Living richly; simply and debt-freely

maddiemay

beanielou wrote: »

Positive positive vibes HopefulJoy.

From me too:)

liltdiddylilt

Maddiemay you are a genius. Here am I wondering at my extra cans of cannellini beans thanks to a Mr A delivery muck up... and there you are with a perfect recipe!!

Greying hope your day was lovely certainly sounding good!! Thanks for popping in to see me. I rather liked the sentiment as well tis very me! xx

Upsidedown_Bear

Greying_Pilgrim wrote: »

*snort* - Upsidedown Bear - we're not all rubbing orf on ya are we???? :rotfl: But :j:j:j for homemade soup anyways Hope you enjoyed making it, and above all, scoffing it

With handmade bread :D

I have no idea why Smilie was so surprised :whistle:

Upsidedown_Bear

Smilie of the day.

maddiemay

greenbee wrote: »

As a veteran of vast quantities of iron (for my first two rounds they had to keep checking my weight to make sure they didn't tip over into toxicity) I have a couple of tips:

1. take vit C with it (they've probably already told you this)
2. make sure they are investigating the cause of low levels. I'm 4 years into treatment for iron-deficiency anaemia and finally look like I'm getting stable iron stores.
3. High fibre diet - I added a spoonful of freshly ground linseed to everything I ate (iron makes your appetite disappear anyway, and all food taste the same, so who cares...); a bowl of SW 'dyno rod soup' every day :cool:; and some great fibre supplements called Coloclear extra. Avoid coffee, drink fennel tea. Add wheat and oat bran to porridge.

I find now that I know when my iron levels are getting better or worse by how the symptoms (restless legs, breathing, tinnitus, sore mouth etc) are affecting me. Tinnitus and restless legs tend to arrive first, then tiredness and insomnia, then the rest.

Oh - and both red wine and dark chocolate are high in iron. My GP recommended regular doses of both

Greenbee, thank you so much, I have copied your tips into a document so that I can refer to it easily.:D

This isn't meant to sound mean, but it is re-assuring to learn of someone who has had similar problems and is coming out the other end:A I already have B12 deficiency (PA) and have dipped into low iron before, but at blood tests a couple of years ago made the stupid mistake of believing that levels were normal, when in fact they were not far above base line, which is not good enough for someone with my condition, so think I have been steadily declining for 2 years always get a printed copy of any tests lovely people and check for yourself. Waiting for appointment with gastro person so hopefully on the right road.

greenbee

maddiemay wrote: »

Greenbee, thank you so much, I have copied your tips into a document so that I can refer to it easily.:D

This isn't meant to sound mean, but it is re-assuring to learn of someone who has had similar problems and is coming out the other end:A I already have B12 deficiency (PA) and have dipped into low iron before, but at blood tests a couple of years ago made the stupid mistake of believing that levels were normal, when in fact they were not far above base line, which is not good enough for someone with my condition, so think I have been steadily declining for 2 years always get a printed copy of any tests lovely people and check for yourself. Waiting for appointment with gastro person so hopefully on the right road.

I completely understand! I really got fed up with people telling me to eat more steak and spinach :cool: My circulating iron is fine, because I eat properly, but my ferritin levels were dangerously low (they were caught due to respiratory problems after an operation). I'd though the reflux/restless legs etc were normal. Problems I'd had for decades have finally gone.

Interestingly, once all the usual tests had been done and reasons for the low ferritin excluded (e.g. coeliac disease), my GP said I'd have to be on supplements for life (not a cheery thought). Given that I was causing a county-wide shortage of ferrous fumarate I wasn't impressed (I had everyone I knew buying it up for me!). Then I moved, and my new GP has me on quarterly testing and is not convinced that a life-time of high-dose iron is the solution. Apparently new research shows that high doses aren't necessarily the answer, but improving absorbency - I switched to a less unpleasant supplement, down from 600mg of elemental iron a day to 15mg and have managed to stablise at a ferritin level of 70ish. (I tend to get symptoms round about 50).

