Struggling with anaemia

moniqueholtman237

Hi,

I have been a vegetarian for about seven years now and about six weeks ago I found out I'm anaemic. I have been taking iron pills and B12 since then and while I am slowly starting to feel better, I still have days where I feel terrible because of it.

I follow a very healthy diet - lots of iron-rich vegetables, cashew nuts, beans, chick peas etc but it's obviously not enough. I'm also very active.

I was just wondering if anyone else has had this problem and how long it took to feel better and if you have any food tips too!

Thank you :-)

CTcutie

I've had this happen twice: once when I was a teenager (17-18) & was trying to be a vegetarian (badly!)- took maybe 3-4 months before I looked & felt better, but I had hair loss, and that got better much faster. It was a few more months before my bloodwork was close to normal. Happened again when I was about 25-26... I was eating OK (but not enough meat; lol- I gave up on being a vegetarian after what happened the first time!), and it took 9-10 months for normal bloodwork, but I started to feel a bit better in 1-2 months. It's slow, but when you're better you will be AMAZED at how ill you felt before, and didn't even realize Spinach- I remember I ate lots of it, took the iron pills, and had to try a few different ones due to belly issues.

moniqueholtman237

Thank you so much! It's a relief to know all this will eventually work, it just takes time. I am very much looking forward to feeling normal again :-)

pamfgil

Taking the iron supplement last thing at night with a small amount of orange juice helps with the absorption, so does avoiding calcium for a few hours before you take it.

ceiswyn

Iron-rich vegetables aren't necessarily rich in bioavailable iron. Spinach, for example, also contains high levels of oxalic acid, which hinders iron absorption. Pulses and broccoli are probably your best sources, preferably combined with citrus fruit as advised above.

I eat a mostly vegetable diet and have a tendency towards anaemia, and find that I start feeling a lot better within a few days after starting to take iron supplements.

yirara

Did you have your folate levels checked? For proper B12 conversion folate needs to be in the upper third of the range. Furthermore, taking B12 will lower iron levels again as your body creates new red blood cells. Thus keep that in mind. Do you also have neurological symptoms, like pins and needles? how low was your B12 level? Quite possible that tablets are not sufficient. They certainly are not to heal neurological symptoms. Worst case they only raise the level in your blood but don't heal the issues associated with them. A very low level should always be treated with injections.

Alatariel75

Do you use cast iron cookware? It can help, I'm told.

yirara

Alatariel75 wrote: »

Do you use cast iron cookware? It can help, I'm told.

Not if you're deficient in iron. To cure that one needs proper iron supplements with a high enough level of elemental iron (look at package), at least 65mg that gets predigested in the stomach. Thus most types of iron that are easy on the stomach won't help either.

rainbowbow

I think this post might be helpful.

Essentially, I would make sure the iron you're getting is bioavailable, that you're not consuming iron around known inhibitors, and that you're boosting your iron intake with vitamin c.

moniqueholtman237

Thank you, I will give this a go :-)

pamfgil wrote: »

Taking the iron supplement last thing at night with a small amount of orange juice helps with the absorption, so does avoiding calcium for a few hours before you take it.

moniqueholtman237

I didn't know that some vegetables can hinder iron absorption, no wonder I'm still struggling! I could definitely do with more pulses in my diet so I will try that. Thank you!

ceiswyn wrote: »

Iron-rich vegetables aren't necessarily rich in bioavailable iron. Spinach, for example, also contains high levels of oxalic acid, which hinders iron absorption. Pulses and broccoli are probably your best sources, preferably combined with citrus fruit as advised above.

I eat a mostly vegetable diet and have a tendency towards anaemia, and find that I start feeling a lot better within a few days after starting to take iron supplements.

moniqueholtman237

I don't think they tested my B12 levels, a friend who suffers with anaemia said she was told to take B12 and it worked for her. Maybe it's not for me though if it can reduce your iron levels and I'm still struggling!

I have been suffering with pins and needles for over a year now. I was tested for carpal tunnel last year and that came back negative so I assume it's a result of the anaemia. I have a blood test this week and I'm pretty sure my iron count will come back low again as I'm still feeling so bad so will mention the injections to my doctor.

Thank you for the advice!

yirara wrote: »

Did you have your folate levels checked? For proper B12 conversion folate needs to be in the upper third of the range. Furthermore, taking B12 will lower iron levels again as your body creates new red blood cells. Thus keep that in mind. Do you also have neurological symptoms, like pins and needles? how low was your B12 level? Quite possible that tablets are not sufficient. They certainly are not to heal neurological symptoms. Worst case they only raise the level in your blood but don't heal the issues associated with them. A very low level should always be treated with injections.

yirara

moniqueholtman237 wrote: »

I don't think they tested my B12 levels, a friend who suffers with anaemia said she was told to take B12 and it worked for her. Maybe it's not for me though if it can reduce your iron levels and I'm still struggling!

I have been suffering with pins and needles for over a year now. I was tested for carpal tunnel last year and that came back negative so I assume it's a result of the anaemia. I have a blood test this week and I'm pretty sure my iron count will come back low again as I'm still feeling so bad so will mention the injections to my doctor.

