How can you be iron deficient and take iron supplements?

[writergal]

I don't understand this logic. I just found out I'm iron deficient and was told to increase my iron intake via iron-rich foods along with an iron supplement. Yet my body doesn't absorb iron so I asked the doctor how he thinks taking in more iron will help. He just stared at me and wished me luck with my iron supplements. Time to find another doctor.

[darkmoon]

spinach very lightly cooked - all vegetable vitamins in one + iron too

[writergal]

I love spinach. What about eating it raw in salads?

 

I'm learning about heme and nonheme dietary iron. But I'm still irked that I can't get a straight answer to my question: if my body can't absorb iron, how will eating more of it actually help me?

 

I have a list from the doc of iron rich foods, if you can think of anymore, feel free to post them here. So far, the ones I know of are:

 

salmon (can't afford it too often, very expensive)

potato with the skins on

spinach (thank you for that one)

eggs (am allergic, can't eat them)

watermelon (love watermelon)

strawberries (who knew)

whole grain bread and whole grain cereal

oysters (yuck)

chicken (yum)

steak (can't eat it)

liver (yuck)

sardines (eww)

broccoli

sunflower seeds

walnuts, pecans, cashews, brazil nuts

bell peppers

brown rice

raisins

peaches

prunes

beans

lentils

chickpeas

[Balzac]

Who told you that your body cannot utilize iron? You haven't used the word anemia. Are you aware to combine citrus with your iron rich food?

What were you told about your hemoglobin count?

[writergal]

I got my CBC back after a horrible bout of food poisoning. The doctor pointed out that I was very anemic - sorry I didn't use that word earlier. And my red blood cell count is very low. I have digestive problems that I need to get looked at. I know that intestinal problems can cause anemia. So I will see a gastro for that lead. My doctor is an endocrinologist. If it is intestinal, that means I have to get one of those scopey things done (ewww!) and as we all know, I couldn't even get a simple cyst removed from my scalp as I posted about in another thread because I'm such a scaredy cat.

[Balzac]

Hey nobody relishes scalp surgery. Are you a USA dweller?

[writergal]

Hey nobody relishes scalp surgery. Are you a USA dweller?

 

Yep. Midwestern gal (I think that should be my new nickname. Clearly I am *not* a good writer)

[d'Arthez]

Iron deficiency is very common among women in their 30s and 40s.

 

Sometimes the problem is caused by an underlying issue, that results in poor uptake of iron in the blood. A shortage of B12 for instance, can for instance result in anemia. A friend of mine has this particular problem. No matter how much iron supplements she takes, she has to make certain she gets enough B12, else she is a complete miserable wreck.

 

Needless to say, the doctors that had attended to her, did not think of many of the causes of anemia. And she has been trying various things to cope, and at first they would sort some effect. As time progressed those "self-medication" strategies became increasingly inefficient. Whether that is because the problem worsened, or that the "self-medication" did not really address the issue, I am not sure.

 

Best to get to the bottom of this. And if that means running some tests to see what is exactly causing this problem, so you can be armed with knowledge how to combat this.

[denise_xo]

I've been aenemic for years and solve it by taking iron supplements and try to keep focus on iron through diet as well. When I was pretty young, one of my docs said I might have to take iron supplements for the rest of my life. I take a couple of pills every day and it basically solves the problem. So I don't know the exact answer to your question, but I know that iron supplements solve the problem for many people, myself included - perhaps it's an issue of slow uptake of iron rather than none.

[writergal]

B12 deficiency? How is that detected? Via blood tests? I'll have to ask my doctor to do that blood test. I really want to find out what's causing this anemia. Like your friend I am a complete miserable wreck physically (exhausted all the time among other things).

 

Iron deficiency is very common among women in their 30s and 40s.

 

Sometimes the problem is caused by an underlying issue, that results in poor uptake of iron in the blood. A shortage of B12 for instance, can for instance result in anemia. A friend of mine has this particular problem. No matter how much iron supplements she takes, she has to make certain she gets enough B12, else she is a complete miserable wreck.

 

Needless to say, the doctors that had attended to her, did not think of many of the causes of anemia. And she has been trying various things to cope, and at first they would sort some effect. As time progressed those "self-medication" strategies became increasingly inefficient. Whether that is because the problem worsened, or that the "self-medication" did not really address the issue, I am not sure.

