Are You Anaemic?

[kasey]

~~HoneyComb~~...Was that your ferritin level?

 

[spellinto]

I am also anemic and went through the dreaded IV iron infusions as well. I now eat lots of liver, spinach, greens....etc. I also have to take daily iron supplements as well. The worse thing I hate about my anemia, is that I am always super cold.

SAME! It takes me a long time for my body to recover after being in the cold. I just stay chilly unless the weather is deliberately hot (as opposed to just warm).

As for hair, my anemia has not hindered my growth (although I'm wondering if my hair could be in better shape if I'd just take my iron supplements regularly...hmm...)

 

[~~HoneyComb~~]

...Was that your ferritin level?

kasey, I don't know. I was just given the number 10 where it was 8 before. What would the ferritin level tell?

 

[Lynnerie]

I have fibroids and have a doc appointment next week to see exactly where they are. I will probably have to have the myosure procedure. But I got my blood checked and my iron was low so I have to take 2 irons pills a day. I notice that I'm not tired all the time and my last cycle was not as bad as it usually is.

I remember back in high school when we would have blood drives I always got denied cause my iron was too low. I am also cold most of the time.

 

[Rae81]

Im set for an iron infusion tomorrow... My body feels beat up.. The lowest that I have been was a 4 and that required an immediate blood transfusion(had shortness of breath).... The plan for me is to take for 3 months of aygestin, along with iron pills and then revisit a hysterectomy when my body can handle a surgery. I do not want another blood transfusion and since I have decided I dont want anymore kids, all of this wear and tear on my body is getting old. Even with diet, iron pills and multiple procedures to control bleeding, my highest blood count was 9.

I also had to have a blood transfusion as well when I was about 23 . But when I was 14 my blood count was so low that it was below the level I had to be at for a transfusion so my grandmother nursed me back to health. It was so bad I couldn't go back to school. I remember I used to get muscle spasms real bad in my back and bad headaches. I used to cry walking to school cuz my legs hurt so much. My doctor said I was lucky I didn't pass out on the side of the road. But they never suggested a iron infusion

Sent from my HTC EVO 3D

 

[Lavendar]

BUMPING..............


Rather than starting another thread, I am bumping this one....

I am still suffering from severe anemia, despite having fibroids removed, blood transfusions, iron infusions, iron supplements and fibroid embolization procedure....

It is so hard to believe that my cycle is causing so much havoc in my life, but I still cannot bring myself to end it permanently ( hysterectomy)...

Can you ladies( Lavendar, and others) please provide updates on your procedures; novasure, endometrial ablation, etc. and if they have helped end your anemia?

I have to go back to the doctor today...My blood level is a 6 and I am extremely fatigued, cold, with shivers, an ice addict, dizzy, and suffering from shortness of breath...I am sooo tired of this.....

Thanks so much!

So sorry that you are having such a horrible time. My hematologists made sure my hemoglobin and hematocrit were really high immediately before my Novasure procedure. My ferritin was 4 when I was at rock bottom and over 400 by the time I had my procedure. I'm doing pretty well, although at times I do feel some of the old symptoms. I haven't had to have a treatment though for at least three years. I make sure to take my biotin religiously, sometimes doubling up to 10 mg a day for a while. Also, I had to cut wayyyyy back on the carbohydrates. I never realized how much they were affecting my hormone levels until I cut them almost completely and then started eating them again. By carbs, I don't mean fruit and veggies; I mean all white carbs, fruit juice (even 100% fruit juice) anything made with refined sugar, and some starches like corn and peas. I do okay with limited brown rice and quinoa. With carbs, my hormones go crazy, my skin turns into a war zone, and the monthly cramps are murder, even after having the Novasure and still not having my cycle return yet, I still get cramps that have me rolling on the floor if I dare to eat the wrong thing. Most of the time I have no cramps or maybe a twinge if I'm being good. I'm past the Novasure warranty and my cycle can show up at any time, so I have to keep the hormone levels down. (Please, please, please don't come back. )