Thank you for the advice!

yirara wrote: »

Did you have your folate levels checked? For proper B12 conversion folate needs to be in the upper third of the range. Furthermore, taking B12 will lower iron levels again as your body creates new red blood cells. Thus keep that in mind. Do you also have neurological symptoms, like pins and needles? how low was your B12 level? Quite possible that tablets are not sufficient. They certainly are not to heal neurological symptoms. Worst case they only raise the level in your blood but don't heal the issues associated with them. A very low level should always be treated with injections.

So great, you have pins and needles, which are a symptom of a possible B12 deficiency. As you're taking B12 supplements a blood test will be completely useless for months to come. Even if your absorption of B12 is normal, tablet supplements are not sufficient to heal nerve damage done by a lack of B12. You could try getting a blood test, but it will most likely show high levels. You might try and convince your doctor to give your B12 shots, every second day until there is no further improvement.

So there are several problems:

1. your supplements made it impossible to get a realistic blood tests thus your doctor might not be willing to try out injections. But do ask.
2. B12 only gets transformed into the active form properly if folate levels are high enough, best in the upper third of the range. Most people who are low in B12 are also low in folate, thus just taking B12 will not do much anyway. Just taking folate in a high enough dose before a blood test will mess with results though.
3. B12 is extremely important for nerve health. What it does is to keep the insulation around nerves healthy. If this insulation gets damaged nerve signals leak out of them like out of a damaged electric cable (pins and needles). Later, the signals don't get to where they are needed anymore. Now keep in mind that everything in your body is run by nerves: your arms and legs, your heart function, bladder control, vision, brain function...
4. You've not told yet how much iron is in your tablets. if it's something you can buy at boots or H&B then it will never be sufficient to deal with low iron levels. Look at the package, and post the type of iron, the total amount of iron and the total amount of essential iron here if you like. Mine reads something like "Ferrous sulfate, 325mg (65mg essential iron).

Good luck

moniqueholtman237

It is something from Boots, the doctor prescribed it to me but Boots told me you don't even need a prescription for it.

It's Ferrous Fumarate 210mg and I've been told to take them three times a day. I have thrown the box away as I put them in a pill box so I remember to take them! What I can find online says:

Each tablet contains 210mg ferrous fumarate BP. The active substance is ferrous fumarate. Each tablet contains 210mg ferrous iron. Not sure if that's helpful!

yirara wrote: »

moniqueholtman237 wrote: »

I don't think they tested my B12 levels, a friend who suffers with anaemia said she was told to take B12 and it worked for her. Maybe it's not for me though if it can reduce your iron levels and I'm still struggling!

I have been suffering with pins and needles for over a year now. I was tested for carpal tunnel last year and that came back negative so I assume it's a result of the anaemia. I have a blood test this week and I'm pretty sure my iron count will come back low again as I'm still feeling so bad so will mention the injections to my doctor.

Thank you for the advice!

yirara wrote: »

Did you have your folate levels checked? For proper B12 conversion folate needs to be in the upper third of the range. Furthermore, taking B12 will lower iron levels again as your body creates new red blood cells. Thus keep that in mind. Do you also have neurological symptoms, like pins and needles? how low was your B12 level? Quite possible that tablets are not sufficient. They certainly are not to heal neurological symptoms. Worst case they only raise the level in your blood but don't heal the issues associated with them. A very low level should always be treated with injections.

So great, you have pins and needles, which are a symptom of a possible B12 deficiency. As you're taking B12 supplements a blood test will be completely useless for months to come. Even if your absorption of B12 is normal, tablet supplements are not sufficient to heal nerve damage done by a lack of B12. You could try getting a blood test, but it will most likely show high levels. You might try and convince your doctor to give your B12 shots, every second day until there is no further improvement.

So there are several problems:

1. your supplements made it impossible to get a realistic blood tests thus your doctor might not be willing to try out injections. But do ask.
2. B12 only gets transformed into the active form properly if folate levels are high enough, best in the upper third of the range. Most people who are low in B12 are also low in folate, thus just taking B12 will not do much anyway. Just taking folate in a high enough dose before a blood test will mess with results though.
3. B12 is extremely important for nerve health. What it does is to keep the insulation around nerves healthy. If this insulation gets damaged nerve signals leak out of them like out of a damaged electric cable (pins and needles). Later, the signals don't get to where they are needed anymore. Now keep in mind that everything in your body is run by nerves: your arms and legs, your heart function, bladder control, vision, brain function...
4. You've not told yet how much iron is in your tablets. if it's something you can buy at boots or H&B then it will never be sufficient to deal with low iron levels. Look at the package, and post the type of iron, the total amount of iron and the total amount of essential iron here if you like. Mine reads something like "Ferrous sulfate, 325mg (65mg essential iron).

Good luck

yirara

Yep, that should take care of the iron anaemia! That's good. it's from the boots pharmacy, not the boots shampoos and vitamins section It should take at least 6 weeks though, maybe even longer.

moniqueholtman237

Great, that's good news! Thanks for all your help :-)

yirara wrote: »

Yep, that should take care of the iron anaemia! That's good. it's from the boots pharmacy, not the boots shampoos and vitamins section It should take at least 6 weeks though, maybe even longer.