How to control anemia.

[AgonySceneGirl]

i've always been anemic. Normal for iron level is 12, went to the dr the other day and they said it was at 7. I asked her what i need to do to get my iron back up and she said to just keep taking my iron supplements. and that was all she really said about it.
The thing is - i've been taking iron supplements for a few years now. 1 supplement a day - 18mg. I've been taking the supplements every day along with my normal vitamins.

When i was a kid i got stuck eating liver 3 times a week for a few months - i really do not want to do that again.

so you ladies n gents have any idea how to get my iron up other than liver?

 

[Laila88]

.....

 

[Eilan]

You say this has been an issue for years. Have you ever been referred to a hematologist? As Laila88 said, there are lots of different types of/reasons for anemia.

My late grandma, for example, had myelodysplastic syndrome. Her body stopped producing red blood cells, and without medication and transfusions, her hemoglobin levels were low, usually 10 or below. Iron supplementation through diet and pills didn't do a thing for her. When her hemoglobin would get to 7, she would have to have a transfusion.

This is a great place to bounce ideas off of people, but I think you really need to see a specialist.

 

[SweetErika]

Yep, I agree. If the supplements aren't working, you need to investigate further to find the source(s) of the anemia, whether that's excessive bleeding, problems absorbing iron, a blood condition or something else. Tell your doc your levels are low in spite of taking the iron supplement daily like she said, you're concerned and you want to see a specialist. If she doesn't take your concerns seriously or have answers for you (or isn't willing to find them), find another primary care provider.

Do make sure you're taking the right formulation/type of iron and dose for your condition. I don't know a lot about this, but I do know there are different types/formulations of iron, and some are absorbed better than others. I have a friend with Crohn's disease-related anemia who has to take a certain type of iron for it to help.

You should also be researching anemia and potential causes so you can ask good questions and understand any conditions you may have. Bring your research (a summary and/or anything you wonder about or that seems to fit your symptoms) and a list of questions to your appointment. Doctors know a lot, but they don't know everything and make mistakes and have to learn, just like the rest of us.

You have to be firm and an advocate for yourself. That, in my experience, is how things get done and problems are solved. And, my docs have actually always appreciated my research, questions and suggestions; it helps them to have informed patients who try to take an active role in their own health.

While liver is rich in iron, it is one of the absolute worst things you can eat in other regards. Don't worry about eating that; DO worry about eating a wide variety of healthy foods that are rich in iron.

 

[AgonySceneGirl]

When you say your iron is 7, do you mean your iron levels or your hemoglobin? There are other causes of anemia that do not include iron deficiency. Have you been checked for other causes?



If it is iron deficiency, are you losing blood from somewhere? Losing blood through your intestines or having very heavy periods? If this is the case, you might want to look at your options for lighter periods. Less blood loss means less need to build more blood cells.

Back to your original question - which I think was, what foods, other than liver, can you eat to build up your iron.

A few high iron foods include red meat, high iron breakfast cereals and pumpkin seeds all have a LOT of iron in them. So does dark, bittersweet chocolate. You could breakfast on high iron cereal (the kind with 100% iron), lunch & dinner could be some sort of meaty morsel, snack on the pumpkin seeds and have the bittersweet chocolate for desert.

when i was 5, i was refered to many specialists because i had 5ths disease. which is how the anemia came into affect<according to my doc. Took them a year n a half to figure out what it was and treat it completely.
i do have heavy periods and the occational nose bleed but nothing different from when i was a kid.

 

[SweetErika]

when i was 5, i was refered to many specialists because i had 5ths disease. which is how the anemia came into affect<according to my doc. Took them a year n a half to figure out what it was and treat it completely.
i do have heavy periods and the occational nose bleed but nothing different from when i was a kid.

Very few kids get anemia from Fifths disease. Those who do see the anemia resolve once the virus has run its course. It's not an underlying cause of anemia, though it may affect kids who already have a certain type of anemia more severely. Like a cold, it's a virus, and can't really be treated, other than comfort measures for the rash, fever, joint pain and complications or underlying problems, like anemia and immune disorders.

So, while the virus may have caused you to be anemic, or you may have been anemic prior to getting it, it is NOT the cause of your current/ongoing anemia.

You need to see a hematologist to pin down the underlying cause of your anemia and talk about appropriate treatments since your iron supplement clearly isn't working. Yes, even if you saw a hematologist when you were five or so...a lot can change in 15 years, and you need to figure out what's going on with you now.

