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SUNSHINE6442 Posts: 1,900
9/2/13 8:40 A

Additio nal foods with iron are chickpeas, cashews and walnuts, pork roast, sweet potatoes, sardines and turkey, lima beans, kidney beans and green beans.. Green leafy vegetables should be an important part of your diet for anemia....also Broccoli, Asparagus, Parsley, Collard greens ( good in soups). Bran flakes and lentils too!

Snack on sunflower seeds as they have iron and you can also cook in an iron pot....apples are rich in iron...remember that phrase "an apple a day keeps the doctor away....yes, apples help considerably.....

When you go to the doctor and get blood tests request they send you a copy of the tests, if you don't get them call the nurse and ask for a copy be sent to you.

Eggs and blueberries, strawberries and avocados are energy boosters...add those to your daily diet.....skip processed foods...processed ingredients just zap your energy.

Good luck hope you feel better soon and please consult a qualified health professional.

LOVE4KITTIES Posts: 1,929
8/27/13 5:36 P

Did your doctor diagnose and address the underlying cause of the anemia? If not, that needs to be done so you don't just keep getting anemic again. For example, if you have heavy periods and are losing too many red blood cells and this is why you get anemic, your doctor needs to do something to put a stop to the heavy periods as well as treating the anemia. Of course, there are many reasons why people get anemic and, whatever the reason it's happening to you, your doctor needs to do something about the cause of it. If your doctor only treats the symptom (anemia) and not the underlying cause, then you need a new doctor.

Also, some doctors treat iron deficiency anemia only until the actual anemia is reversed, meaning until your hematocrit (the percentage of your blood that's red blood cells) is normal. BUT, this is not the correct way to treat this problem. You need regular iron studies done (they measure things like ferritin, total iron binding capacity, transferrin) to see what your body stores of iron look like. Your body stores iron in other places in your body besides what's in your red blood cells. By the time iron deficiency shows up in your blood as a reduced number of red blood cells, the iron stores in the rest of your body have been depleted. These stores are the first thing to go when you have an iron deficiency. The last place the deficiency shows up is as a reduced number of red blood cells. SO, you need to rebuild your body's stores of iron and this means you need to take iron for quite a while even after the actual anemia is corrected. If your doctor only treats iron deficiency anemia until you have a normal number of red blood cells, then you need a new doctor.

KARMASAYS SparkPoints: (3,697)
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8/27/13 5:17 P

I read a while ago that cream of wheat was rich in iron and tend to eat it for breakfast, but liver is a no go for me! I would rather get as much iron from diet instead of supplements because they are not nice to your body. Even the gentle iron pills make my stomache upset after awhile. Then I read about nutrients that help absorb iron so I've been trying to make it a habbit to incorporate those foods as well. But I know there's still improvement to be made with my diet.

KARA623 Posts: 727
8/27/13 4:37 P

I've been working through anemia, too. My hemoglobin was low, but my ferritin (the protein in the blood that stores the iron) was insanely low. My energy was seriously affected, as was my breathing when exerting myself. I take an iron supplement, but I've really worked on my nutrition. I wasn't eating much meat at all, but that's one of the highest sources of iron. I actually love liver, but most people hate it. If you like it, that's the best source or iron. Cream of Wheat is also very high in iron. I've been eating both of those things regularly. I go back for more bloodwork on Friday, but I can tell a huge difference in my energy.

SLIMMERKIWI SparkPoints: (138,100)
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8/26/13 6:00 P

Kiwifruit or an orange is a great choice to have with iron.

Have you thought about phoning your Medical Centre to find out what the numbers have been? I NEVER leave it to them to contact me - I always get a print-out of the labs and have them at home. A lot of Dr's don't follow up.

Maybe it is time for you to have another panel of bloods done to see how things are - especially given your low energy.


Edited by: SLIMMERKIWI at: 8/26/2013 (18:01)
KARMASAYS SparkPoints: (3,697)
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8/26/13 11:21 A

Thanks for your replies emoticon

I was diagnosed about 3 years ago through blood work and I believe it is Iron-deficiency anemia. When I was first diagnosed my Dr. had me on 3 iron pills a day for 3 months (worst 3 months everrrr). Went in for more blood work after those 3 months and didn't hear anything back, so I assumed everything was normal and my levels were back up. I did blood work again at my next physical and didn't hear anything back after that either. So again, assuming things were fine. I haven't had one yet this year though...

As for my diet I know it could be better and more balanced and that's what I am currently working on doing. I started tracking Iron on my diet tracker to make sure I'm getting enough as well. I also did a bit of research and iron is best absorbed when taken with an acidic medium, so I started having OJ with supplement.

All in all...I guess my Dr. hasn't been too helpful with this...maybe I need a new Dr. emoticon

SHELLSPACE SparkPoints: (6,191)
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8/25/13 7:06 P

You didn't say what your Hemaglobin was. I have been anemic for years, cannot take pills and had a couple transfusions and an iron infusion. My level ranges from the low 8s to 10 if I am getting treatment. Right now it is around a 9. I have iron deficeny anemia they don't know why. What I can tell you is at an 8 hemaglobin I was out of breath going up the stairs! If you ar taht low your doc needs to step in and raise your levels faster than pills. If it is around a 10 or so then I would say it just takes a big push and that once you get started it gets easier. I went from barely being able to do 15 minutes on the ellipitcal to 45 minutes now. This is at around a 9 or so. I think it just takes a commitment and realize you will feel better afterward. Also realize what you are dealing with and you aren't functioning as you would if your levels were normal and don't beat yourself up for that! I work out usually late mornings when my son is in school and evenings in the summer. First thing in the morning does not work for me either.

SIMPLELIFE2 Posts: 707
8/24/13 3:42 P

Has your doctor diagnosed you with anemia using a blood test? Have you had your vitamin B and D levels checked as well? I would get the necessary medical attention first.

And once you are clear, check your nutrition. Are you eating enough? High-quality, non processed foods? You don't have to go to the gym to exercise. Plenty of ideas and videos on this site. Just start by trying to get in 10 or 15 minutes throughout the day so you can build up your fitness level. BTW, I know it sounds crazy, but regular exercise will give you MORE energy.

PATTYR81 Posts: 576
8/24/13 1:10 P

How much water/fluid are you drinking?

I find when I get towards the dehydrated end of the scale, I get tired, tired, TIRED!

LOVE4KITTIES Posts: 1,929
8/24/13 9:39 A

If you have iron deficiency anemia, you need to be on iron supplements (as you say you are) and you need regular bloodwork by your doctor while you are taking the supplements. You need to be on the supplements long after the actual anemia is corrected (until your body stores of iron are also built up to where they should be). The underlying cause of the anemia (why you are anemic in the first place) also needs to be addressed.

Having low energy while anemic and not feeling like doing workouts is...well...normal when you are anemic. It's your body's way of saying you're not currently doing all that great and telling you that it needs more red blood cells to function properly. Honestly, I think you might want to consider suspending the workouts until the anemia is corrected and focus on eating well and getting enough rest. Talk to your doctor.

Edited by: LOVE4KITTIES at: 8/24/2013 (09:51)
LIVN2BFIT SparkPoints: (4,093)
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8/23/13 9:42 P

I think you have had sound advice from the other two posters...see what your Dr. thinks, track your food, keep a journal, and know even if you can't exercise, you can still lose weight through diligent nutrition.... emoticon

SLIMMERKIWI SparkPoints: (138,100)
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8/22/13 5:59 P

ARCHIMEDESII has given some good advice.

Many years ago, when I was a teenager, I was severely anemic. I slept every opportunity I could, had no energy, and often, things would go a bit black when I went to stand up, so I really understand how you feel. I don't know about you, but it also impacted on my appetite, altho' my mother always ensured that I ate enough. I grew up on a farm and got plenty of red meat and fruit and veges to go with it (helps iron be absorbed), so nutritionally there wasn't a reason for the anemia. Medically, it may have been because of extremely heavy, painful periods.

I strongly suggest that you talk with your Dr if you haven't already. There can be many reasons for the anemia, and it may be that even if bloods have been done, and even tho' you are taking iron tablets, further investigations/intervention may be warranted.

While you are like this, I wouldn't be trying to push myself where it comes to exercising - says me who LOVED exercising and running, and who blacked out on more than one occasion doing it :-(


ARCHIMEDESII SparkPoints: (143,035)
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8/22/13 4:21 P


You don't have your food diary posted. When someone tells me they have low energy, the first thing I look at is their food diary to see what they have been eating. Many times, low energy levels can be traced back to what or how much a person has been eating. If a person is eating wholesome foods that nourish their bodies, that's going to give them lots of energy. So, could you tell me a bit about what sorts of foods you eat each day ?

Here's something I learned from my own years of yo yo dieting,"If you eat crap, you feel like crap". It's a vicious cycle. But, you can break the cycle by eating healthier, wholesome foods.

If a person tells me they eat healthfully, then the next thing I ask them is "how much are you eating each day ? How many calories do you eat ?" food = energy and no food = no energy. So, if you've dramatically decreased the amount of food you eat in order to lose weight, that too will cause fatigue.

Have you talked to your doctor about how you've been feeling ? If not, you should consider making an appointment and maybe get some new blood work tests done. Maybe there have been some changes both good and bad. There are lots of different reasons for low energy.

When I asked one female member some questions, she replied that she was the mother of two toddler sons. In which case, it's no wonder the poor woman was exhausted. taking care of a family with toddlers would exhaust us all.

Since we don't know anything about you, these are just some guesses as to what your problem could be. We're not doctors or medical experts. that's why you should talk to yours for advice.

KARMASAYS SparkPoints: (3,697)
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8/22/13 4:12 P

I take vitamins and iron supplements everyday, but by the end of the day I have zero energy to make my way to the gym and it's making me a little depressed. I'm tired of feeling tired all the time :(

Just wondering if you could share your ideas on how you find the energy to do your workouts? I tend to workout in the evening because there's no way I can wake up early to go to the gym before work...I can barely get myself out of bed to get to work!

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