Bizarrely, after 3 months off, expecting levels to drop, they have now gone up to 85 Maybe it's the running? Or maybe I've just been eating the right stuff. Either way, I hope it continues!

GOod luck, and PM me if you have any questions.

And remember, there is no such thing as too much fibre for someone taking iron supplements :cool:

7_week_wonder

Hello everyone,

We're back safe and well after a 400-mile round trip to see my mum. Bless her, she was in pretty good form: and even managed to take the mickey out of herself and her memory!

Maddiemay, you probably know this already but I didn't realise that I had to be careful what I ate/drank when I was taking my iron tablets. Apparently, tannin prevents iron being absorbed: so I was advised not to drink tea or red wine an hour either side of taking my iron tablets. It made me a very grumpy bear (no tea with breakfast in the morning) but I think it made a difference.

Hope everybody is doing ok - and have a good week when it comes.

Hopefuljoy

It's strange all the things you learn about tablets. I didn't know that about tannin and iron. I take my levothyroxine first thing on an empty stomach as apparently any kind of hot drink, food or other medicines stop it working. Then it's the citalopram for depression an hour later. Then at night it's a statin which you can't go near grapefruit with, or maybe that's the thyroxine!?

Either way I've always found the pharmacist the best person to ask about my meds as they are up to the minute. Did anyone see the food around the world programme last night? It was a bit superficial but the upshot seemed to be the Greying approach works best. Healthy natural ingredients cooked lightly and a bare minimum of processed foods or sugar. Bureau for Greying and all MSE home cooks!

I hope you will all have a great week. I am dreading tomorrow but time can only move forward and the parent complaint of Friday will hopefully be resolved by mid morning.

Take care everyone, I hope you miss the forecast snow if you don't want it. No sign down south but the temperature has plummeted. Xx

Greying_Pilgrim

Just popping in to say the following;

greenbee - thank you so much for being so supportive to maddiemay. I know (unfortunately) that you know what you are talking about, from first hand experience.

Hopefuljoy - I hope that this 'complaint' comes to nought. Folk tend to get a little aerated about things - perhaps going on in their own life - and tend to pick fault where they can, irrespective of whether there is any ground for complaint or not. Human beings tend to get a little irrational when they feel they are not being heard/listened to. So they make damn sure someone sits up and starts paying attention. Do not dread this parental complaint. Listen to see what happens. I hope it all turns out to be a load of hot air; that the 'diplomat' on the SMT gets appointed to deal with the matter, and you're left to do what you do best. Teach.

In the meantime, hug yourself, hug the dog and get a good night's sleep

We've just watched a film (King of Texas), that was based on 'King Lear'. Will Shakespeare does 'how the west was won/lost/won/lost/won/lost...... :rotfl: seems folks behaved no better in the 1500's, and Will nailed human nature pretty accurately......... (even with the 'updating' to the 1800's......)

Good wishes to all those facing 'difficult' meetings tomorrow. I sincerely hope that all is resolved in your favour and with good grace.

I'm away to Bedfordshire.

Greying x

Igamogam

maddiemay wrote: »

Greenbee, thank you so much, I have copied your tips into a document so that I can refer to it easily.:D

This isn't meant to sound mean, but it is re-assuring to learn of someone who has had similar problems and is coming out the other end:A I already have B12 deficiency (PA) and have dipped into low iron before, but at blood tests a couple of years ago made the stupid mistake of believing that levels were normal, when in fact they were not far above base line, which is not good enough for someone with my condition, so think I have been steadily declining for 2 years always get a printed copy of any tests lovely people and check for yourself. Waiting for appointment with gastro person so hopefully on the right road.

PA here too but I don't need the extra iron......well not yet.I am guessing you already know about PA society........If not, its worth a look at the forum - lots of info. I did persuade my GP to up my B12 jabs to every 8 weeks. Now working on getting jab every 4 weeks........hope you sorted soon:)

ETA if you use the book with a face there is also a very good group on there but it's an international group and some stuff from USA and Canada etc not relevant