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Thread: anemia?

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    Veteran Member Laylalust's Avatar
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    Default anemia?

    I was diagnosed with anemia a week ago and I was wondering what the best things to do for it are, despite the obvious. I bought pre-natal vitamins to take every day, since they'll have a ton of iron in them. I'm not even sure what the symptoms of anemia are--I've been feeling like crap for the past three weeks, almost like I've had a fever, with the shakes and chills and achiness and major fatigue. I'm not sure if that's due to the anemia or the fact that I have two jobs and I'm a full-time student and the stress has been killing me lately. I'm quitting my day job, so I can finally get some rest but I've been an absolute Advil junkie this past month and the doctor I went to was completely baffled by my symptoms except to tell me that my blood test indicated that I had anemia.

    I hope some of that was coherent--do my symptoms sound related to anemia or something totally different?


    "Lying's the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off...but it's better if you do."

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    Default Re: anemia?

    I'm super anemic and pass out. I actually faint.

    Just take your vitamins and you'll be fine. Tons of mature girls are anemic.

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    Default Re: anemia?

    Oooh, that totally makes sense as to why you always feel tired! And yeah, those symptoms sound right to me. My mom used to have it.

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    Default Re: anemia?

    I was anaemic, used to shake when sitting still, faint when i stood up too quick and was tired all the time. Your symptoms suggest anaemia to me. My doc prescribed me iron tablets (which i think is what you mean by the obvious).
    You should try to incorporate iron rich foods into your diet and take vitamin C (as it helps iron absorption).
    This page http://www.healthcastle.com/high-iron-diet.shtml looks like a good starting point for incorporating more iron intoo your diet, and has some good links too.

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    Veteran Member Laylalust's Avatar
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    Default Re: anemia?

    Ooh, thanks for that site, pinkpvc. That food list is really helpful. I thought spinach was full of iron though? I guess I was misinformed.

    The only symptom that really confused me was the achiness and the shakes--I didn't normally associate that with anemia. Good to know that it's related.

    I'm looking forward to finally having energy again after these vitamins kick in!


    "Lying's the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off...but it's better if you do."

  6. #6
    Lola Rose
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    Default Re: anemia?

    I am anemic- to the point of fainting too.

    I used remedies for myself- I saw a homeopathic doctor.

    I also have poor adrenal function, which is, I believe, possibly related.

    prenatals are a great start. Getting a b-12 sublingual (disolves under tongue) vit is really good for you, I get them at a health food store.

    if you want any more homeopathic-inclined advice, /i'd be happy to share.

    anemia is really not so bad, once you've got it under control.

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    Veteran Member NekkoStarz's Avatar
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    Default Re: anemia?

    Did you get tested for lupus?? I know it's not very common, but when I was diagnosed with my anemia my dr. did a test just to make sure. Also, you could just take straight iron pills (unless your dr. noted otherwise) iron pills... They might upset your stomach, cos I know they do mine.

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    Veteran Member Laylalust's Avatar
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    Default Re: anemia?

    No, I didn't get tested for lupus...but I'm thinking I should now that you've mentioned it. I looked it up and a lot of the symptoms sound similar and I believe my late grandma had it, so it could be genetic. Great, now I'm worried again. Can you get lupus at my age though (21?) I thought that was a more mature disease.

    Thank you for the tips though, girls--Lola Rose, I would love more homeopathic ideas if you have them.

  9. #9
    Lola Rose
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    Default Re: anemia?

    diatary changes make all the difference in the world.

    your body can process and absorb iron and all vitamins/minerals a lot better if you eat better. try to avoid refined sugars and carbs to help your body(all grains really are best only in small quantites, but white breads/rices are especially bad) . A glass or OJ or an citrus fruit in the morning will really help you out. tomatos and their juices are also so good for iron absorbtion.

    Eating protiens daily will make a world of difference. I was a vegetarian, but I find my anemia is better when I eat meat.

    Soy is really not very good for you. I don't recal why, but it's true. So if you eat soy products, it's best to make sure you get an extra helping of protien or two.

    try to eat as many b12 rich foods as you can (beef, cheese, milk, eggs), along with a b12 supliment. this is the energy vitamin, too, so it'll really help you!

    caffine is also really bad for iron levels, so limit yourself as much as possible. With the b12 you won't need the caffine anyways.

