Low iron - anaemia

[Perfectly Precious]

I am always lacking in iron - very anaemic and besides making me feel like crap it gives me the most horrible bruises!
I get my iron levels and other blood work done regularly and my doc has me on some awful iron pills that seem to do nothing but cause constipation :brow:
I noticed that a few other women on here have the same problem so is there anything else I could try? or anything in particular that you have found to help with the side effects of iron pills?
I have been threatened with infusions but have so far resisted.......

[Melinda]

I have had this problem in the past on and off....just try to eat right and take the supplements if the doc says to...

maybe consultant the health food store...but get someone who knows what they are talking about....

you can always email or ring someone like Blackmores for advice.

take care.

[eLL85]

Meat Meat Meat Meat Meat Meat Meat.

The women in my family have iron problems often particularly my mum and sis. They were both put on iron tablets and they made the BOTH sick. My sis eats Kanagroo meat, it does have a strong flavour but it is rich in iron. Also add some spinach to your diet it's great for iron. You can chop it up and throw it in pasta sauces or dips etc.

[Sunny]

You gotta eat right huni, i know you've mentioned your eating problems here before and if you can id say improve on that and the rest should follow, i hate taking iron tablets, i havent had to have them since i stopped eating gluten (for me the sensitivity meant i wasnt absorbing stuff from my other food) i know you say you get allergies too so might be something to think about. Also black strap molasses is real high in it. I been meaning to try kangaroo, have to remember to get some this week!

[Mad Old Cow]

PP i had a course of Iron 5 injections that did Nothing
I was on Iron tabs for over 12 months that did Nothing
So now i have Iron infusions that last up to 5 months before i need another
The Haemotoligist told me on Wed that he knows many Vegetarians that don't have Iron problems
Have you had Colonoscopy & Gastroscopy? to see why you are low in Iron

[mel76]

Meat heaps of Spinach & other vege's when you do your meat cook it until it's medium rare (i have mine very rare but for others that can't stomach it medium rare) as the iron is at it's best then. I'm on iron tablets
FAB IRON + Vitamin b Complex
these don't make me sick at all. I've had to try a few brands, the worst brand for me was Blackmores it really made me sick.
Go get these tablets & try them.......
It's all trial & error.
EXERCISE yep exercise helps iron absorbsion believe it or not.
I'm hopeing that when i go back to work my iron levels will creep up a bit....
Give it a try

[Heather]

Check out the Blackmores (http://www.blackmores.com.au/Conditions/Detail.aspx?ConditionId=1512) site.

Kangaroo meat is one of the best...see here from the CSIRO....
Q. Are there any vitamins or minerals in kangaroo meats?
A.Yes, kangaroo packs a nutritious punch when it comes to vitamins and minerals. In the vitamin department, kangaroo meat contains valuable sources of B-group vitamins, including riboflavin, niacin, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12. In the mineral stakes, kangaroo meat is a particularly rich source of iron and a good source of zinc. In fact, a 150g serve of kangaroo steak or fillet provides over half (55%) of the recommended dietary intake (RDI) for iron and over a quarter (28%) of the RDI for zinc.

I think you should put yourself under the care of a decent nuitritionist....some combinations of food actually inhibit the absorption of Iron.

[eLL85]

One more thing I forgot to add. When you eat iron rich foods make sure you also have some vitamin C at the same time. Your body cannot absorb the iron without the vitamin sea so have a Kangaroo mince spaghetti for tea with a glass of orange juice!

[Nicole83]

I'm in the same boat PP. I have been on iron tablets since April after finding out I am low in iron and anaemic also. Recently got another blood test and found out my iron levels are back to normal thanks to FeFol iron supplements i have been taking but I am still very anaemic. I haven't had a period in about 6 months either so I'm not losing blood that way. I am off to see a gyno at the end of the month and hopefully will get some answers then.

As the other ladies have said, get eating some iron rich food, meat, spinach, fish etc.. Ask the chemist about some iron supplement tablets, but bare in mind, it does cause constipation for some people. I haven't had any side effects from them either. But I don't feel different either.. in the sense that I am still tired and lathergic (however you spell it) like I was before taking them.

Best of luck!

[Sunny]

I think you should put yourself under the care of a decent nuitritionist....


That's a debatable thing to do! I went along to see a few nutritionists early on in my saga most i guess for insurance reasons just follow the food pyramid. It really depends what school of thought you come from and what makes sense to you as a person. Obviously having developed intolernaces and problems when i look into things and they recommend avoiding wheat and grains and dairy because they wreck your guts and make it permeable than that makes sense to me because its happened to me. But some people still advocate lots of bread and pasta and carbs with meals and dairy so i think you have to be brave and just do what feels right in your own mind and guts - literally :hehe:

For anyone that interested theres a very good book called "good health in the 21st century" by Carole hungerford. She's an Aussie GP from Sydney who has branched out in nutrition and its a very comprehensive well referenced book. It was mentioned on Today Tonight recently.

[Perfectly Precious]

Thanx for all your thoughts and help ladies.....
I have been on fefol tabs and they are just awful.....I have changed to ferro grad c which are nicer to my stomach but still dreadful :brow:
I have tried kangaroo as my doc suggested it but the smell puts me off :hehe:

[Sunny]

Oh is it stinki? I was on the chemist FGF tablets? Have you tried those ones?

[miss kiki]

good advice ladies!
i hope it goes well for you PP. :yes: