Iron Defiency Anemia

Dionysus · #1 07-30-2004, 01:30 PM

Who has this?
What are your symptoms?

I was diagnosed with this two years ago. I've had several blood tests since then and my doctor told me that my iron levels are normal. What's weird is that I'm having fatigue, drowsiness, hair shedding, and itchy skin around that time of the month. I know I'm not getting my adequate iron. I stopped taking iron after one week because of side effects. Is it possible that some blood tests can give false readings on iron levels? No, I can't go to the doctor, unless something more serious occurs, because I have no insurance now.

33girl · #2 07-30-2004, 01:42 PM

What side effects did you have from the iron? I thought your poop turning black was the only bad thing that happened. It may have interacted with some other meds you're on. That might be screwing up your blood tests too.

adpialumcsuc · #3 07-30-2004, 01:44 PM

I was diagnosed about 10 years ago. My anemia is pretty minor and if I watch what I eat I can usually keep my iron levels up. However every time I go to the Dr. I find out that it is worse than before. I started taking the iron pills but had to stop because they were making me sick also.
The symtoms that I had were chills, fatigue, drowsiness and severe itchy skin.

Peaches-n-Cream · #4 07-30-2004, 01:59 PM

Fatigue is a symptom of iron deficiency anemia. I'm not sure about false positive blood tests. I don't know about the hair shedding and itchy skin.

I get eczema which is unrelated to anemia as far as I know. It's extremely itchy and dry skin that looks like a rash and sometimes oozes if not taken care of. I have no idea if this is what you have. Sometimes itchy skin can be caused by allergies.

I had anemia for a few months and had to take iron pills and eat red meat. I felt tired all the time. I was diagnosed with anemia when I had mono. I am well now, but it is something that I always have to be aware of so I take a daily multivitamin that contains iron. Anemia can be caused by blood loss such as your period. If this is the case, iron pills should do the trick. If you really cannot take iron pills, eat red meat and kidney beans and take a mulitvitamin.

I would go to a doctor to get your symptoms checked out if possible.

Dionysus · #5 07-30-2004, 02:14 PM

The pills I took was a multivitamin plus iron. It gave me nausea. Could've been the aspertame in it too.

I'm a lot more sensitive to cold too, I forgot to mention that.

I'm having itching without rashes, that's why I think it is more of a internal cause.

I've been eating iron fortified cereal, but I don't think it is working. Supposedly non-meat iron does not absorb as easily, it is called "non-heme" iron I think. I'm semi-vegetarian, I will try to eat more meat and see what happens. I didn't know that red meat was almost as good as supplements.

fuzzie · #6 07-30-2004, 02:26 PM

I have anemia. But it’s not due to iron deficiency, it’s due to a low Hemoglobin count. Another doctor gave me iron pills b/c he thought that was the cause, but they obviously didn't work for me. I don't have hair loss, but I do have dry, itchy skin at times as well as fatigue, etc. I now get shots to increase my Blood Cell count.

amyzta · #7 07-30-2004, 04:28 PM

Has your doctor ever checked to see if you have a thyroid problem? Some of your symptoms are similar to that of hypothyroidism. http://my.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/aa34887.asp

Just something you might want to think about.

SmartBlondeGPhB · #8 07-30-2004, 05:25 PM

I had iron deficiency anemia due to a high amount of blood loss from surgery last summer. The doctor gave me a prescription for iron pills which I took for a month, as well as eating iron high foods. They retested my iron level a month later and the levels were fine and I haven't done anything since. I didn't really have any symptoms but I was recovering from major surgery so I was not in great shape in general.

Try the vitamin with food and that might curb the nausea. But it has aspertame in it? I'd get a different vitamin.......

DreaAOII · #9 07-30-2004, 06:30 PM

I do. I do.
I'm always f***ing tired, this isht sucks! And it looks like I do drugs b/c I have bruises all over my arms.

RioLambdaAlum · #10 07-31-2004, 01:16 AM

WOO HOO A TOPIC I CAN RELATE TO!!!!! I was diagnosed last year. I have a couple different type test ran on me to see what is causing mine which nothing has ever came back to show why I became this way. I am currently (long as I remember) taking 2 iron pills a day plus a multi vitaman with iron. My iron level after the second set of blood work they ran on me to make sure thats what I had said my iron level was a 6.4 which is obviously way below the typical anemic persons level.
I am starting to be able to tell when my iron is dropping before it drops fast on me. But there are days I can't tell until it hits me.
The last few blood tests they keep doing to check on my levels give them a reading they are happy with but I am to continue the lovely doses of iron to keep me out of their office.
I did find out though that anemia is caused from something else and it is not a disease in itself its because of something else. Unfortunatly for me they don't know what.

Jen

RioLambdaAlum · #11 07-31-2004, 01:20 AM

oh yeah for those of you having to take tons of iron pills like me...or at least maybe half of what i take....EAT PLENTY OF FOOD WITH IT or you will feel sick to your stomach...I have done that a few times. BAD IDEA. Also don't drink milk when you take iron its not good for you. If you drink anything drink OJ when you can with it, because it helps absorb it quicker! The Iron pills I take are called FerroSequils or something like that in spelling. They are a little gentler on the belly butttttt like I said EAT PLENTY with it.

squirrely girl · #12 07-31-2004, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by adpialumcsuc
I started taking the iron pills but had to stop because they were making me sick also.
The symtoms that I had were chills, fatigue, drowsiness and severe itchy skin.

you read my mind!!!! however, mine is from over 10 years of being a vegetarian

marissa

thetalady · #13 07-31-2004, 01:56 AM

I found a really detailed page on VitaminShoppe.com on iron-deficient anemia.

Vitamin Shoppe Anemia Information

My best suggestion is not only to eat something with the supplement, but be sure that you choose a time release iron formula. It is much less likely to make you sick to your tummy, or cause other digestive problems.

sageofages · #14 07-31-2004, 02:29 AM

I suffer from a condition called micro-cytic anema...not only do I have low iron levels, my blood cells are very small and pale. My hemoglobin levels have gotten so low, I was on the verge of needing transfusions. I also am iron-resistant. Some people have difficult building iron orally. As a result I had to have IV iron therapy, befor I had surgery last year to build my blood up. It was very painful in the long run.

If you continue to have trouble, perhaps seeking the care of a hemotologist (blood doctor) would be in order.

PM_Mama00 · #15 07-31-2004, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Peaches-n-Cream

I had anemia for a few months and had to take iron pills and eat red meat. I felt tired all the time. I was diagnosed with anemia when I had mono. I am well now, but it is something that I always have to be aware of so I take a daily multivitamin that contains iron. Anemia can be caused by blood loss such as your period. If this is the case, iron pills should do the trick. If you really cannot take iron pills, eat red meat and kidney beans and take a mulitvitamin.

I would go to a doctor to get your symptoms checked out if possible.

I was in the same boat as you, anemia with mono. I've NEVER gotten my energy back and that was 4 years ago. I get mono again very easily... it's not uncommon for me to get sick again after recruitment so usually after that week people stay away from me. I had to take these little black iron pills and they were hard for me to swallow.

Every month I get ridiculously tired and light-headed so I don't do much.