Anaemic & need help/advice please

Pengwern16

Hi
Thanks to all of you for your advice - it's a pity I don't eat eggs as they seem to be an easy way to get more iron.
Lentils and hummous are new things for me, which I'll try to see if I like.
Any more yummy recipes?
Thanks again
Lowri x

newlywed

I asked over on the vegan thread for how to increase calcium without having more dairy - not sure if that would help?

It was things like:-

Dark green leafy veg - eg kale, greens and spinach
Dried apricots and dried figs
Almonds and Sesame seeds
Oats have some calcium in too

Tofu and soya stuff too (if you like them )

So I make sure I have porridge (made with water) plus ground almonds and dried fruit for breakfast and am trying to eat more dark green veg.

Kale stir fried with sesame seeds is nice.


Here's the useful calcium info that someone kindly referred me to:- http://www.vegansociety.com/html/food/nutrition/calcium.php

Gingham_Ribbon

I forgot to mention dried fruit such as apricots, prunes and dates.

I like lentil lasagne. Green or brown lentils work best. Simmer for about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, fry an onion and some garlic. Add some chopped mushrooms and finely chopped courgette. Drain the lentils and add to the mushroom, onion and courgette. Add a tin or tomatoes (or 2 of you're making lots) some tomato puree and some Italian herbs (or just dried basil and oregano.) Allow to reduce a little while you're making some cheese sauce. Then layer into an oven dish - bolognaise, pasta, cheese sauce repeat. Top with some cheddar and serve with some wholemeal bread and a salad again. (Or use wholemeal lasagne sheets to compliment the protein.)

hollydays

I used to get anaemic due to very heavy periods (I thankfully was able to have the mirena coil(stops heavy periods in their tracks) .I would added dried apricots and chick peas and liver and red meat and leafy geen veg,plus orange juice with meals but not tea and coffee with meals.Wholemeal bread contains more iron than white.I was told many people can't easily tolerate iron tablets,as they can make you very constipated., I couldn't.Added bonus of the mirena coil at my age is it will see me through the menopause-weyhey!

Little_Miss_Saver

Hi, i too suffer from severe anemia my recent blood results show my iron count has risen up to 5 from 3:o

I'm not able to take iron tablets due to my illness, and I'm not able to have iron infusions as i reacted badly to them. Due to my condition I am limited to what I can eat and can only eat tiny portions of "iron rich" foods.

My specialist nurse recently recommended "spatone" water and you drink one or two sachet a day with orange juice and within a week I felt a different person. It doesnt give you the problems that iron tablets do and its that gentle even pregnant women and children can take it. They recommend a 6 month course to replenish your iron stores but I intend to continue with it after the 6 months. (I've only been taking it 6 weeks).

I also have monthly B12 injections but don't think they do much for me.

Unfortunatley its not cheap at £6.50 for a 28 day supply but they are currently on 3for2 at boots so I've just stocked up again. I cannot recommend this stuff enough its made a real difference to my life and so quickly as well.

Hope your feeling much better soon

LMS xx

noonesperfect

I believe beans on toast is meant to be good if you're short of iron, specially is you follow it with some fruit.

One suggestion I've come across is the above, plus an egg and some grated cheese! It doesn't appeal to me, but you'd cetainly be getting all the nutrients you need in one sitting :j .

This looks like a helpful site

http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthissues/irondeficiency/

champys

For the non-vegetarians: black pudding is an excellent source of iron. My OH is very keen on it, which for me is a good excuse to put it on the menu regularly. I grill the black pudding, then serve it on mashed potato together with fried slices of apple. Steamed kale to go with it - even more iron!

izoomzoom

I was recently anaemic whilst pregnant and had to take 1 tablet a day. Sorry tmi but you will notice its effects on your bowel movements very soon:mad: .

Anyhow, recommend spatone (either in conjunction or as an alternative to the tablets) and

any red meats
apricots
any green veggies

and vit c (orange juice) to aid absorption.

You should find that after about a week you start to feel less tired, but do not stop taking the tablets / spatone until you get your levels up to an acceptable level / you find root cause of the anaemia.

Good luck

Pengwern16

Wow, thanks for all your replies - I really appreciate it, and it's good to hear from some other people who have felt this bad but have got better!
My new problem now, is after just over a week of improving my diet (ie no diet coke, tea, coffee, fruit and nuts as snacks and lots of fruit juice and 'proper food':A ) I've now put on weight!!
I did have a bit of a diet coke addiction, you see, and I've just realised that fruit juice DOES have calories in it...:o

noonesperfect

You might be better having the whole fruit instead of juice, which is high in sugar or you could water it down a bit (doesn't taste the same though ).
As is dried fruit, but you would soon know if you were eating too much dried fruit as you'd never be off the loo!
4-5 dried apricots a day should be fine (incidentally they're on special offer at Asda at the moment )
Hope you're soon feeling better :cool: