom that made me ask my doc to check my blood was that I was craving ice like a drug fiend. I was even taking it with me to lunch so that I would have it to chew on.

I have also had these near-fainting sensations. Often, when I stand up, I will get part way across the room and I will get a starburst in the center of my field of vision. I have to stop myself, close my eyes and take a deep breath before I can continue.

And there are the other ones: abnormal uterine bleeding that my doc thinks is actually caused by the anemia, shortness of breath with only mild exertion, sleeping 9-12 hours a night, pretty severe symptoms of depression.

posted 08-11-2003 12:36 PM            

Just a couple of notes: I was on iron pills and have been trying to take myself off of them (I was taking Bronson Iron with C). I eat red meat or pinto beans at least once, if not twice, a day and I eat a lot of other iron rich or iron-fortified foods. My hemoglobin was at 13.7 the last time I had a finger prick. I live at a really high altitude so it should be between 14 and 16, but it seemed close enough not to need the iron pills. I am sure it is lower now, though, because of the return of some of the symptoms and because of my bleeding. I have also become extremely short of breath een on short walks or hikes. My lungs becaome painful, my heart races, and I just can't get enough air.

My bleeding has been slowing down,but I would still like to find a doc who can figure out why I am bleeding as I see the bleeding as a symptom of something else and I don't believe in treating symptoms instead of causes. I was trying to tkae myself off of some of my meds so my new doc could have an accurate view of what my body does without the pills, but I guess I am not getting a new doc for now.

posted 08-12-2003 09:47 AM            

I just had a blood test done and the doctor told me to take a multivitamin, make sure I had a good diet and to come back in another month for another test because my red blood count was a little low. The reason I had the test done is because of the posts on this web site and everything I have been learning. My hair is dry, brittle, falling out and premature gray. I am also always cold and sad. Has getting more iron into your system changed anyones hair? She did a complete blood count and a sedimentation rate test does this show ferritin level too?

Also, a craving for nonfood substances like ice, clay and paper is called Pica. This is seen in people with an iron dificiency. I just finished a class called the Fundamentals of Nutrition which was a biology, chemistry and anatomy class about nutrition. My teached actually knew a young boy who ate paper.

posted 08-14-2003 09:13 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by sheisherself:
Hello everybody,

I just had a blood test done and the doctor told me to take a multivitamin, make sure I had a good diet and to come back in another month for another test because my red blood count was a little low. The reason I had the test done is because of the posts on this web site and everything I have been learning. My hair is dry, brittle, falling out and premature gray. I am also always cold and sad. Has getting more iron into your system changed anyones hair? She did a complete blood count and a sedimentation rate test does this show ferritin level too?

Also, a craving for nonfood substances like ice, clay and paper is called Pica. This is seen in people with an iron dificiency. I just finished a class called the Fundamentals of Nutrition which was a biology, chemistry and anatomy class about nutrition. My teached actually knew a young boy who ate paper.

[This message has been edited by sheisherself (edited 08-12-2003).]

---

posted 08-15-2003 07:08 PM            

I have also been thinking about my asthma. I got pluresy last year which made it hurt to breath no matter what i did or didn't do. It wouldn't go away and then the doctor said i had asthma caused by alleries. Before i got sick i would exercise at least 2-3 hours a day and i felt good but now i find going up a flight of stairs and exercise make me breathe harder. i wonder if this is related to my low red blood count. Anyway thanks for listening, I hope you feel better too and I am happy i have my power now.

posted 08-16-2003 12:08 PM            

I asked my docs about improving my diet - although I probably eat a full RDA of iron with each meal already. They told me diet wouldn't help (my hgb was at 8 at the time and the goal where I live is 14-16).

They did say that meat sources of iron absorb better than vegetable sources. I think they also said red meat sources absorb better - hence the liver. Does anyone eat that icky stuff? I think pork and beef are the best bets if you want to go strictly diet, but you have to remember that a huge portion of what you consume - even pills - isn't absorbed, and after it is absorbed, the cells still have to be made. I think the average is about 2 points increase in hemoglobin every 6 weeks. That can be really slow if you have 6 or 8 points to go.

Someone else may correct me on all of that.

Good luck, ladies. I put myself back on my iron pills this week and I really hope to be feeling stronger soon. I feel like such a baby when I can't take a short walk without breathing hard.

posted 08-16-2003 07:21 PM            

I just learned this in my biology of nutrition class:

Taking iron with vitamin C helps the absorption of iron

When you cook in a iron pan you get more iron.

Meat, fish and poultry contain a MFP factor that promotes the absorption of nonheme iron from other foods eaten at the same time.

