Anemic :( - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[jess in hawaii]

Ooh, good point Saudade! I  have been on a TUMS binge until I ran out a couple days ago, and I am feeling sooo weak and tired from being anemic.... i guess i wont restock, i find the papaya enzyme works well anyway, and maybe i can get back to my early pg healthy iron level without too much trouble.

[MamaChick]

Ok, I really thought I might die last night I started feeling so ill.  I've never felt anemic before but suddenly my heart was racing, i was couldn't catch my breath & was really dizzy feeling like I was going to faint.  I did some research and called my MW this morning.  They only tested the hemoglobin, not iron specifically.  I may actually have adequate stores of iron but be deficient in B12. So I was dealing with iron toxicity because I didn't even need to be taking any.  It was awful.  Now I'm looking into B12 deficiency and it's a lot scarier than iron anemia :(

[NicMom]

Oh, when I read about the raw spinach I couldn't help but comment.  You are probably doing more harm than good by eating raw spinach.  Check out Wikipedia but basically spinach may not have as much iron as you think but what it does have is tons or oxalates that will bind with iron, calcium, and all the other good minerals and actually strip them out of your body instead of adding them.  An occasional raw spinach salad isn't going to hurt, but generally spinach should be cooked, preferably boiled, to remove as many oxalates as possible.

B12 deficiency is scary as well.  Whatever it is, I hope they get it figured out soon!

[saudade]

I was at Walgreens earlier and I found this iron called Pur Absorb which is 100% natural liquid iron that come in a box of 28 packets you can mix into water or juice. The dose is 1 pkt per day, so it's a 28 day supply and the normal price is $19.99 on it but they had it on sale for $10 and I grabbed the last one on the shelf. I know that Floradix has juices and herbs and other vitamins in it...but it's so expensive. I wonder if this liquid iron is comparable to the iron in Floradix, just without the extra stuff that adds to the cost.

http://www.nelsonsnaturalworld.com/en-us/us/our-brands/pur-absorb/about-pur-absorb/why-pur-absorb/

$10 isn't bad, and even $20 for 28 day supply is less expensive than Floradix. Thought I'd share my find. I'm trying it out!

I don't know how long the sale is, but Walgreens has it 50% off and less than any other place I found it. I think I might go to another Walgreens and get a couple more boxes. The sale is online too: http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/spatone-pur-absorb-liquid-iron-supplement-28-pack/ID=prod6098034-product?V=G&ext=frgl_Google_Vitamins_&_Supplements

[justKate]

lots of vitamin C and B-12, and several other things.  I've taken it for the last three days and it hasn't made me sick!  Strange that it would be easier on my stomach than the 50 mg iron script my midwife gave me, but whatever.  Fingers crossed that it works.

It was relatively inexpensive--$8 or $10 for 30 days, I think:  Hema-Plex

[MamaChick]

Just to  update: Had my ferritin levels checked and my iron stores are great, borderline high, even.  So my midwife said it's b12 I'm lacking.  I still wish they would have tested specifically for that because it could be b12 or folate or both.  Anyone have any experience with this? She wants to give me a b12 shot next time she sees me, and I'm going to order some spray (better absorbed than pills). 

So the reason I felt like taking the iron was killing me is probably because it was! I really think I was experiencing iron toxicity...scary! I can't believe they just always assume low hemoglobin is iron anemia.

[moss]

Originally Posted by saudade 

I need to start eating organ meat. Honestly, I've never really eaten any or cooked it. What are some yummy ways to prepare different organ meats?

it probably depends on which organ.  i used to make beef heart stew, just cubes of heart simmered gently with lots of veggies and broth, spices, etc. 

I had liver for lunch today:  sauteed onions and mushrooms in coconut oil, a bit of salt and pepper, then pushed that to the side of the pan, added the liver and cooked on both sides until done.  i dont like overcooked liver, it's really tender and yummy when it's just barely not pink in the middle.

another way we love liver is to cut it into 1-2 inch strips with kitchen shears depending on the thickness of the liver, wrap it in half a piece of bacon, skewer on a shishkabob or toothpick to keep it together and then bake in the oven or bbq until done. heaven!!  my aspie son who has many food aversions just looooves these.

[justKate]

Ooh moss, thanks for the suggestions.  I wonder where I can find beef heart....??