Just Diagnosed With Iron Deficiency Anemia

[Christine]

Does anyone else have this and, if so, how did you correct it?

A few months ago, while undergoing some labwork for a skin condition, there was an incidental finding of mild anemia. The dermatologist never told me about it and I only saw it when I picked up the reports.

Two months later, I showed the reports to my thyroid doctor since I was there for a visit. He re-ran the tests and found that I was still mildly anemic but "stable." No one made any suggestions to me or even cared what was causing the anemia.

A few weeks ago, I was at my GP's office for something else. I decided to bring all my lab reports in with me and I show them to him. At least he seems somewhat concerned. He wanted me to to a fecal occult stool test to make sure I didn't have any GI bleeding. Thank heavens that was normal. GP then assumes that I have iron deficiency anemia *probably* caused by menstrual bleeding. I don't think my bleeding is "that bad."

Finally, I was in visiting my anxiety doctor (yes, my shrink). I told him about how unsettled I felt about it. He said increduously "You mean, no one bothered to check your iron?" "Nope" I replied. So he ran the iron tests, which confirmed that it was, indeed, iron deficiency anemia.

I have been instructed by my psychiatrist to take iron supplementation. My GP, offhandedly, told me way back to take a "One-A-Day Vitamin with Iron."

I'm reading so much conflicting crap on the internet about the best way to handle this and feel that I'm getting no guidance from my docs. Some complicating factors are that I take Prilosec for acid reflux and there have been some studies done that say that it will interfere with iron absorption from supplements--to the effect that they won't work at all because of the low stomach acid.

I took some chelated iron last night (supposed to be easy on the stomach) and did not take my Prilosec today and I feel SICK, SICK, SICK to my stomach.

I just don't know what to do. Any experience with this?

Thanks.

 

[noodleknitter]

This is going to sound crazy, but I had an issue with this when pregnant. The supplements made me sicker than a dog. An old doctor told me to start cooking in iron skillets and the dutch oven, and my levels leveled out. For what it's worth!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Christine- I take Liquid Floradix. It is an all natural iron supplement. Easily absorbed, non-constipating. I took it with both pregnancies and still take it now. You have to get it at a natural food store or I have ordered it online at The Vitamin Shoppe. It is a litle pricey, but well worth in IMO.

Here is a link: http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=FL-1011

Wanted to add that it has Vitamin C in it to aid in absorbtion.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Cast iron skillets were also recommended by my Midwives as well as increasing my leafy greens. I learned to love Collards and Mustard Greens.

You could always eat some liver.

 

[noodleknitter]

Cast iron skillets were also recommended by my Midwives as well as increasing my leafy greens. I learned to love Collards and Mustard Greens.

You could always eat some liver.

I remember the Collards! I'd rather stick a fork in my eye than eat liver...

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I remember the Collards! I'd rather stick a fork in my eye than eat liver...

Me too! I'm pregnant, don't eat beef anyway, and am told to eat liver to get my iron levels up. Yeah right!

 

[pennst8r]

I was anemic from when I was really young until my 30's. Or,maybe I just haven't had it checked since then!

When I was really young, my mom just used to make me eat liver alot!!! yuck--thank goodness for pills!

I used to take Feosol supplements. Try taking your meds (even vitamins) before bed if they upset your stomach. That used to help me.

 

[Christine]

Christine- I take Liquid Floradix. It is an all natural iron supplement. Easily absorbed, non-constipating. I took it with both pregnancies and still take it now. You have to get it at a natural food store or I have ordered it online at The Vitamin Shoppe. It is a litle pricey, but well worth in IMO.

Here is a link: http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=FL-1011

Wanted to add that it has Vitamin C in it to aid in absorbtion.

Jenn Lynn,

Thanks for the Floradix recommendation. You are the second person who has told me about this. Fortunately, I have a few Vitamin Shoppe locations near me so I can just go pick it up.

A friend of mine bought me some Solgar's Chelated Iron. It is iron bisclycinate which, according to some studies I found on the internet, is one of the highest absorbable forms of iron and doesn't cause the constipation or anything. But my stomach does hurt a bit after I take it. I have a very sensitive stomach anyway (hence, the Prilosec). Maybe I'll give the Floradix a try.