 

Best to get to the bottom of this. And if that means running some tests to see what is exactly causing this problem, so you can be armed with knowledge how to combat this.

[writergal]

Do you know what causes your anemia at all? Do you take a lot of iron? How has that affected you? I was told that I have to drink lots of water when taking the iron supplement, plus I have to increase my fiber intake as well to avoid the most commonly known side effects of iron supplements. Do you feel like you have your energy levels back to normal? Do you have to get regular blood tests? I know that too much iron can have a toxic effect on the body which is something I want to avoid. I also know it takes a couple of months for iron to be absorbed. But if I already can't absorb it, I have to find the right doctors to help me figure out why that is. Vitamin deficiency? Intestinal problem? Thyroid? So many causes to anemia.

 

I've been aenemic for years and solve it by taking iron supplements and try to keep focus on iron through diet as well. When I was pretty young, one of my docs said I might have to take iron supplements for the rest of my life. I take a couple of pills every day and it basically solves the problem. So I don't know the exact answer to your question, but I know that iron supplements solve the problem for many people, myself included - perhaps it's an issue of slow uptake of iron rather than none.

[d'Arthez]

B12 deficiency? How is that detected? Via blood tests? I'll have to ask my doctor to do that blood test. I really want to find out what's causing this anemia. Like your friend I am a complete miserable wreck physically (exhausted all the time among other things).

 

B12 plays a crucial role in one of the processes that leads to the uptake of iron. My friend has been faithfully taking her iron supplements, thinking that would do the trick for her. She is extremely conscious of her diet, so it is not like she was neglecting herself. In the case of my friend, she had gone through a whole series of alternatives, when I suggested she takes more of the B12.

 

It has made a world of difference to her - she is not nearly as exhausted, she can actually focus on her work. Not sure if the diagnosis is correct (I am not medically trained; so please don't take my words as truth, and consult a specialist), but it actually works for her.

 

She still needs to get all the tests run to actually determine the exact cause. And she will, because some of these afflictions that cause anemia are increasingly burdensome to the sufferer. Best to avoid that.

[writergal]

B12 plays a crucial role in one of the processes that leads to the uptake of iron. My friend has been faithfully taking her iron supplements, thinking that would do the trick for her. She is extremely conscious of her diet, so it is not like she was neglecting herself. In the case of my friend, she had gone through a whole series of alternatives, when I suggested she takes more of the B12.

 

It has made a world of difference to her - she is not nearly as exhausted, she can actually focus on her work. Not sure if the diagnosis is correct (I am not medically trained; so please don't take my words as truth, and consult a specialist), but it actually works for her.

 

She still needs to get all the tests run to actually determine the exact cause. And she will, because some of these afflictions that cause anemia are increasingly burdensome to the sufferer. Best to avoid that.

 

Well it's a definite possibility that it could be a B12 deficiency. I'm hopeful a blood test will show if that is the case. Thanks D'A.

[Anela]

I've read that Vitamin C can help with absorption, and I also gave coconut water and blue-green algae to my dogs (need to keep that up, and I should be taking it myself).

 

I've had awful digestive problems for years now. In the past, my parents thought I had an ulcer, but at least my food and liquids were staying down. For the past couple of years, I've had trouble keeping both down - it's grown worse over the past year or so, and I really need to stop it. I've been taking a liquid HGH, here and there (not nearly enough, but when people and pets sick and/or are dying, HGH is the last thing on my mind) - one dose in the morning, and occasionally before bed. I couldn't throw it up, so it's helped with my energy. Colostrum is supposed to help with the gut - I can't remember which one my mother has downstairs - I'll get back to you on that one. You can take capsules, but we have the powder. Everything seems to ease things for a few days for me and then stop working.

 

(Sorry for rambling - my mother thought I was anemic years ago, and I've had problems with my energy for way too long - like chronic fatigue.) I'm trying to think of other things I've read that might help.

Edited June 8, 2012 by Anela

[denise_xo]

Do you know what causes your anemia at all? Do you take a lot of iron? How has that affected you? I was told that I have to drink lots of water when taking the iron supplement, plus I have to increase my fiber intake as well to avoid the most commonly known side effects of iron supplements. Do you feel like you have your energy levels back to normal? Do you have to get regular blood tests? I know that too much iron can have a toxic effect on the body which is something I want to avoid. I also know it takes a couple of months for iron to be absorbed. But if I already can't absorb it, I have to find the right doctors to help me figure out why that is. Vitamin deficiency? Intestinal problem? Thyroid? So many causes to anemia.

