Just Diagnosed With Iron Deficiency Anemia

[Crankyshank]

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

If I don't eat iron rich foods and take the supplement, it returns.

 

[Christine]

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.

I think you are correct and I would prefer to get it through the diet, but, honestly, I cannot eat liver. My mom used to make this once a week when I was a kid. I tried to eat it then, several times, and I just couldn't. As I sit here thinking about it, I can remember the smell of it cooking it the house. I guess I can try more red meat.

 

[Serena]

There are different levels of anemia. It sounds like you weren't bad enough to be too concerned about. I bet they planned on keeping an eye on it to see how it was next time.

Me, I was pretty low, and with two different meds I'm taking now, they were concerned about it. I am supposed to take two pills a day.

 

[Christine]

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

No, I do not diet; however, I don't eat a lot at one meal because of the reflux issues. I do eat ice cream every night!

Interestingly enough, I eat a bowl of Total Raisin Bran every morning and have done this for years.

 

[mickeyfan2]

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

I need to hunt down the tag fairy. This one is good too.

 

[Christine]

There are different levels of anemia. It sounds like you weren't bad enough to be too concerned about. I bet they planned on keeping an eye on it to see how it was next time.

Me, I was pretty low, and with two different meds I'm taking now, they were concerned about it. I am supposed to take two pills a day.

I was just below normal. Whatever they term "mild" anemia.

 

[Christine]

I need to hunt down the tag fairy. This one is good too.

Good luck! You see those two tags of mine?? I got them back at about 1,000 posts. Long time ago. Apparently, I'm just not clever enough...

 

[Jenn Lynn]

What is normal can also vary by person. One of my MW was normal around a 9. For me they want me 11 or higher.

I can definitely tell the difference in my energy levels when I am not taking enough iron. I just don't feel like doing anything. It's not that I am not getting enough sleep, I just feel BLAH.

 

[kdibattista]

I have it... take a vitamin with iron daily... no big deal. The only thing it does do is prevent me from donating blood.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Iron deficiency anemia is VERY common. I would do whatever was recommended by your doctor in treating it.

I've had it on and off most of my life due to Crohn's. I could not take iron supplements; it killed me! Thankfully, once my colon started to heal, I began to absorb iron again. They are normal right now for the first time in at least 15 years. I am monitored constantly, of course, due to Crohn's so we keep an eye on it. Mine have been dangerously low.

I was also an ice cruncher in the worst way! I'm so glad to have moved past that for now.

 

[mickeyboat]

Good luck! You see those two tags of mine?? I got them back at about 1,000 posts. Long time ago. Apparently, I'm just not clever enough...

I hear you. I got two of mine at 253 posts, and one not too long ago. Tag Fairy, visit this thread!

Emily (6) was mildly anemic at age 1. So I started feeding her whatever meat I could get into her. Now she would live on meat (dipped in ranch dressing) if she could.

Denae

 

[poohandwendy]

Anemia is listed as a side effect of Prilosec, so it's not alarming that you are experiencing it. I think your Gp actually did the most important thing, and that is to check your stool and he told you to take an iron supplement, not sure what more he should have done? Anemia is treatable, but the most important thing is to make sure it is not coming from GI bleeding. I would not stop taking your Prilosec, just make some dietary changes and add the iron supplement and ask tyour GP to test you again in a month or so.

Break out the green leafy vegetables and liver!

 

[Keli]

I had a bout with anemia once.
I didn't respond to treatment as quickly as expected and the dr went over some things with me. I drank iced tea with every meal and it turns out that studies have shown that prevents iron absorption from food for some people. I stopped drinking tea with meals (still drink it at other times) and my numbers came up and stayed up even after the dr. had me stop taking the iron supplements.
Just thought I'd let you know incase this may apply to you.

 

[Christine]

I think your Gp actually did the most important thing, and that is to check your stool and he told you to take an iron supplement, not sure what more he should have done?

Actually, nothing more. My *disdain* (and minor disdain at that) with him was that when they detected anemia on the CBC test, both he and my endocrinologist did nothing to determine what type of anemia I might have. B-12 deficiency is also reported in Prilosec users, so I was a bit confused as to why no one really wanted to look at it further. Apparently, my psychiatrist (who, granted, doesn't see physicially ill people all day) was also amazed so he was the one who ordered the iron tests.

Now I am left to figure out what supplementation and how much would be okay for where I am at. Then I'm also reading that Prilosec may inhibit absorption of iron pills.

 

[Christine]

I had a bout with anemia once.
I didn't respond to treatment as quickly as expected and the dr went over some things with me. I drank iced tea with every meal and it turns out that studies have shown that prevents iron absorption from food for some people. I stopped drinking tea with meals (still drink it at other times) and my numbers came up and stayed up even after the dr. had me stop taking the iron supplements.
Just thought I'd let you know incase this may apply to you.

Keli, thank you for that information. I had read about the tea connection with iron absorption.

I drink about 2 cups of hot tea per day during the week, and probably 3 cups on both Saturday and Sunday. During the week, I eat my Total Raisin Bran (iron fortified) as I sip my tea. I was wondering if that was enough to block the iron in the Total.

Also, as soon as I get home from work, I have that "pick me up" cup of tea. Within an hour I am eating my dinner.

I've been reading that maybe I should space my tea away from my meals. Your post kind of confirms that in my mind. You know, when you read this stuff on the internet, they always talk about the "possibility" of this but you never really now things like "how much tea is too much?"

 

[poohandwendy]

Actually, nothing more. My *disdain* (and minor disdain at that) with him was that when they detected anemia on the CBC test, both he and my endocrinologist did nothing to determine what type of anemia I might have. B-12 deficiency is also reported in Prilosec users, so I was a bit confused as to why no one really wanted to look at it further. Apparently, my psychiatrist (who, granted, doesn't see physicially ill people all day) was also amazed so he was the one who ordered the iron tests.

Now I am left to figure out what supplementation and how much would be okay for where I am at. Then I'm also reading that Prilosec may inhibit absorption of iron pills.

Probably because they could tell from the CBC that it was iron deficiency rather than B-12. Also, because it is not uncommon for thyroid patients to have iron deficiency anemia (and then there is the Prilosec). And lastly, probably because it wasn't grealty abnormal.

If you are worried about the Prilosec and absorption, I would try a natural form...preferably dietary changes.

 

[Christine]

Probably because they could tell from the CBC that it was iron deficiency rather than B-12. Also, because it is not uncommon for thyroid patients to have iron deficiency anemia (and then there is the Prilosec). And lastly, probably because it wasn't grealty abnormal.

If you are worried about the Prilosec and absorption, I would try a natural form...preferably dietary changes.

Now, PAW, I think you are rivaling me for the title of DIS Doctor!!!

Actually, my CBC did not definitively show iron deficiency as my red blood cells size was well within the normal range. My GP even told me that in iron deficiency they would be smaller and they weren't. So that's why I was thinking "Why don't we just figure this out??" Taking iron when it is not needed is NOT okay. Bottom line is, I knew they were probably correct in their guess of iron deficiency but I wanted proof.

Also, they did discuss the thyroid issues as causing anemia but I was specificall told "Hypothyroidism causes anemia and you don't have hypothyroidism so that's not your source."

And two doctors told me that Prilosec does not cause anemia. I know the side effects say that, and earlier in the course of clinical use of the drug, they suspected that it *might* but they have never proven it. I tend to disagree with that. I don't think it causes it in EVERYONE but I think it can tip the scales in person who is otherwise in the low-normal range.

Do you think I've analyzed this to death yet?

 

[poohandwendy]

Now, PAW, I think you are rivaling me for the title of DIS Doctor!!!

Actually, my CBC did not definitively show iron deficiency as my red blood cells size was well within the normal range. My GP even told me that in iron deficiency they would be smaller and they weren't. So that's why I was thinking "Why don't we just figure this out??" Taking iron when it is not needed is NOT okay. Bottom line is, I knew they were probably correct in their guess of iron deficiency but I wanted proof.

Also, they did discuss the thyroid issues as causing anemia but I was specificall told "Hypothyroidism causes anemia and you don't have hypothyroidism so that's not your source."

And two doctors told me that Prilosec does not cause anemia. I know the side effects say that, and earlier in the course of clinical use of the drug, they suspected that it *might* but they have never proven it. I tend to disagree with that. I don't think it causes it in EVERYONE but I think it can tip the scales in person who is otherwise in the low-normal range.

Do you think I've analyzed this to death yet?

LOL, yeah...BUT, taking a multivitamin with iron is not harmful, even if you are not anemic. It does not sound like you have a serous case of anemia...that they CAN tell from your bloodwork...so I would try to relax about it, change your diet, add a supplement and see your doctor in a month or so to have it rechecked. I would not stop taking the Prilosec if it is working. I just would not get worked up about it until they tell you, 'this is a serious problem'.

Overanalyzing your health causes stress...and THAT can cause more serious problems than a minor case of anemia. Seriously.

 

[dcgrumpy]

sorry, but I'm confused. If they didn't check your iron they wouldn't know you were anemic

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."

 

[Christine]

sorry, but I'm confused. If they didn't check your iron they wouldn't know you were anemic

They first run a CBC (complete blood count) which shows the number, size, etc. of red and white blood cells. On this test my hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cells all fell below the normal values. This only tells them that anemia is present but it cannot tell them what is causing the anemia. Several nutritional deficiencies can cause anemia (lack of vitamin B-12, folate, and iron are the major causes). Sometimes your CBC will show that the width or size of your red blood cells are small. When they see this, it is pretty much certain that you have iron deficiency. Normal size cells can also mean iron deficiency, but normal size can mean other types (like aplastic anemia). Larger than normal cells indicate yet another type of anemia.

So my cell size was normal. Yet everyone kept saying iron deficiency but there was nothing that proved that.

Finally, one doctor ran the iron counts (which are different than the CBC) and specifically showed that I had a very low saturation of iron even though my anemia isn't bad. Apparently, my iron stores are pretty much gone and the anemia has just started. Without treatment, the anemia would get worse.

I have found out that you can be iron deficient but not anemic. Apparently it takes awhile for the actual anemia to kick in.