    I find this sort of meal plan keeps me feeling so good. note that ya, some "bad" foods are in here, but the balence is what is important.

    breakfast: 1/2 an english muffin, whole grain, with honey or jam. 2 eggs, cooked however you like. possibly some beef sausage or corned beef. A 1/2 an grapefruit or an orange.

    snack: strawberries, a glass of milk, maybe a yogurt.

    lunch: sauteed spinach or brocolli or asparagus with some chicken salad. a few apple slices or rasins.

    snack: a handful of roasted veggies- potatoes, mushrooms, anything you like. a glass of milk.

    dinner: a grilled chicken breast with whole grain pasta and tomato sauce.

    snack: yogurt or ice cream, some fresh fruit, maybe mango

    eating smaller meals is really important. So is protien 3x a day, and b12 rich foods as often as possible. it'll take a while to adjust, if you don't eat this way, but it's well worth it. I do most of the time, but when I fall off the wagon i regret it so much.

    oh- i've heard good things about dandilion leaf tea, it's very high in iron, but I've not tried it yet. I really need to tho.

    thamine is also a great suppliment for you to take, and do is folate. The prenatal should have you covered.

    I hope this helps.

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    Default Re: anemia?

    Awesome advice lola. I am anemic too and I sometimes get dizzy when I stand up. I have only fainted once, thankfully.

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    Veteran Member Laylalust's Avatar
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    Default Re: anemia?

    Thank you, thank you, thank you Lola---a grocery shopping trip is in order.

  12. #12
    Lola Rose
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    Default Re: anemia?

    Quote Originally Posted by bellasera View Post
    Awesome advice lola. I am anemic too and I sometimes get dizzy when I stand up. I have only fainted once, thankfully.
    thanks!

    you're so lucky. I can't count the number of times I've fainted... I went to the hospital so many times, and did so many tests....

    I had a lot of doctors accuse me of faking it, b/c I always feel ill at lunch time.

    They just never asked when was the last time I'd eaten, I used to skip breakfast. And they apparently did every test except anemia.

    They even accused me of faking when I fell so hard I got a concussion, and when I badly bruised my jaw bone. I was lucky it wasn't worse.

    I'm not on any medicine or routine now, only dietary changes and suppliments

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    Default Re: anemia?

    I faint ALL the time. I'm even woken up from sleep when rolling over and then faint.

    If you ever get sick where you can't eat or are throwing up what you're eating go get those levels checked. Theres some kind of scale system for how bad it is and I was ONE point away from needing a blood transfusion when I was in the hospital for something else.

    Thats not meant to scare anyone, you just have to remember to tell people you're anemic and think about times when you aren't getting your nutrients as times you should spend EXTRA thought to you iron levels. If it wasn't for my dad saving me I don't know what could have happened, I honestly couldn't move/ stay awake.

  14. #14
    Lola Rose
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    Default Re: anemia?

    Quote Originally Posted by Joplin View Post
    I faint ALL the time. I'm even woken up from sleep when rolling over and then faint.

    If you ever get sick where you can't eat or are throwing up what you're eating go get those levels checked. Theres some kind of scale system for how bad it is and I was ONE point away from needing a blood transfusion when I was in the hospital for something else.

    Thats not meant to scare anyone, you just have to remember to tell people you're anemic and think about times when you aren't getting your nutrients as times you should spend EXTRA thought to you iron levels. If it wasn't for my dad saving me I don't know what could have happened, I honestly couldn't move/ stay awake.
    QFT!!!!

    I've been so sick i needed to be hospitalized twice. Be careful, b/c it is serious. Especially if you're prone to nausea, make sure the poeple around you know that is serious.

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    Default Re: anemia?

    Lola, thanks for all that advice! I'm anemic too, but nobody has ever actually explained it to me. It was just 'Take some iron pills and eat a lot of red meat' anytime I would go to the doctor. The iron pills make me puke though, so I don't take them most of the time. Do they upset anybody else's tummy?

    /threadjack over

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    Default Re: anemia?

    Unless you have a stomach of steel they will upset the stomach. You can get anti-nausea meds from the doctor if you actually end up puking it up like I do.

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    Veteran Member Laylalust's Avatar
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    Default Re: anemia?

    This has all been very informative for me--thanks so much, ladies.

  18. #18
    Lola Rose
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    Default Re: anemia?

    iron meds mess me up too.. but a prenatal is not so hard on me.

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    Default Re: anemia?

    Uh-Oh Layla, what are you gonna do about that caffeine habit?

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    Veteran Member Laylalust's Avatar
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    Default Re: anemia?

    I knooooow, I'm freakin' about that. I must have my coffee!!

  21. #21
    Lola Rose
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    Default Re: anemia?

    coffee is SOOO bad for vitamin and mineral absorbtion....

    I totally know how hard it is to cut out though... start small, otherwise you might get withdrawl migranes.

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    Veteran Member NekkoStarz's Avatar
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    Default Re: anemia?

    You should definetely get tested for lupus now, especially if your Grandma had it. You can really get it at any age. I knew a girl that had it when she was like 24. Also, I think one of america's next top model people had it like a few seasons ago, she didn't seem that old to me either.

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