anemia

ej0820 · Apr 23, 2008

hey all,

so, to add to my list of bodily issues (CF, CFRD, asthma, etc), I am now anemic (yay)<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">. I'm apparently VERY iron deficient and was told to eat more red meat every chance I get (along with iron pills <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"> ). I was just wondering if any other cfers on here are anemic (iron deficient) and what you do to help it. I was told iron pills can make one feel quite crummy so I'm nervous to start them...has anyone here had a bad time with iron pills? If so, what did you do then to get more iron? I know the saying for me now should be "A hamburger a day keeps the dr away", but any other suggestions would be great!

ej0820 · Apr 23, 2008

hey all,

so, to add to my list of bodily issues (CF, CFRD, asthma, etc), I am now anemic (yay)<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">. I'm apparently VERY iron deficient and was told to eat more red meat every chance I get (along with iron pills <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"> ). I was just wondering if any other cfers on here are anemic (iron deficient) and what you do to help it. I was told iron pills can make one feel quite crummy so I'm nervous to start them...has anyone here had a bad time with iron pills? If so, what did you do then to get more iron? I know the saying for me now should be "A hamburger a day keeps the dr away", but any other suggestions would be great!

ej0820 · Apr 23, 2008

hey all,

so, to add to my list of bodily issues (CF, CFRD, asthma, etc), I am now anemic (yay)<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">. I'm apparently VERY iron deficient and was told to eat more red meat every chance I get (along with iron pills <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"> ). I was just wondering if any other cfers on here are anemic (iron deficient) and what you do to help it. I was told iron pills can make one feel quite crummy so I'm nervous to start them...has anyone here had a bad time with iron pills? If so, what did you do then to get more iron? I know the saying for me now should be "A hamburger a day keeps the dr away", but any other suggestions would be great!

ej0820 · Apr 23, 2008

hey all,

so, to add to my list of bodily issues (CF, CFRD, asthma, etc), I am now anemic (yay)<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">. I'm apparently VERY iron deficient and was told to eat more red meat every chance I get (along with iron pills <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"> ). I was just wondering if any other cfers on here are anemic (iron deficient) and what you do to help it. I was told iron pills can make one feel quite crummy so I'm nervous to start them...has anyone here had a bad time with iron pills? If so, what did you do then to get more iron? I know the saying for me now should be "A hamburger a day keeps the dr away", but any other suggestions would be great!

ej0820 · Apr 23, 2008

hey all,
 
 so, to add to my list of bodily issues (CF, CFRD, asthma, etc), I am now anemic (yay)<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif" border="0">. I'm apparently VERY iron deficient and was told to eat more red meat every chance I get (along with iron pills <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"> ). I was just wondering if any other cfers on here are anemic (iron deficient) and what you do to help it. I was told iron pills can make one feel quite crummy so I'm nervous to start them...has anyone here had a bad time with iron pills? If so, what did you do then to get more iron? I know the saying for me now should be "A hamburger a day keeps the dr away", but any other suggestions would be great!

Sevenstars · Apr 23, 2008

I'm also very anemic. The iron pills can indeed make you feel very, very crummy. They're very hard on your stomach and can give you bad constipation. My doc wanted me to take something like 2x 325mg a day (?) but I can only tolerate 1 pill MWF or sometimes M-F (skipping Sat/Sun) at the very most.

What seems to suck the most for me is that having very low iron can make you feel incredibly run down and tired and reluctant to do your meds. Not because you don't want to, but because you just want to sleep all day. I've had that problem a good many times and it sucks. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

I do eat a lot of red meat so I don't really know what other tips to suggest. Periodically I go into the short stay unit and get doses of IV iron. It's not harsh to your stomach (since it goes directly to your bloodstream) but it is very hard on your veins - if you get an IV put in, it will hurt that same day even if you have good veins. However, this is the best way of getting Iron I've found. If you're really low and need a boost, this is the way to go. You simply go into the short stay unit for a few hours, relax, read a book, and let the iron infuse. Doing it at home is sadly not an option since it needs to be mixed and used immediately (within 2 hours).

