More on me...

[Paula]

Man, if finding out that I am peri-menopausal isn't bad enough - today the nurse called me to tell me that my blood results are back and as a result of these long periods, I am anemic and have to take iron pills. :thumbdown:

Anyone ever suffer from anemia?

[LolaLovesLife]

I always have problems donating blood because of that. Finally I went to see my Dr about it and they say it is not uncommon for women to be anemic. She told me to take Slow-fe pills They are a slow release iron pill you can buy in the vitamin aisle.

The good news is that you will probably see a significant change in your energy levels after a week or two. :)

[Kat Stokes]

I've been borderline anemic since I was 18. I have to be sure to get enough iron in my diet or my levels start dipping really low... The Slow-fe pills are great!

[nun69]

only when I was pregnant...but my mom has been anemic most of her life..

[ditzyscrap]

I was anemic after having both of my kids...I just took my prenatal vitamins longer and I was fine...

[AmyM]

Good grief Paula when it rains it pours. I have had low iron levels in the past and it can make you feel like dirt. Maybe this could actually be a good thing that they caught it. Get you straightened out and put some extra pep in your step? ;) :) Hopefully that is all the news you'll get for a while, from the doc's office at least.

[lisabranka]

I was severly anemic for the same reason you are... super long heavy periods! I was told to take my iron pills with a vit. C chaser to help iron absorb.

Because I also had a softball sized uterine fibroid tumor I elected to have a partial hysto to take care of the problems. Have been feeling fine for over a year now!

I was so anemic that I had the chronic ice chewing thing going on...drove everyone nuts!

[Tracie Stroud]

Ugh. I'm so sorry! A word of advice - if you take iron pills, take sloooow releasing ones, and take them WITH lots of food before you go to bed. They can cause serious nausea.

[LenaGardner]

I will reiterate what others said....take a slow release, AT NIGHT, and either eat extra vit C (oranges, OJ, spinach, etc) or a vitamin C pill to help with the absorption.

I have had anemia...the severe kind...that required 4 blood transfuions a few weeks ago (poo!). But....I didn't have iron-deficiency anemia...i had hemolytic anemia (meaning my blood was undergoing hemolysis and destroying itself) So, taking the supps were doing nothing from me...I ended up with high iron and still low hemoglobin. Did they tell you your number?

For a non-pg woman they like to see it 12.0 or over. I wasn't feeling well and mine was running between 9 and 10...then all of a sudden it dropped to 6.3 and I started passing out.

You should feel like you have more energy once you get them into your system! When will they check it again? (((hugs to you)))

[makabe]

I was severely anemic after a ruptured ectopic pg. I felt awful for many reasons, but the doctor said the anemia probably made me feel the most drained. The slow iron definitely helped. You'll feel WAY better, I'm sure, when you get leveled out again. :-)

[DawnMarch]

I had it after my son was born and took the SlowFE pills too. They didn't seem to bother me. Good luck!

[alansrock]

I was anemic during my pregnancy with the boys. I was really tired and after taking the iron pills I felt a lot better. I also took the slowFE ones and had no problems with them...they are really small and easy to swallow.

[AddictedScrapper]

I'm anemic as well, take your iron pill with vitamin C, it helps. I'm always tired because of being anemic and sometimes get light headed but if I take my iron like I should then it helps a bit.

[Paula]

Thank you all so much!! I'll have to get those SlowFE pills. I have LOTS of vitamin C. I have gum disease and the thing that's kept it in check is taking 1500mg of vitamin C daily.

[my3hens]

I am anemic! I should take my iron pills but they make me really sick, the anemia makes me super tired (and im also an ice chewer LOL More so when im pregnant though) Sorry you got the bad news honey. I know that once you get used to the iron it will make a huge difference! I just need to discipline myself to get to the point tooo!!! Hugs!

[crystalbella77]

I always had horrible anemia when pregnant. It's not fun and just so exhausting! I hope you get yours under control soon!

[Paula]

Thanks Sara. I am an ice chewer too. I never attributed it to anemia though. LOL I had to take iron with my last baby and it made me sick, but I didn't chase it down with the vitamin C.

That's my main problem is that for about a week, I have NO energy to do ANYTHING! All I want to do is sleep and I feel so fatigued that I can't even function.

[crystalbella77]

That's my main problem is that for about a week, I have NO energy to do ANYTHING! All I want to do is sleep and I feel so fatigued that I can't even function.

Ugh! I so know what you mean! It's so hard!!!!!

Make sure you eat a lot of fiber too! That will help with some of the bad side effects of the iron. :)

[jessica31876]

yep I am...have been all my life. Its partially my fault because most foods high in iron I hate and I dont take supplements.

[Becca Bonneville]

yep I am...have been all my life. Its partially my fault because most foods high in iron I hate and I dont take supplements.


Same here!!

I agree with everyone here, take the slow releasing!! Sorry you had more unwelcomed news! Hope everything gets sorted and you get back on track to feeling like you again!