Anemia

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Replies

  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    Vune wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    TeaBea wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    I'm not saying this is the cause for you. But my daughter in law was recently diagnosed as severely anemic, which doesn't surprise me one bit, as she eats NO fruit/veggies and very rarely eats red meat. All in all her diet sucks (and consists of mainly junk food and packaged stuff), and the doctor pretty much told her this. Her's is so bad that she feels she needs to take a nap after doing something simple like hanging the washing out.

    I actually haven't felt tired much at all, and I'm walking 15-25k steps a day too. I eat pretty balanced too :(

    Well, that's pretty much the complete opposite of her. Have you googled high iron foods? Add a heap of them into your diet daily and see if it helps.

    Yeah I have. I track it on MFP (I'm aware that a lot of people don't enter Iron in their entries, and I don't always double check) but I can't seem to be able to reach 100%, ever. Maybe it's time to eat more chocolate :D

    Many cold cereals have lots of iron. I take a one a day with iron (check labels - look for the child proof cap). Stand alone iron supplements have huge daily %'s.

    Yeah I typically don't eat cereal though. Bleh, maybe I should. Don't know if I want to spend the calories on it though.

    You can use cereals in different ways. For instance, you can crush them and coat meats to oven fry them. Some might even hide nicely in smoothies if you have a good blender. If it isn't sweetened, I'd even consider putting it on a salad. Mmm...steak and grape nuts salad...

    Personally, I had a kidney transplant 16 years ago, and the immunosuppressants work in the bone marrow and prevent the body from making blood. After blaming depression and switching migraine meds, I got in with some good doctors who sent me to the ER as soon as they saw my bloodwork! That was my second blood transfusion (rare kidney disease + being a woman = not enough blood ever! Some days I want to go back in time and punch my mother for every time she called me lazy, since I was peeing blood by the time I was 6...). For the past 2.5, I have received Procrit injections every 2 weeks, and will for the life of the kidney. Still haven't hit 12 for my hemoglobin.

    Are you on azathioprine (imuran)? I'm on it but it makes me leukopenic on and off. I'm not on it for transplantation but rather autoimmune disease. There is also a rare kidney disease in my family (iga nephropathy) but I haven't developed it yet thankfully
  • Vune
    Vune Posts: 674 Member
    Vune wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    TeaBea wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    I'm not saying this is the cause for you. But my daughter in law was recently diagnosed as severely anemic, which doesn't surprise me one bit, as she eats NO fruit/veggies and very rarely eats red meat. All in all her diet sucks (and consists of mainly junk food and packaged stuff), and the doctor pretty much told her this. Her's is so bad that she feels she needs to take a nap after doing something simple like hanging the washing out.

    I actually haven't felt tired much at all, and I'm walking 15-25k steps a day too. I eat pretty balanced too :(

    Well, that's pretty much the complete opposite of her. Have you googled high iron foods? Add a heap of them into your diet daily and see if it helps.

    Yeah I have. I track it on MFP (I'm aware that a lot of people don't enter Iron in their entries, and I don't always double check) but I can't seem to be able to reach 100%, ever. Maybe it's time to eat more chocolate :D

    Many cold cereals have lots of iron. I take a one a day with iron (check labels - look for the child proof cap). Stand alone iron supplements have huge daily %'s.

    Yeah I typically don't eat cereal though. Bleh, maybe I should. Don't know if I want to spend the calories on it though.

    You can use cereals in different ways. For instance, you can crush them and coat meats to oven fry them. Some might even hide nicely in smoothies if you have a good blender. If it isn't sweetened, I'd even consider putting it on a salad. Mmm...steak and grape nuts salad...

    Personally, I had a kidney transplant 16 years ago, and the immunosuppressants work in the bone marrow and prevent the body from making blood. After blaming depression and switching migraine meds, I got in with some good doctors who sent me to the ER as soon as they saw my bloodwork! That was my second blood transfusion (rare kidney disease + being a woman = not enough blood ever! Some days I want to go back in time and punch my mother for every time she called me lazy, since I was peeing blood by the time I was 6...). For the past 2.5, I have received Procrit injections every 2 weeks, and will for the life of the kidney. Still haven't hit 12 for my hemoglobin.

    Are you on azathioprine (imuran)? I'm on it but it makes me leukopenic on and off. I'm not on it for transplantation but rather autoimmune disease. There is also a rare kidney disease in my family (iga nephropathy) but I haven't developed it yet thankfully

    Tacrolimus (Prograf) and mycophenylate (Cellcept). I have Alport Syndrome, which is hereditary. It also causes hearing loss and vision abnormalities. I was dangerously leukopenic as a side effect of ace inhibitors when I was on dialysis. Now, I'm just generally low, red, white, hematocrit, and hemoglobin. At least I have enough platelets, so no more purpura!
  • singingflutelady
    singingflutelady Posts: 8,736 Member
    edited January 2017
    Vune wrote: »
    Vune wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    TeaBea wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    I'm not saying this is the cause for you. But my daughter in law was recently diagnosed as severely anemic, which doesn't surprise me one bit, as she eats NO fruit/veggies and very rarely eats red meat. All in all her diet sucks (and consists of mainly junk food and packaged stuff), and the doctor pretty much told her this. Her's is so bad that she feels she needs to take a nap after doing something simple like hanging the washing out.

    I actually haven't felt tired much at all, and I'm walking 15-25k steps a day too. I eat pretty balanced too :(

    Well, that's pretty much the complete opposite of her. Have you googled high iron foods? Add a heap of them into your diet daily and see if it helps.

    Yeah I have. I track it on MFP (I'm aware that a lot of people don't enter Iron in their entries, and I don't always double check) but I can't seem to be able to reach 100%, ever. Maybe it's time to eat more chocolate :D

    Many cold cereals have lots of iron. I take a one a day with iron (check labels - look for the child proof cap). Stand alone iron supplements have huge daily %'s.

    Yeah I typically don't eat cereal though. Bleh, maybe I should. Don't know if I want to spend the calories on it though.

    You can use cereals in different ways. For instance, you can crush them and coat meats to oven fry them. Some might even hide nicely in smoothies if you have a good blender. If it isn't sweetened, I'd even consider putting it on a salad. Mmm...steak and grape nuts salad...

    Personally, I had a kidney transplant 16 years ago, and the immunosuppressants work in the bone marrow and prevent the body from making blood. After blaming depression and switching migraine meds, I got in with some good doctors who sent me to the ER as soon as they saw my bloodwork! That was my second blood transfusion (rare kidney disease + being a woman = not enough blood ever! Some days I want to go back in time and punch my mother for every time she called me lazy, since I was peeing blood by the time I was 6...). For the past 2.5, I have received Procrit injections every 2 weeks, and will for the life of the kidney. Still haven't hit 12 for my hemoglobin.

    Are you on azathioprine (imuran)? I'm on it but it makes me leukopenic on and off. I'm not on it for transplantation but rather autoimmune disease. There is also a rare kidney disease in my family (iga nephropathy) but I haven't developed it yet thankfully

    Tacrolimus (Prograf) and mycophenylate (Cellcept). I have Alport Syndrome, which is hereditary. It also causes hearing loss and vision abnormalities. I was dangerously leukopenic as a side effect of ace inhibitors when I was on dialysis. Now, I'm just generally low, red, white, hematocrit, and hemoglobin. At least I have enough platelets, so no more purpura!

    Iga nephropathy is apparently not hereditary but my dad has 2 first cousins and 2 of their children who have had transplants and my dad has it but he was very lucky because of the family history they checked his kidney function, etc when his blood pressure went through the roof. They caught it when he was at 60% and he is currently stable. Glad your blood is a bit better! I'm scared to go off of it as I have Crohn's which is somewhat stable when my immune system is suppressed.
  • Vune
    Vune Posts: 674 Member
    Vune wrote: »
    Vune wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    TeaBea wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    Francl27 wrote: »
    I'm not saying this is the cause for you. But my daughter in law was recently diagnosed as severely anemic, which doesn't surprise me one bit, as she eats NO fruit/veggies and very rarely eats red meat. All in all her diet sucks (and consists of mainly junk food and packaged stuff), and the doctor pretty much told her this. Her's is so bad that she feels she needs to take a nap after doing something simple like hanging the washing out.

    I actually haven't felt tired much at all, and I'm walking 15-25k steps a day too. I eat pretty balanced too :(

    Well, that's pretty much the complete opposite of her. Have you googled high iron foods? Add a heap of them into your diet daily and see if it helps.

    Yeah I have. I track it on MFP (I'm aware that a lot of people don't enter Iron in their entries, and I don't always double check) but I can't seem to be able to reach 100%, ever. Maybe it's time to eat more chocolate :D

    Many cold cereals have lots of iron. I take a one a day with iron (check labels - look for the child proof cap). Stand alone iron supplements have huge daily %'s.

    Yeah I typically don't eat cereal though. Bleh, maybe I should. Don't know if I want to spend the calories on it though.

    You can use cereals in different ways. For instance, you can crush them and coat meats to oven fry them. Some might even hide nicely in smoothies if you have a good blender. If it isn't sweetened, I'd even consider putting it on a salad. Mmm...steak and grape nuts salad...

    Personally, I had a kidney transplant 16 years ago, and the immunosuppressants work in the bone marrow and prevent the body from making blood. After blaming depression and switching migraine meds, I got in with some good doctors who sent me to the ER as soon as they saw my bloodwork! That was my second blood transfusion (rare kidney disease + being a woman = not enough blood ever! Some days I want to go back in time and punch my mother for every time she called me lazy, since I was peeing blood by the time I was 6...). For the past 2.5, I have received Procrit injections every 2 weeks, and will for the life of the kidney. Still haven't hit 12 for my hemoglobin.

    Are you on azathioprine (imuran)? I'm on it but it makes me leukopenic on and off. I'm not on it for transplantation but rather autoimmune disease. There is also a rare kidney disease in my family (iga nephropathy) but I haven't developed it yet thankfully

    Tacrolimus (Prograf) and mycophenylate (Cellcept). I have Alport Syndrome, which is hereditary. It also causes hearing loss and vision abnormalities. I was dangerously leukopenic as a side effect of ace inhibitors when I was on dialysis. Now, I'm just generally low, red, white, hematocrit, and hemoglobin. At least I have enough platelets, so no more purpura!

    Iga nephropathy is apparently not hereditary but my dad has 2 first cousins and 2 of their children who have had transplants and my dad has it but he was very lucky because of the family history they checked his kidney function, etc when his blood pressure went through the roof. They caught it when he was at 60% and he is currently stable. Glad your blood is a bit better! I'm scared to go off of it as I have Crohn's which is somewhat stable when my immune system is suppressed.

    Ugh, I have a friend with Crohn's, and it sounds awful. She gets iron infusions. I'm allergic to that stuff, so I'm stuck with the frequent stabbings. Good luck with your treatment!
  • Chunkahlunkah
    Chunkahlunkah Posts: 373 Member
    edited January 2017
    For those of you who know you're definitely iron deficient and have had trouble with supplements, have you tried Ferrous Gluconate? A dr friend recommended I take that type because it causes the least amount of stomach distress and is well absorbed. My own dr apparently hadn't know that bc he'd recommended a different type (that was not a pleasant gastro experience).

    Edit: I forgot to add that gluconate is indeed much easier on the stomach ime.
  • canadianlbs
    canadianlbs Posts: 5,199 Member
    used to have this thing too, when eating meat seemed like a chore most of the time. the red cross kept throwing me out when they did that little pre-donation fingerprick thing and clocked my levels.

    i was so not into meat at the time, so one of my ways of trying to bootleg a bit more iron into my life was sprinkling horlicks/ovaltine/milo in my coffee. it's not a cure in itself, but the micronutrient profile for a 'serving' isn't too different from cereal.

    now i just have a now-and-then chicken liver habit. smush up a garlic clove and let it soften in a little olive oil over gentle heat while you dredge the livers with flour and pepper, add livers, cook till done, YUM. i'm not really calorie conscious but i guess you don't really need the flour if you are.
  • crackpotbaby
    crackpotbaby Posts: 1,297 Member
    Iron deficiency is only ONE cause of anaemia. There are a number of others.

    When you go back to doctor, you can ask them find out what the cause is ... however, if you are mildly anaemic they may not bother investigating and just continue to monitor your haemoglobin.



  • Raynne413
    Raynne413 Posts: 1,527 Member
    For those of you who know you're definitely iron deficient and have had trouble with supplements, have you tried Ferrous Gluconate? A dr friend recommended I take that type because it causes the least amount of stomach distress and is well absorbed. My own dr apparently hadn't know that bc he'd recommended a different type (that was not a pleasant gastro experience).

    Edit: I forgot to add that gluconate is indeed much easier on the stomach ime.

    I've tried multiple supplements (prescription kind, I can't remember the name except Ferrous), and even did the liquid iron before they just decided that for some reason I just don't seem to absorb it at all. Finally after my iron levels bottomed out to the point of needing a blood transfusion, they just started doing iron infusions. It's actually not too bad past the cost! It's the only time I get to take a nap. My office has all these nice recliners and they give you blankets and headphones. LOL I did have a bad reaction to the stuff the doctor made them use the first time (because it was the cheapest) and it caused me joint problems.
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