Anemia?

[linekelei]

Just wondering if anyone here has been diagnosed with anemia. I just found out I have mild anemia (11.2 was my measurement, and 12 is the low end of normal). I found out only because I have had some digestive problems that are in the diagnostic stages, and was required to take a blood test. I just had another blood test this morning to figure out why I'm anemic (low iron, low B12, or low folic acid). I have a feeling this might be attributed to some sort of gastrointestinal bleeding, since I've had a lot of those symptoms. I'm just wondering if you're anemic, how you felt, what was done to treat it, has it affected your quality of life, etc. I feel good overall, exercise a good amount, etc., but have been tired. But I'm always tired, so it doesn't seem unusual to me!!!!

[kanga1622]

I have been anemic a couple time during the past two years. Unfortunately, I have no symptoms until I get to 8 or 8.5 so it tends to freak out the doctors. :) My main symptom is just being so tired that I can't keep my eyes open at 6pm. When I get down that low I will sleep for 13 hours a day and still feel groggy and tired when I'm awake.

Basically it was treated by taking iron pills 3 times a day for 3+ months until I had a number in the normal range (12-16) and then taking 1-2 pills a day for another 3 months to build back the iron storage in my blood. Essentially I was taking 1000% of the recommended daily allowance of iron to ensure that my body would absorb it.

I also learned to love broccoli and ate as many green foods as I could stand. I still try to get plenty of darker greens, broccoli, and red meat in my diet to avoid another relapse. Now I just take a regular multi-vitamin to stay in the normal range and add in iron supplements when I start to drag again. They were never able to pinpoint why my iron levels would get so low but they've been good in the last 1 1/2 years so I'm not too worried. I just make sure to get my iron checked every time I go to the doctor's to make sure it isn't creeping back down again.

[linekelei]

Thanks for your response. I am mostly concerned because I already eat a ton of green leafy vegetables, take a multi-vitamin every day that supplies 85% of my iron, and eat a fair amount of red meat. I am wondering if either (a) my body can't, for some reason, absorb the iron, or (b) my stomach lining is bleeding and my iron consumption simply can't make up for it. Either way, i guess the doctor will find out with a lot of tests I don't want to take (endoscopy anyone???), but I'm glad to hear you didn't have any major symptoms until you got down to 8 or 8.5. I've never really felt super tired, or been unable to exercise or out of breath, so I was surprised when they told me I was anemic.

[justcbk]

my major sympton, exhaustion, got bad around 9.5 or 10.0.

i was diagnosed my sophomore year in college - i ran cross country and track and was really struggling with my training. i got my iron levels checked and they were 9.0. they avised me to take 2 iron pills a day, with orange juice (the vitamin c helps your body absorb the iron), and avoiding calcium within a couple hours of taking the iron pill (it blocks your body's ability to absorb the iron).

my situation is basically chronic - so everyday now with my multivitamin i take an iron pill (1, not 2 which i needed when running 70+ miles per week), and then i take a calcium chew-pill in the evening.

good luck getting it figured out!

[2kCougar]

I've always been anemic. Lately it has become a serious health issue for me. My hematologist doesn't measure hemoglobin, but he does measure ferritin levels (iron storage). He likes the levels to be up around 40. Mine is usually 1.5 or 2. My hemoglobin has never been above 10.5. I have to get iron treatments in the hosital b/c of the severity. I still take iron supplements, but they really don't seem to help.

I'm used to how tired it makes me feel. I just drink coffee and know that I can't do everything that I want to do. The really annoying thing is the bruising. I was carrying a shopping basket on my arm and I ended up with a bruise from my elbow to my wrist.

[LittleFredPunkinHead]

I have a mild problem with low iron. I've been turned away from giving blood because of it.
If your problem is iron, another way to get it in addition to the leafy green vegetables, red meat, and supplements, is by eating oatmeal. A regular serving of oatmeal has around 20% of the RDA for iron. I have a glass of orange juice (like justcbk said, to help with absorption) with a serving of oatmeal for breakfast.

[linekelei]

Thanks for all of your comments and input. I have a doctor's appointment next week to discuss why I'm anemic, but right now they have me eating cream of wheat/malt o meal every morning, along with an orange to help my iron absorption. I feel fine. Tired, but then again, who's not tired in this day and age, kwim?

[Katy]

linekelei, how did all of this work out for you? I just got a message from my doc that my B12 levels were low (and something about my thyroid) and that I need to call her back. So I'm just doing a little preliminary research online.

[linekelei]

My levels are on the low end of normal. For now, the doctor doesn't seem too concerned, but it is something that will need to be monitored when I eventually get pregnant. I do try to eat more red meat than I used to. But honestly, I feel really good-no symptoms at all.

[paulinaaa]

I've been diagnosed for a few years and I only have problems when I don't take my iron supplement.

If for some reason your body isn't absorbing iron as it should be, then your level would probably be a lot lower. But the consequence would be a shot, I think monthly, of iron serum.

[Julss05]

I was diagnosed with anemia when I went on birth control the first time around age 16. My level was 9-10. I felt tired all the time and faint feeling sometimes around my period but didn't think anything of it. They gave me iron supplements. Before getting on birth control my periods were pretty heavy and long but once I got on them my periods got lighter and shorter. My anemia eventually went away I think due to bleeding less. I had the doctor check me for anemia recently and my levels were fine. I make sure to take a daily multi-vitamin and eat foods high in iron.