Things that hinder iron absorption are:

tea, coffee, calcium and phosphorus, phytates, tannins, and fiber

posted 08-19-2003 12:02 AM            

To add to that list
Shellfish is also a very good source of iron. Here's how they break down.....

clams (3oz) 25.2mg of iron
CHICKEN LIVERS(3oz.) 7.2 mg.
mussels, steamed (3oz) 5.7 mg.
oysters (6 medium) 5.0 mg.
BEEF (3oz.) 2.9mg.
tuna (light meat water packed 3 oz.) 2.7mg.
shrimp, steamed (3oz.) 2.6mg.
TURKEY, dark meat (3oz.) 2.0 mg.

some of the nonheme foods high in iron are; cream of wheat cereal, quick cooking (7.7mg.) which is just as much as chicken livers, tofu, dried pumpkin seeds, lentils, potato baked with the skin (the skin contains most of the iron content), beans, canned pumpkin, split peas

also you can still have the ice-cream, glass of milk etc. you should just wait at least 3 hours between them, so that the iron gets the opportunity to absorb before the calcium products block the absorption.

mixing heme foods with nonheme foods (meat with veg.) will increase the absorption of the nonheme iron by 10-15% while oj (or another source of vitamin c) will DOUBLE the absorption of nonheme iron.

In my case....I alternated days with the supplements (one day off, next day on) while keeping track of what I ate and paying close attention to what worked best for me. It did take a while but, it was worth it to me, in order not to take the pills. I work for a seafood restaurant though, so once I found out what was "good" to eat, it wasn't too hard for me.

The info. above is from my "food bible". It's called The doctor's book of food remedies and is put out by the editors of Prevention magazine. I couldn't remember the specific mg. so I looked it up for you all. NOTICE that chicken livers are not the highest source of iron!?!? Also I have heard that you should reduce your fat intake as well. I don't know if this is true or not, but I hear that a diet full of fatty foods can block iron absorption as well.

Hope this was helpful to anyone interested in trying to increase iron absorption through diet. It helped me.

blessed be, crb

posted 08-30-2003 11:50 AM            

Thanks for checking in. The world seems to be passing me by, too, as I sit at home watching the Food channel. Every time I try to exercise - which is already difficult enough since my body has trouble transporting O2 - I start to bleed. And, I had a LEEP in May and my follow-up pap is still abnormal.

posted 08-31-2003 04:56 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by dorri:
As some of these symptoms may also be indicative of other medical conditions, please check with your physician for the appropiate testing of Anemia.

Common Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia

Extreme weakness and tiredness
Confusion or loss of concentration
Shortness of breath especially on exertion
Rapid heartbeat, palpitations
Chest pain
Possible hairloss
Headache
Wounds that heal slowly
Dizziness or fainting
Difficulty sleeping
Pale skin colour
Pale fingernails (often with vertical lines)
Pale lips, ear lobes and mucous membrane
(draw down your lower eyelid, if you are anemic
the mucous membrane will often appear whitish
pink instead of a vibrant healthy colour)

Some Symptoms of Vitamin B-12 Deficiency

Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Constipation
Flatulence (gas)
Depression
Confusion
Poor memory
Burning of mouth and tongue
Menstrual disturbances
Nervous system problems such as numbness,
tingling, needles and pins feeling in hands
and feet
Neuritis
Pain and stiffness in spine
Difficulty walking and maintaining
balance after prolonged deficiency
Psychological symptoms.

[This message has been edited by dorri (edited 07-17-2003).]

---

posted 09-01-2003 03:59 PM            

Anyway, due to having heavy periods, I've been very anemic for a couple of years now. Homeopathic remedies have kept my fibroids from growing but I've found anemia to be a very difficult condition to recover from.

My symptoms are tiredness, fatigue on exertion, shortness of breath, mental fogginess, inability to concentrate, poor appetite and a racing heartbeat. At my lowest point I also suffered with dizziness, insomnia, depression and nausea and got horribly pale.

posted 09-02-2003 10:19 AM            

Another thing to think about with your diet, if your B-12 is OK, is your sugar intake. If you eat sugary foods all day without gaining weight, you could be creating a state of reactive hypoglycemia. I ate fruits all day during college and grad school and basically starved myself. I could eat more and more and would end up even hungrier. I added protein to every meal and snack and now I am a lot less hungry and have gained about 15 pounds - a little more than I wanted, but I think it will go away as soon as my health gets in line.

It's so tough to balance all of the health issues witht he right nutrition. Ugh!

posted 09-04-2003 07:14 PM            

The protein helped me so much. I used to think I had some kidn of parasite or absorption problem, but I didn't know what to call it and I couldn't get any doctors to take me seriously. They see so many people who are overweight that gaining weight doesn't seem to be an issue they can handle. They would just tell me to eat more - more fruits, more bagels...I would make myself go to the store hungry so that I would bring home enough food. I felt like a forager - like one of our ancestors always in search of more food. Then, I added cheese and peanut butter to everything and it was a miracle. I always thought those would be too fattening so I stuck with apples and other fruits and I basically starved myself with food. My family even thought I was anorexic. Once I added the protein, I think I may have contributed to my anemia because I was so focused on protein I didn't focus on iron as much.

Wow, am I chatty today.

How was the liver? I have never eaten it and I can't stand onions! Just the thought of liver is kinda creepy since it is the part of the body that helps to cleanse the body. Sorry, I hope you already ate it and it wasn't recently! I am interested in trying more of the seafoods listed earlier, but I live in the desert and it's tough to get anything fresh here. I saw some salmon in the store today - not sure how much iron is in that - but it said it had color added. I wonder if that is common.

posted 09-05-2003 11:07 AM            

I was probably thinking of salmon for the Omega-3's. I think those are supposed to help a lot with my cervical health to help fight the abnormal cells. Salmon is the first "fresh" fish I have seen in my groce