 

[BiBunny]

18 mg isn't really much iron, either. The supplement might be helping, but it may just not be enough. I take two 27 mg tablets a day.

 

[In Anticipation]

Don't forget red wine . . .

 

[PertPerth]

18 mg isn't really much iron, either. The supplement might be helping, but it may just not be enough. I take two 27 mg tablets a day.

18 should be plenty, assuming that it's not taken with calcuim or caffiene (ie a coffee) which can reduce absorption. Taking too much iron can cause constipation, so considering that AgonySceneGirl needs a long term solution, it's probably better not to have too much and increase side effects.

My Dad is a chronic anemic. He has iron injections as well as regular transfusions. The transfusions help the most and the effects last him up to a month.

They checked his bowel for bleeding and didn't find anything that could be causing it. Unfortunately, he's quite a sick man, so it's low on the list of "what's causing it?".

I agree with the others, AgonySceneGirl, talk to a specialist.
I hope it improves soon

 

[SusyQ]

ASG, there are metabolic conditions that can cause you not to absorb enough iron, even when you're taking supplements. You need to be checked for these. Just taking more iron may not be sufficient.

I have pernicious anemia -- which is like anemia, only with B vitamins. My body doesn't produce enough of the substance needed to absorb B vitamins from food. I have to take megadoses of B6, B12, and folate to ensure that I have sufficient levels in my blood. In order to find this out, I had to see a hematologist. So I second (third? eighth?) the advice to see a specialist.

 

[AgonySceneGirl]

got it - making an appointment monday mornin to see my dr and get referred to a hematologist.
in all honesty - i was hoping for a simple solution by foods / different types of supplements. but i guess a quick fix wouldnt really work in the long run. so hematologist it is.
thanks ladies

 

[amy711]

Yep, liver and spinach are the two big ones for me.

Every time I go to donate blood I am on the borderline for not having enough iron so I typically pile on the red meats.

Just a tip, apparently according to one of the Red Cross nurses, if you have pop before you have your blood tested, it throws the readings off.

 

[greeneyed_Lady]

My oldest is anemic and while the supplements do help, they don't help enough. Here's what I know...

Your body only absorbs a small portion of the iron that you ingest thru supplements. I can't remember what the exact percentage is, but it's ridiculously low. In order for you to absorb adequate amounts, you have to take a fairly high dose... and this causes other problems. Constipation from iron is ugly. I watched my oldest suffer for months before I said enough to the drs.

Oatmeal, raisins, red wine (Canadian Blood Services told my girl friend to drink red wine to raise her iron levels), red meat, spinach, liver and the others already mentioned are all high in natural iron, which is easier for your body to processs and absorb.

My oldest is also protein malnurished/deficient and so far in 5 yrs they haven't been able to figure out why. Mind you, I haven't pursued it in the last 2-3 yrs either due to other issues. I just try to get him to eat the best that he can. We do know he's a rapid metabolizer, so it's possible his body is just flushing it all out. He's a complex little creature.

 

[Mansa Musa]

Eat more beans. Make a soup or stew with dried beans, and add ginger. The ginger will help to break down the complex protein chains in the bean-flesh, causing an appreciable reduction in post-digestive gas production and helping to free up the amount of digestible iron in the final product. Add 3-6 weekly servings of bean soup to your diet, and your anemia should virtually disappear within six months time. Well, it's worked on all but one of the people to whom I've given this advice.

 

[chinadoll1965]

What type of anemia do you have? I have thalassemia minor(sp). Only found out when I had strep throat as a teenager. My level will always be low and there is nothing that will help raise the levels.

 

[GoldenGams]

Subscribing ... I have been anemic for years. I thought I would not be able to donate at my local blood drive today, but a second finger prick got the job done.

So co-sign on taking it easy on the iron tabs. I overdid it last week because my excessive nose-blowing ended up in plenty nosebleeds and I still needed to work. The constipation made me miserable.

I will definitely be testing out the wine theory this week!

 

[SweetErika]

For those of you who take iron supplements, do you get the type with a type of iron and plant extract combination added to combat the constipating effects?

I take capsules like this and have never had any issues with constipation. I've also tried one liquid, but the taste was too much for me. You can talk to someone knowledgeable at a health food/supplement store to get recommendations, although what you're looking for is Iron/Ferrous Gluconate or iron chelate and the bottle should talk about "minimizing constipation/gastrointestinal problems" right on it if it's a formulation with that purpose. Extended-release formulas and those with Vitamin C (though it's probably cheaper to just take the C w/ your iron) are less likely to cause GI problems because they're absorbed better.

