Anaemic & need help/advice please

Pengwern16

Hi
I'm not sure if this is the best place to post this, so please feel free to move.
I've been diagnosed as being anaemic and prescribed iron tablets. The thing is I was given the blood test results which diagnosed this over the phone rather than during an appointment with the doctor, so made an appointment to see the doctor to discuss this (had the appointment yesterday).
So for a week I've been taking two iron tablets a day, eating more read meat and avoiding the things the tablets tell you to avoid within 2 hours of taking the tablets (milk, eggs, wholewheat...). I'm not feeling any better at all, and was hoping the doctor would be able to provide some further advice or at least tell me I'm doing the right things
The problem is, my doctor didn't really give me any advice and just told me, quite dismissively, 'you're not going to feel better in a week', even though I explained that the tiredness and weakness is affecting every aspect of my life (I'm regularly sent home from work by my boss, which although she's lovely, I'm worried about). She just told me to keep taking the iron tablets for 3 months and have another blood test after taking them for a month.
So, here's where I'm hoping you lovely people could help ... I'm struggling for ideas in terms of how and what to eat. Does anyone else have anaemia or taking iron tablets?
Here's a typical day's menu for me:

Breakfast - bowl of cereal with skimmed milk, wholemeal toast & marmalade, orange juice
Mid morning - iron tablet with orange juice and snack of fruit/dried fruit/nuts
Lunch - bacon or beef sandwich on wholemeal bread with a cup a soup
Mid afternoon - iron tablet with orange juice and snack of fruit/dried fruit/nuts
Supper - jacket potato with bolognese / chilli and salad

The trouble is, I don't think I can keep eating just these things for the next 3 month - and I want to add some calcium to it, but don't know when would be best as milk inhibits iron absorbtion.

I think my trouble is I've read a lot on the internet and confused myself with quite a lot of conflicting info. I was hoping my doctor would clarify things for me yesterday but she didn't . I'd really like to hear some real life stories from other people with similar problems.

Thanks for reading if you've got this far - I know I can ramble on!!
Lowri x

MEGANE

Pengwern16 wrote: »

Hi
I'm not sure if this is the best place to post this, so please feel free to move.
I've been diagnosed as being anaemic and prescribed iron tablets. The thing is I was given the blood test results which diagnosed this over the phone rather than during an appointment with the doctor, so made an appointment to see the doctor to discuss this (had the appointment yesterday).
So for a week I've been taking two iron tablets a day, eating more read meat and avoiding the things the tablets tell you to avoid within 2 hours of taking the tablets (milk, eggs, wholewheat...). I'm not feeling any better at all, and was hoping the doctor would be able to provide some further advice or at least tell me I'm doing the right things
The problem is, my doctor didn't really give me any advice and just told me, quite dismissively, 'you're not going to feel better in a week', even though I explained that the tiredness and weakness is affecting every aspect of my life (I'm regularly sent home from work by my boss, which although she's lovely, I'm worried about). She just told me to keep taking the iron tablets for 3 months and have another blood test after taking them for a month.
So, here's where I'm hoping you lovely people could help ... I'm struggling for ideas in terms of how and what to eat. Does anyone else have anaemia or taking iron tablets?
Here's a typical day's menu for me:

Breakfast - bowl of cereal with skimmed milk, wholemeal toast & marmalade, orange juice
Mid morning - iron tablet with orange juice and snack of fruit/dried fruit/nuts
Lunch - bacon or beef sandwich on wholemeal bread with a cup a soup
Mid afternoon - iron tablet with orange juice and snack of fruit/dried fruit/nuts
Supper - jacket potato with bolognese / chilli and salad

The trouble is, I don't think I can keep eating just these things for the next 3 month - and I want to add some calcium to it, but don't know when would be best as milk inhibits iron absorbtion.

I think my trouble is I've read a lot on the internet and confused myself with quite a lot of conflicting info. I was hoping my doctor would clarify things for me yesterday but she didn't . I'd really like to hear some real life stories from other people with similar problems.

Thanks for reading if you've got this far - I know I can ramble on!!
Lowri x

How about cheese sandwich, yoghurt or glass of milk at lunch time or maybe milky drink at bedtime. I have had severe anaemia and know just how exhausting it is but unfortunately your GP is right it does take a few weeks before you feel the benefit as your body has to make new red cells. HTH

recovering_spendaholic

Can you eat liver? I suffer from bouts of anaemia and take iron tablets regularly. I find that my count comes up quickly if I eat liver and red meat ( but liver is much better), green veg, particularly spinach and eggs (though not all at the same time) I also take my iron with my meals instead of in between as I was told that you absorb the iron better with food.

Could you try and have an egg for breakfast and white bread (I think wholemeal bread can stop the iron absorption from the tablets)?

I does take a while for your count to go back up though. Have they told you WHY you are anaemic? I don't want to get into medical advice or anything, but the anaemia is just a symptom and they need to find out why and address that with the iron therapy. If you are worried I would go back to the GP for a face to face consultation and ask.

workinmummy

Hi. I too have been diagnosed as anemic. I was not told to stop eating or drinking anything by my doctors when taking iron i just carried on as normal and i have been under two different practices in the last few years. I was however given B12 injections because i was so tired. My then doctor gave me one a month for 3 months, then i moved on to them once every 3 months. (Some doctors give them everyday for a week then move you on to quaterly injections). B12 is the vitamin that is absorbed from the food to give you energy. I was also tested for perniscious (sp?) anemia. Where the body is for some reason unable to absorb iron - this came back negative.

Go back to your doctors (is there a different doctor in your practice?) and ask about B12 injections. I really think they do work. But just after an injection i can find myself wide awake at 4am. My first practive gave me them for free, at practice i attend now, i get a prescription and get 5 viles in the box - this lasts 5 visits obviously (or 15 months).

I know how it is to feel so tired. I work full time and run after a four year old. And i really feel for you. Please go back to your gp and ask him to look at it again.

Hope this helps
Claire
B12 is my saviour

snowball2103

Hi Lowri, sorry your feeling so low

Your doing the right thing with the OJ (helps absorption of iron) and breakfast cereals (fortified with iron). The only other things I would add would be eggs and some green veg if you can.

Hope your feeling better soon
Snowball

MONEYMAKINGMUM

Hi I have been anaemic on + off for years (having 4 children) the tablets disagree with me so I take liquid iron- its absorbed easier.
You can still drink milk etc just not at the same moment as the tablets.
Taking them with orange juice is great. Iron is in lots of food; spinach, chick peas, steak, dark green leafys
Loads of info on web - ask google.
Sometimes if your shopping + you think mmmmm I've gotta eat that, get it - your body probably needs it (those choccy biccies are your sweet tooth talking)

Feeling knackd does pass, get well soon Pengwern 16
It does take ages to build up iron again but you will get there
(I am sick of houmos at the mo - get back on it soon)

Penny-Pincher!!

Depending on how low your blood count is will depend on your options.

I take Ferrous Fumerate tablets which are very strong. I have iron defiency anaemia and often my blood counts drops to 5-6 and have to have special EPO infusions but even these dont work quickly and take around 2 weeks to settle my blood out. My anemia though is because of other illnesses I have.

Red meat is good, guiness works a little (but not too much lol), greens, liver etcetc. Stay away from tea, coffee and anything caffeine based as this will wipe out any good work your doing. OJ absorbs the iron, so definetly get some of that down you.

All the baove should be OK as long as you have no other illnesses or take any other meds. You would be best talking to your GP about this and asking for info.

Hope it improves soon.

PP
xx

Pink.

Hi Lowri,

Some of the advice on this earlier thread may help:

Help anaemia and cooking OS style


Board guide note: Please can I ask everyone to refrain from giving medical advice in this thread and concentrate on dietary advice, otherwise this thread will end up closed as the last one on anaemia was.

Thanks,

Pink

amanda40

I am anaemic and have pernicious anaemia - both are treated differently. I have B12 injections every 3 mnths for PA, and I take 3 ferrous tablets daily for the normal anaemia.

I only started the iron tablets last week so no difference noticed yet. For the B12 deficiency I am due a jag, but that is due to an auto immune problem apparently.

Rowan9

Hi - hope you feel better soon. Yes, it takes time to get the iron levels back to normal. I was prescribed tablets 3 times a day for a while (??can't remember if it was one month or more) then a repeat test showed they were back to normal but still advised to take one tablet a day. Mine was caused by heavy periods (now sorted) and I also had a spell where I was vegetarian for 9 months, while not realising i was anaemic. That didn't help. I eventually went back to eating meat because I was craving raw steak - this was before iron test. My hair was thinning and I felt a bit breathless if I walked and talked at same time (I'm pretty fit usually) - all symptoms i know now. I think it's fairly common to be anaemic if you are a woman - I work with only a handful of women and 3 of us were on the same ferrous tablets (iron) - all in 40s and 50s, if this makes any difference! My mum was on iron tablets a lot of the time in her life although she ate well.
re taking the tablets - I did find it fiddly with all the things you can't eat or drink an hour before and 2 hours afterwards. Now I am not so fussy as I was finding that I would forget to take them at all and they do make me feel sick if taken on an empty stomach. Pate is a good thing to eat , if you can, and , as others have said, a glass of orange juice at the same time is good. Red wine, although good for you, depletes any iron benefits of food at same time so roast beef has to be eaten with white wine
I got loads of info at a site called something like ironlady
Good luck and don't stress about it - just let your body get back to normal
w

Gingham_Ribbon

I lost a lot of blood during the birth of both my sons and was anaemic as a result (and needed a blood transfusion.)

The midwife said both times that she was amazed at how quickly I recovered. I ate lots of pulses, wholegrains and fresh fruit and vegetables.

Red lentil soup is a doddle to make. (A couple of mugs full of red lentils, add an onion, leek, some grated carrot a potato and some veg stock and simmer for about 35 minutes.)

Lentil shepherd's pie is packed full of iron and protein. Simmer some green or brown lentils for about 40 minutes. In the meantime, chop and fry a large onion, add whatever veg you fancy, such as finely chopped celery or leek to the onion pan or some sliced carrots with the lentils, then combine, add a tin of tomatoes or some stock/gravy granules to thicken, cool in an oven dish and smooth over. Then top with mash and bake until piping hot. Serve with salad and crusty wholemeal bread.

Have hummous with sliced carrot and courgette or cucumber and strips of wholemeal pitta.