 

[FloraFauna]

I have had bouts with iron defficiency because of menstrual bleeding. No one ever tested me for this. One day I was watching "Live with Regis and Kelly" and they were talking about eating ice. I was craving and eating ice all the time. After asking my doctor about this, she had me tested. Sure enough, I was anemic. She gave me iron shots to get me to where I needed to be. That was 5 years ago.
6 months ago, I started with the ice craving again. Back to the doctor, I am anemic again. I take one Slow FE a day. It is getting better.

 

[karynnix]

I dealt with anemia for about 10 years until I finally had a hysterectomy and it cleared the problem up! I never could get my iron levels to where they needed to be. Even the One-a-day with iron made me sick. I hope that you can get yours back to normal with no problem!!

 

[dcgrumpy]

I've always been borderline anemic and was anemic with each pregnancy. I never thought of it as a big deal. I took two iron pills a day and I eat a lot of spinach.

 

[Christine]

I dealt with anemia for about 10 years until I finally had a hysterectomy and it cleared the problem up! I never could get my iron levels to where they needed to be. Even the One-a-day with iron made me sick. I hope that you can get yours back to normal with no problem!!

Thanks. I don't think I'm anywhere near needing a hysterectomy. Honestly, *I* don't think my bleeding is bad but maybe it is. From my understanding, many women are bad about estimating how much they bleed and whether it is too much or not. I'm just so used to it that I don't even think about it. I have one or two pretty heavy days but I can still go to work and do stuff.

 

[Christine]

I've always been borderline anemic and was anemic with each pregnancy. I never thought of it as a big deal. I took two iron pills a day and I eat a lot of spinach.

It probably isn't a big deal except that at, age 42, I've never had it. Never had it through 2 pregancies either. This just "showed up" in July. Also, I have been physically fatigued for well over a year to the point that I can no longer exercise. I'm not "sleepy" tired, but more physically tired and week. It's like my muscles are very heavy at times. Sometimes going up my stairs at home will get my heart pounding or get me out of breath and then sometimes I'm fine.

I'd like to get it treated so I can get back to what I think was a better physical level.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I too am borderline Iron defficiency anemic. I have been for the last 10 years. I don't think too much of it. It doesn't affect me unless I cut myself then I bleed for a long time. Try eating more iron rich foods such as broccoli and red meat. I'm sure if you did a google search on iron rich foods you'd come up with a large list.

 

[Crankyshank]

I've been anemic for years. I eat a lot of broccoli and red meat and make sure to take a supplement with iron and I'm fine.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I remember the Collards! I'd rather stick a fork in my eye than eat liver...

Oh tag fairy!!!

 

[Christine]

I've been anemic for years. I eat a lot of broccoli and red meat and make sure to take a supplement with iron and I'm fine.

Does it correct the anemia or do you do all that and still have the anemia to some degree?

 

[Christine]

Oh tag fairy!!!

Forget about it. The tag fairly *rarely* visits my threads.

 

[dental wiz]

My wife has this. It may sound strange, but she actually decided to treat it w/o iron supplements. Instead, she saw a registered dietician (sp?) and made some significant changes to her diet. She now eats plenty of foods that are high in iron, including liver & onions twice per week. I know, a lot of folks thing liver is gross, but we actually like it.

And, personally, I think getting iron via your diet is a much healthier way to do it -- because you don't seem to suffer from the side effects of iron supplements, such as constipation. JMO.

 

[mickeyboat]

When I was pregnant, my prenatal vitamin was making me very constipated. My midwife suggested skipping the vitamin, and eating Total cereal every day. I still got the vitamins I needed, and ended my constipation issues.

A couple of years ago while I was dieting pretty heavily, I started having iron issues, which I discovered when I tried to donate blood. Once I went back to a more normal diet, my iron issues resolved themself. Have you been dieting?

Hope you resolve your problems, and start feeling better soon.

Denae