Yellow dock Root is supposedly excellent for anemia and very gentle on the system.

Here are some examples of what I'm talking about:
http://www.florahealth.com/flora/home/USA/Products/R64771.htm#R64771 (Liquid in a fruit juice base with a bunch of good stuff)

GNC Time-release 18mg (very cheap and should be available at Rite Aid, too)

http://www.evitamins.com/product.asp?pid=11502 (Iron + Yellow dock and other herb extracts to maximize absorption and minimize constipation/GI upset).

 

[razor_nut]

Just want to pop a little bit in here.

Doctors should always be consulted when beginning any regular supplimentation or medication.
For those on iron suppliments, here's some tips. (some are repeats from other posts)

Avoid milk, eggs, coffee, or tea within an hour of the suppliment will greatly reduce absorption.
Instead, drink citrus juices. They will enhance absorption!
Stop taking if you have any GI issues like nausea, cramping, constipation, loss of appetite, diarrhea, or dark, tarry stool.
Great natural sources of iron include dark leafy greens, meats, especially liver, and dried fruits like raisins.
If you're taking a tetracycline, let your doctor know. Iron will reduce it's absorption.

 

[thetwolezz]

Do you think my anemia could have anything to do with migraines that I have?

 

[AgonySceneGirl]

Just want to pop a little bit in here.

Doctors should always be consulted when beginning any regular supplimentation or medication.
For those on iron suppliments, here's some tips. (some are repeats from other posts)

Avoid milk, eggs, coffee, or tea within an hour of the suppliment will greatly reduce absorption.
Instead, drink citrus juices. They will enhance absorption!
Stop taking if you have any GI issues like nausea, cramping, constipation, loss of appetite, diarrhea, or dark, tarry stool.
Great natural sources of iron include dark leafy greens, meats, especially liver, and dried fruits like raisins.
If you're taking a tetracycline, let your doctor know. Iron will reduce it's absorption.

my dr was the one that told me to start taking the supplements. like i said- been taking them for a few years now - my dr has been keeping an eye on it, its just that the supplements dont seem to be enough - which is why i was asking for more advice from people who are anemic so i knew what questions and such to ask her.

 

[AgonySceneGirl]

Do you think my anemia could have anything to do with migraines that I have?

and yes - its a possibility. i get really bad migraines a few times a week.
i've been on imitrex for them for hte past year. if i were you - i would speak with your dr.

 

[thetwolezz]

and yes - its a possibility. i get really bad migraines a few times a week.
i've been on imitrex for them for hte past year. if i were you - i would speak with your dr.

Interesting. I'll speak with my doctor. I actually ended up going to the ER two nights ago because of a terrible migraine...they gave me a shot of imitrex...and I had the WORST reaction!

 

[SweetErika]

Interesting. I'll speak with my doctor. I actually ended up going to the ER two nights ago because of a terrible migraine...they gave me a shot of imitrex...and I had the WORST reaction!

Yes, that's pretty rare AFAIK, but a possibility with Imitrex. I mainly get a bad sore throat and sleepy, even with half a pill.

There are other migraine drugs though, and if you get them frequently enough, there are also prophylactic medications such as low doses of certain anti-depressants and beta blockers. For me, a high dose of a painkiller can work, too, if nothing else is working and I've had the migraine for days without relief from Imitrex or Zomig. Anti-emetics, like compazine or prochloraperzine, can be given for the nausea and to help you keep other medications down.

I don't get migraines that often since I got off hormonal birth control, though.

So, you probably have lots of options for treatment if you talk to your doc, and s/he should be able to help you narrow down the possible causes, too.

 

[Dstorage]

Hey, you're forgetting one of the best sources for iron-

Deep dish spinach pizza!

As has been mentioned already, just as important as taking in iron, is making sure you're absorbing the iron. And remember to drink plenty of water too.

 

[pinkeden]

Beetroot is good for iron deficiencies too.

I take iron supplements every day now.. I can (and used to quite often) get very light headed, headachey, dehydrated and wobbly and crave red meat and beet when I was menstruating, but I've been going alright lately.

I used to get an organic Big Red Burger from this place near my old work.. beef, lettuce, beetroot, cheese, onion and ketchup. Oh my god.