 

No, I don't know - I might have had it explained to me back then, but I have forgotten. It's an extremely common thing for women to deal with.

 

For a while, I took three pills a day when my levels were almost depleted. These days, I take one a day. I take a test when I remember/ when I happen to be at the doctor's - on average, once or twice a year these days (maybe once a month or so for a little while when levels were almost depleted). I think the too much iron/ toxic effect on the body is rare, although it is a possible side effect. I usually get an upset stomach for a few days when I first start taking them (I occasionally take a little break), but it balances out after a week or so. That's a pretty common side effect, but some iron pills are supposed to be gentler than others, so you can ask at the pharmacy what they recommend. Like others say, taking them with vitamin C is helpful. Betting your B12 checked also sounds smart. A colleague of mine had to take B12 shots at a time when her body wasn't taking on any iron.

 

Yes, it definitely helps with energy levels!

[Trimmer]

Yet my body doesn't absorb iron so I asked the doctor

 

I'm still irked that I can't get a straight answer to my question: if my body can't absorb iron, how will eating more of it actually help me?

 

But if I already can't absorb it, I have to find the right doctors...

 

Maybe I'm missing something here, but you didn't answer the question: what, specifically, makes you think that the problem is that "your body can't absorb iron"?

 

The objective test result you are looking at is that your body is currently LOW on iron. That isn't necessarily the same thing as not being able to absorb iron. They may be related, but they are not the same thing. Low iron can also come from a dietary deficiency. Have you somehow ruled out the possibility that your dietary intake of iron to date has been low enough that the blood you lose in your period every month is the source of your depleted iron level?

[shorty7]

It also might help to just have a dietary map of what you're currently eating too.

 

I think doctors here in the States don't do that enough. My friend had trouble dieting for years, claiming that nothing works. I asked her to keep a food diary of what she ate and how much. When she finally did, we saw where and what exactly she was eating the wrong things or not enough of. There was no sense of balance, no inkling of moderation.

 

It's not what you eat, it's how you eat.

 

And there's ways of getting around the yuck/eww stuff of your list too, if it's only cooked right. I know plenty of people who can only eat oysters if it's fried. The problem is getting FRESH ingredients. The majority of the stuff you listed would do you absolutely no good if they came packaged frozen. Organic does pack more nutrients.

[TaraMaiden]

writergal, i am half-Italian and have a blood condition called BetaThalassemia. It's a particular anaemia prevalent in the European basin (Greece, Italy, Spain....)

 

i cannot take iron as my system cannot absorb it adequately, and it ultimately gerts stored in the liver. the moment I lose any significant amount of blood, I flake out.

I could give you a lengthy story, but once it was discovered that i am BetaThalassemic, i was advised to steer clear of iron supplements (although iron in food is fine) and to take folic acid instead.

I now take a daily dose of folic Acid 5mg, and my blood count is fine.

I also take B12 and B6.

[writergal]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but you didn't answer the question: what, specifically, makes you think that the problem is that "your body can't absorb iron"?

 

The objective test result you are looking at is that your body is currently LOW on iron. That isn't necessarily the same thing as not being able to absorb iron. They may be related, but they are not the same thing. Low iron can also come from a dietary deficiency. Have you somehow ruled out the possibility that your dietary intake of iron to date has been low enough that the blood you lose in your period every month is the source of your depleted iron level?

 

What makes me think my body can't absorb iron is that it's deficient. I immediately assumed that I have a malabsorption problem with Nonheme Iron rather than Heme Iron because I don't eat oranges or much fruit or veggies that have Vitamin C. I got the idea in my head from this article. I tend to jump to conclusions when it comes to my health (I blame my father's death from cancer and my crazy bad bike accident for turning me into a hypochondriac). I never used to worry about my health before, but now I do.

 

My dietary intake contains some iron-rich foods from the list I posted earlier in the thread. And yes, my monthly cycle makes me really dizzy, etc. all the symptoms of anemia...but that could be because I've been anemic for some time now and not been tested for it until last week.

 

I hope my body is just LOW on iron and truly unable to absorb it.

[writergal]

It also might help to just have a dietary map of what you're currently eating too.

 

I think doctors here in the States don't do that enough. My friend had trouble dieting for years, claiming that nothing works. I asked her to keep a food diary of what she ate and how much. When she finally did, we saw where and what exactly she was eating the wrong things or not enough of. There was no sense of balance, no inkling of moderation.

 

It's not what you eat, it's how you eat.

 

And there's ways of getting around the yuck/eww stuff of your list too, if it's only cooked right. I know plenty of people who can only eat oysters if it's fried. The problem is getting FRESH ingredients. The majority of the stuff you listed would do you absolutely no good if they came packaged frozen. Organic does pack more nutrients.

 

Doctors in the states -- the one I see regularly anyway who is not a gastroenterologist but an endocrinologist ignores my weakness complaints all the time which he attributes to my low thyroid which I've been on a med already for a long time. But I have never kept a food diary so I'm glad you bring that up. I don't mind tracking my intake of calories or types of food, so I can start doing that today. Good suggestion. It could also help if I make an appointment to see a gastro about my digestive issues. I was once tested for Celiac disease but that test is supposedly unreliable so who knows if I actually have it or not.

[writergal]

writergal, i am half-Italian and have a blood condition called BetaThalassemia. It's a particular anaemia prevalent in the European basin (Greece, Italy, Spain....)

 

i cannot take iron as my system cannot absorb it adequately, and it ultimately gerts stored in the liver. the moment I lose any significant amount of blood, I flake out.

I could give you a lengthy story, but once it was discovered that i am BetaThalassemic, i was advised to steer clear of iron supplements (although iron in food is fine) and to take folic acid instead.

I now take a daily dose of folic Acid 5mg, and my blood count is fine.

I also take B12 and B6.

 

Sorry I wish I knew how to multiquote in one thread. I'm half Italian/Irish too. I've never heard of Beta Thalassemia before. How did you get diagnosed? How long did you suffer before you were diagnosed? Which type of doctor did you see? Feel free to PM me with your lengthy story. It may help me as I try to figure out why I'm anemic.

 

I could mention this condition to my endocrinologist next week at my appointment with him to see what he thinks. I've already had a CBC but that doesn't include testing for vitamin deficiencies. I probably should start a multivitamin but don't know if I can take B12 and B6 and Folic Acid separately from that plus an Iron supplement plus my thyroid medication. Argh! I forsee a lot of pills in my near future pending my doctor appointment next week for clarification.

[writergal]

Edit: I hope my body is just LOW on iron and not truly unable to absorb it.

[Trimmer]

Edit: I hope my body is just LOW on iron and not truly unable to absorb it.

Yeah, that's all I was saying - just don't jump to conclusions and shut off any possibilities (especially the simplest and generally most likely ones like diet) unless and until you have conclusive evidence. It could still be the case that you can't absorb iron (I wouldn't rule that out, either), but based on your evidence so far, it doesn't sound like it has to be that, so I'd think you'd want to at least try the dietary and supplements path first...

[writergal]

Yeah, that's all I was saying - just don't jump to conclusions and shut off any possibilities (especially the simplest and generally most likely ones like diet) unless and until you have conclusive evidence. It could still be the case that you can't absorb iron (I wouldn't rule that out, either), but based on your evidence so far, it doesn't sound like it has to be that, so I'd think you'd want to at least try the dietary and supplements path first...

 

Yeah, I'm hanging by my fingertips off the Cliff of Unbased Conclusions right now, a week before I see my doctor, just because anytime my health comes into question I panic esp. since anemia is a major symptom of the type of cancer my dad was diagnosed with when he was 40. So I'm totally projecting my fear of what happened to him into my situation with my anemia - esp. since cancer isn't genetic (or at least I don't think it is). I need to "take a chill pill" as they say and calm down. Good thing it's the weekend. *rolls eyes*

[whichwayisup]

I don't understand this logic. I just found out I'm iron deficient and was told to increase my iron intake via iron-rich foods along with an iron supplement. Yet my body doesn't absorb iron so I asked the doctor how he thinks taking in more iron will help. He just stared at me and wished me luck with my iron supplements. Time to find another doctor.

 

B12 and iron go hand in hand. I have low B12 levels and get shots once a month. When I first went to see the Dr and she did a bunch of blood tests she told me that my levels were so low that my iron level was beginning to be affected which means I could have become anemic.

 

Get iron shots and ask her about the B12 too. The pills aren't enough to bring your levels back up to normal and also, if you have an iron defiency like I have a B12 defiency , shots are a forever thing. Though its no big deal. I feel great after them.