I hope that helped a little bit. Don't be afraid to take the iron, it does help. Just start out on MWF or something and work your way up to the highest dose you can tolerate. I'd really highly recommend asking your dr about the IV stuff though. Feel better <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Edit: Oops I forgot to add - sometimes they also recommend a blood transfusion. I personally didn't want to go this route due to the risks involved, but it's just one other option.

Sevenstars · Apr 23, 2008

I'm also very anemic. The iron pills can indeed make you feel very, very crummy. They're very hard on your stomach and can give you bad constipation. My doc wanted me to take something like 2x 325mg a day (?) but I can only tolerate 1 pill MWF or sometimes M-F (skipping Sat/Sun) at the very most.

What seems to suck the most for me is that having very low iron can make you feel incredibly run down and tired and reluctant to do your meds. Not because you don't want to, but because you just want to sleep all day. I've had that problem a good many times and it sucks. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

I do eat a lot of red meat so I don't really know what other tips to suggest. Periodically I go into the short stay unit and get doses of IV iron. It's not harsh to your stomach (since it goes directly to your bloodstream) but it is very hard on your veins - if you get an IV put in, it will hurt that same day even if you have good veins. However, this is the best way of getting Iron I've found. If you're really low and need a boost, this is the way to go. You simply go into the short stay unit for a few hours, relax, read a book, and let the iron infuse. Doing it at home is sadly not an option since it needs to be mixed and used immediately (within 2 hours).

I hope that helped a little bit. Don't be afraid to take the iron, it does help. Just start out on MWF or something and work your way up to the highest dose you can tolerate. I'd really highly recommend asking your dr about the IV stuff though. Feel better <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Edit: Oops I forgot to add - sometimes they also recommend a blood transfusion. I personally didn't want to go this route due to the risks involved, but it's just one other option.

Sevenstars · Apr 23, 2008

I'm also very anemic. The iron pills can indeed make you feel very, very crummy. They're very hard on your stomach and can give you bad constipation. My doc wanted me to take something like 2x 325mg a day (?) but I can only tolerate 1 pill MWF or sometimes M-F (skipping Sat/Sun) at the very most.

What seems to suck the most for me is that having very low iron can make you feel incredibly run down and tired and reluctant to do your meds. Not because you don't want to, but because you just want to sleep all day. I've had that problem a good many times and it sucks. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

I do eat a lot of red meat so I don't really know what other tips to suggest. Periodically I go into the short stay unit and get doses of IV iron. It's not harsh to your stomach (since it goes directly to your bloodstream) but it is very hard on your veins - if you get an IV put in, it will hurt that same day even if you have good veins. However, this is the best way of getting Iron I've found. If you're really low and need a boost, this is the way to go. You simply go into the short stay unit for a few hours, relax, read a book, and let the iron infuse. Doing it at home is sadly not an option since it needs to be mixed and used immediately (within 2 hours).

I hope that helped a little bit. Don't be afraid to take the iron, it does help. Just start out on MWF or something and work your way up to the highest dose you can tolerate. I'd really highly recommend asking your dr about the IV stuff though. Feel better <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Edit: Oops I forgot to add - sometimes they also recommend a blood transfusion. I personally didn't want to go this route due to the risks involved, but it's just one other option.

Sevenstars · Apr 23, 2008

I'm also very anemic. The iron pills can indeed make you feel very, very crummy. They're very hard on your stomach and can give you bad constipation. My doc wanted me to take something like 2x 325mg a day (?) but I can only tolerate 1 pill MWF or sometimes M-F (skipping Sat/Sun) at the very most.

What seems to suck the most for me is that having very low iron can make you feel incredibly run down and tired and reluctant to do your meds. Not because you don't want to, but because you just want to sleep all day. I've had that problem a good many times and it sucks. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">

I do eat a lot of red meat so I don't really know what other tips to suggest. Periodically I go into the short stay unit and get doses of IV iron. It's not harsh to your stomach (since it goes directly to your bloodstream) but it is very hard on your veins - if you get an IV put in, it will hurt that same day even if you have good veins. However, this is the best way of getting Iron I've found. If you're really low and need a boost, this is the way to go. You simply go into the short stay unit for a few hours, relax, read a book, and let the iron infuse. Doing it at home is sadly not an option since it needs to be mixed and used immediately (within 2 hours).

I hope that helped a little bit. Don't be afraid to take the iron, it does help. Just start out on MWF or something and work your way up to the highest dose you can tolerate. I'd really highly recommend asking your dr about the IV stuff though. Feel better <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Edit: Oops I forgot to add - sometimes they also recommend a blood transfusion. I personally didn't want to go this route due to the risks involved, but it's just one other option.

Sevenstars · Apr 23, 2008

I'm also very anemic. The iron pills can indeed make you feel very, very crummy. They're very hard on your stomach and can give you bad constipation. My doc wanted me to take something like 2x 325mg a day (?) but I can only tolerate 1 pill MWF or sometimes M-F (skipping Sat/Sun) at the very most.
 
 What seems to suck the most for me is that having very low iron can make you feel incredibly run down and tired and reluctant to do your meds. Not because you don't want to, but because you just want to sleep all day. I've had that problem a good many times and it sucks. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0">
 
 I do eat a lot of red meat so I don't really know what other tips to suggest. Periodically I go into the short stay unit and get doses of IV iron. It's not harsh to your stomach (since it goes directly to your bloodstream) but it is very hard on your veins - if you get an IV put in, it will hurt that same day even if you have good veins. However, this is the best way of getting Iron I've found. If you're really low and need a boost, this is the way to go. You simply go into the short stay unit for a few hours, relax, read a book, and let the iron infuse. Doing it at home is sadly not an option since it needs to be mixed and used immediately (within 2 hours).
 
 I hope that helped a little bit. Don't be afraid to take the iron, it does help. Just start out on MWF or something and work your way up to the highest dose you can tolerate. I'd really highly recommend asking your dr about the IV stuff though. Feel better <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
 Edit: Oops I forgot to add - sometimes they also recommend a blood transfusion. I personally didn't want to go this route due to the risks involved, but it's just one other option.

Faust · Apr 23, 2008

Anemia can come from several sources. When I was sick and had a high bacteria count in my culture, I was very close to being anemic. I wondered why. I asked around and found out bacteria, and pseudo leech iron from the body. It's a double edged sword. Do you take iron supplements and continue to feed your bacteria? Or do nothing and get worse? I went after trying to kill off my bacteria and not taking iron supplements. Last check, with much lower culture count, i'm not as close to anemia as I used to be.

Faust · Apr 23, 2008

Anemia can come from several sources. When I was sick and had a high bacteria count in my culture, I was very close to being anemic. I wondered why. I asked around and found out bacteria, and pseudo leech iron from the body. It's a double edged sword. Do you take iron supplements and continue to feed your bacteria? Or do nothing and get worse? I went after trying to kill off my bacteria and not taking iron supplements. Last check, with much lower culture count, i'm not as close to anemia as I used to be.

Faust · Apr 23, 2008

Anemia can come from several sources. When I was sick and had a high bacteria count in my culture, I was very close to being anemic. I wondered why. I asked around and found out bacteria, and pseudo leech iron from the body. It's a double edged sword. Do you take iron supplements and continue to feed your bacteria? Or do nothing and get worse? I went after trying to kill off my bacteria and not taking iron supplements. Last check, with much lower culture count, i'm not as close to anemia as I used to be.

Faust · Apr 23, 2008

Anemia can come from several sources. When I was sick and had a high bacteria count in my culture, I was very close to being anemic. I wondered why. I asked around and found out bacteria, and pseudo leech iron from the body. It's a double edged sword. Do you take iron supplements and continue to feed your bacteria? Or do nothing and get worse? I went after trying to kill off my bacteria and not taking iron supplements. Last check, with much lower culture count, i'm not as close to anemia as I used to be.

Faust · Apr 23, 2008

Anemia can come from several sources. When I was sick and had a high bacteria count in my culture, I was very close to being anemic. I wondered why. I asked around and found out bacteria, and pseudo leech iron from the body. It's a double edged sword. Do you take iron supplements and continue to feed your bacteria? Or do nothing and get worse? I went after trying to kill off my bacteria and not taking iron supplements. Last check, with much lower culture count, i'm not as close to anemia as I used to be.

moxie1 · Apr 23, 2008