Do you love to eat ice?

Dionysus · #1 10-05-2008, 08:59 PM

I've gone through times when I craved ice cubes and dough like crazy, ever since early adolescence. I love the smell of new carpet, new cars, gasoline, and basements more than the average person.

I used to think that my cravings was just one of the many eccentricities that I have, until I learned that the cravings is a symptom of a mild form of pica...caused by my iron deficiency anemia. Fortunately, when I get anemic I only crave edible stuff, and not non-edible stuff like wood and feces.

Supposedly, it's somewhat common for women who have IDA (people who have anemia period, but women are more like to be anemic) and pregnant women, to have a mild case of pica. Usually in the form of eating ice cubes. The wikipedia page didn't mention this, but pica sometimes extends to craving certain smells.

epchick · #2 10-05-2008, 09:11 PM

There are times that I loooove to eat ice, in fact I make "ice popiscles" which are pretty much ice cubes w/ a wooden stick. It makes it easier for me to eat the ice! lol.

I also love to stand near a car when it's turned on and smell the gasoline fumes coming from the exhuast.

I guess it's because I'm on teh verge of being anemic. I think i'm like 1% away from being anemic.

SWTXBelle · #3 10-05-2008, 09:19 PM

Hmmm. . . I have to be religious about my iron supplement or I'll be anemic - but I don't like ice.

Ice chips remind me of labour and delivery. Love babies, hate l&d.

tld221 · #4 10-05-2008, 09:27 PM

i am probably the biggest ice eater i know. i can buy it by the bag and go through it in 3-4 days.

its horrible for the teeth, i know. and i am severely anemic. i'm supposed to take daily iron supplement, but i can never remember to.

it's so weird. the smell of the inside of a freezer, or frozen foods are pavlovian to me. or if i see icicles or snow outside, my mouth waters. and through all these years of ice chewing, i have preferences. ice from White Castle is the win. my old job had an ice machine that dispensed pellet-like cubes (the best, IMO). my office has a mini fridge, and the mini ice tray it comes with is pretty sweet - perfect bite-size, like candy. and... if i'm lucky, i may go to someone's house who owns those old-school metal ice trays with the lever. that's ice payola.

yes, one more thing that makes me a freak. as ive had many ideas to be this obsessive. my coworkers tease me about it all the time. to staff meetings, they bring candy, cookies, etc. and i bring a cup of ice. c'est la vie.

ThetaPrincess24 · #5 10-05-2008, 09:28 PM

okay I get all fo the cravings mentioned except the smell of gasoline...I guess I'm wondering why exactly that is appealing?

SWTXBelle · #6 10-05-2008, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tld221

i am probably the biggest ice eater i know. i can buy it by the bag and go through it in 3-4 days.

its horrible for the teeth, i know. and i am severely anemic. i'm supposed to take daily iron supplement, but i can never remember to.

it's so weird. the smell of the inside of a freezer, or frozen foods are pavlovian to me. or if i see icicles or snow outside, my mouth waters.

yes, one more thing that makes me a freak. my coworkers tease me about it all the time. to staff meetings, they bring candy, cookies, etc. and i bring a cup of ice. c'est la vie.

tld, I always used to forget my supplement, but then I got one of those big ol' vitamin cases - one that is divided into am/pm - and I put all my vitamins in there, and take them with my morning coffee and right before I go to bed (you have to be careful what you take with what, especially iron). I feel SO much better now that I am taking my iron on a daily basis - just want to share what worked with me in case it might help you!

Scandia · #7 10-05-2008, 09:58 PM

My cousin's wife had pica when she was a little girl. She would eat rocks and dirt. By the time she met my cousin in college it had healed, though.

I do not think I have had an ice craving since like 4th or 5th grade. Not anemic at all here.

epchick · #8 10-05-2008, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThetaPrincess24

okay I get all fo the cravings mentioned except the smell of gasoline...I guess I'm wondering why exactly that is appealing?

Different people like different fragrances. I don't know why I like it, but I know that ever since I was little I loved standing next to a car while it was running.

It's just like I know people who use hand sanitizer RELIGIOUSLY because they love to hold their hands up to their nose & inhale (and I mean inhale) the odor of the alcohol.