With all that being said, my daughter now has the same issue. We just completed her first round of infusions. The process has really changed since I had them. They really shoot her up! She had really strange symptoms, different from mine, but her cycles are outrageous. Her symptoms decreased dramatically after about two infusions

The doctors have determined we have a hereditary disorder called a thalassemia, which is really just a general term meaning hereditary blood disorder. The doctors think we have a digestive condition that prevents us from digesting and/or absorbing iron from food and supplements. That's where the biotin comes in. Biotin doesn't take the place of iron, but it does help with the formation of red blood cells. I can take a boat load of iron supplements and they won't do a thing but maybe lock up my intestines. But I find the biotin at least keeps me stable.

BTW, my dad and sister have this too; but my dad is worse.

For everyone having trouble with anemia after using supplements for an extended time, and I mean taking them consistently for at least 6 months and then follow-up for blood work, you may want to see a hematologist for further workup. Digestive problems are not that rare these days since our food is so jacked up, and you could have leaky gut or be eating gluten and you should not be. Always find out your iron (ferritin) level in addition to your blood count. You need to know if your blood is low due to low iron or if your cycles are the main issue, or if heavy cycles are aggravating your anemia that is primarily caused by low iron. If your ferritin is normal, then iron is not your problem. It could be hormone levels if you are having heavy cycles. Anyhoo, you need a specialist to help you with this and not just a general doctor.

HTH!

 

[Lavendar]

Im set for an iron infusion tomorrow... My body feels beat up.. The lowest that I have been was a 4 and that required an immediate blood transfusion(had shortness of breath).... The plan for me is to take for 3 months of aygestin, along with iron pills and then revisit a hysterectomy when my body can handle a surgery. I do not want another blood transfusion and since I have decided I dont want anymore kids, all of this wear and tear on my body is getting old. Even with diet, iron pills and multiple procedures to control bleeding, my highest blood count was 9.

Oh gosh! I know how you feel. I felt like I was in a daze, everything looked foggy, my heart was skipping beats. The doctor told me she was going to call the ambulance and I said I would go on my own, but I went home and called my Mommy instead. That was before I got into the health field and actually knew what state I was in. I'm glad I didn't hurt myself or anyone else driving like that.

Why aygestin? Do you have endometriosis....I'm sorry if you said that and I missed it. Progesterones regulate the cycle, so it can also bring on a cycle when it has completely stopped, so I was just wondering for what particular reason it was prescribed.

I was also prescribed a progesterone before starting transfusions. (Aygestin is a progestin; form of progesterone). Instead of helping my situation, I bled heavy for 27 days, until I could hardly stand on my feet. Then the doctor tried everything she could think of to get it to stop. In my case, artificial hormones make things worse instead of better. Regulating my cycles with hormones is not possible; my hormones are nuts due to my strong family history of diabetes and insulin regulation being closely tied to estrogen production. The only thing that has ever made them fall in line is low carb/no sugar, added protein, and exercise.

I don't want to scare you. I don't know your history, and I'm not a physician. If you have taken any kind of hormones, i.e. birth control, Depo, patch in the past and have been fine, then it may be successful. Just stay in tune with how you are feeling with the aygestin. Of course, if you start bleeding heavily, call your doctor.

Your iron infusions should be continuous. Are you on a weekly schedule now and are they done with the hematologist/oncologist?

 

[metro_qt]

Oh wow!!!!!! I just found out I was badly anemic at Christmas... I've always had heavy periods... And by the end of last year, it would get so bad that I would come home from work and fall asleep in my car in the parking lot. I actually didn't even know I was sleeping... My eyes would just close, and when I'd wake up a whole hour had passed by.

I was also getting muscle spams in my legs at night, and I was always cold... But then, I'm always cold, so that's normal...

I don't eat meat, so I think that's also contributes to my low fe levels

I believe my iron levels have improved by taken the supplements the doctor prescribed...