I'm excited! Found out I am anemic today!

Yep, I'm excited about it!

Why? Because I have felt fatigued and I haven't been improving my times... even with all the training I have done. I have been wondering WHY.

Well, it's because I'm anemic. I have low iron at 10.5 and normal ranges are 11.5 to 15.

If I have low iron, this means my body can't get oxygen to my muscles. I'm very excited about this news! Finally! A reason why I suck so bad! I am going to start taking iron and hopefully this will get fixed.

I start taking my iron pills as soon as I can get them from the pharmacy. WOO-HOO!

In other news... I had the LOWEST Cholesterol the Dr. said he has ever seen. The bad stuff is very low (28) and the good stuff is just right (90).

Yay! There's nothing like finally getting a good diagnosis and help. I hope you are feeling back on top soon!

your good Cholesterol isn't "just right" it's phenomenal!

I just got mine checked and the nurse said mine was VERY HIGH (good) and it was 85.

happy iron pills to you.

Cook in cast iron pans!

I had to laugh when I read this thread title, because I know exactly how you feel. When I found out that I had low iron two years ago (my serum ferritin was at 12, which is the lowest measurable) I was so excited. Finally something tangible to fix!

I've had really good results with the carbonyl iron supplements (brand name Feosol, you can find it at average pharmacies like Walgreens, etc). Iron salts (ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, etc) all upset my stomach and GI tract.

Also, remember to take B12, folic acid, and vitamin C together with iron. These are all important cofactors for absorbing iron and building new blood cells.

Good luck!

good good! And an easy fix!

AWESOME cholesterol levels too! SWEET!!

So how is the leg feeling??

I hope that fixes things up!

I'm in awe :eek: of your cholesterol.

I had the same issue except mine was at a 9 and the Dr. was not happy! I'm all better now, but I have to tell you-buy a laxative when you get the iron pills, they'll clog you up fast :eek:

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I've had really good results with the carbonyl iron supplements (brand name Feosol, you can find it at average pharmacies like Walgreens, etc). Iron salts (ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, etc) all upset my stomach and GI tract.

Also, remember to take B12, folic acid, and vitamin C together with iron. These are all important cofactors for absorbing iron and building new blood cells.

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DONE! I got all my pills this morning. I have 3 different vitamins to take. I have also looked at a list of food high in iron for vegetarians and have started eating those foods. I would like to keep my iron high through diet and not pills. Iron pills can be rough on a tummy.

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So how is the leg feeling??

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Thanks for asking! Well the leg is not 100% or even close. I tried to walk/run last night. I ran for 20 seconds and it hurt so bad I had to stop. So I walked 5.5 miles at a 13:30 minute pace. Next season I'm going to get that time down.

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I'm in awe of your cholesterol.

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I was kind of shocked myself. I don't eat really healthy. I guess all the exercise pays off?

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I had the same issue except mine was at a 9 and the Dr. was not happy! I'm all better now, but I have to tell you-buy a laxative when you get the iron pills, they'll clog you up fast

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9! That is really low! Dang.

So the iron pills did it for you? I wonder how I will know when my iron is high enough. The Dr. told me to come back in January, so I guess then.

Oh, trust me... I have too many bowel movements in a day. It's very common for me to have 7-10 in one day. Yes, that's a problem and something my Dr. wants me to get a colonoscopy for. I'm resisting. So, a little bit of clogging up would do me some good!

Yep, the iron pills worked. I've been this way for years and years so whenever I start feeling awful, I take the iron pills until I feel on top again then I quit taking them. I've found that you can tell when you have too much iron b/c you can taste the iron when you eat and drink.

I had constant bm's too! I wonder if they are a side effect of low iron, :confused: hummmm. Now I only go once a day.....

I'm happy for you, you will be amazed at how much better you're going to feel!!!! :D :D

It's good to hear you were able to figure out the cause of your fatigue. It can be so frustrating to have a general symptom like that because it could be caused by so many things. It's tough in general to have anything wrong with you and not know why or how to fix it. Good luck with the iron pills. Did the doc give you any idea when you should start feeling better?

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Originally Posted by CCinSC

Yep, the iron pills worked. I've been this way for years and years so whenever I start feeling awful, I take the iron pills until I feel on top again then I quit taking them. I've found that you can tell when you have too much iron b/c you can taste the iron when you eat and drink.

I had constant bm's too! I wonder if they are a side effect of low iron, :confused: hummmm. Now I only go once a day.....

I'm happy for you, you will be amazed at how much better you're going to feel!!!! :D :D

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Glad to hear it! My Dr. said take 3 a day... I have taken 2 today. If I taste iron, I'll stop taking them.

You know, I'm thinking that low iron might be because of too many BM's. If you are having too many of the, your body doesn't get the nutritents it needs.

I've always had very low iron as well. The frequent BM's definitely were a side effect for me too. I've gone to adding spinach on every sandwich instread of lettuce. Burgers are great this way. :D Basically, leafy greens are high in iron as well as whole grain breads. Peanut butter has a good amount of iron in it and if you pair it with something like OJ, the vitamin C will help you absorb it better. Tofu is usually good for an iron boost and so is liver, but you won't ever catch me eating liver. I puke just smelling it. Like olympic style puking. Blech.

Take the iron pills for now to bring you up quicker and work on your diet in the mean time. I agree with CCinSC, keep a mild laxative on hand. Iron will plug you up right proper. It may possibly change your stools dark as well, so don't be alarmed. (sorry if any of this grosses anyone out. can you tell I work in healthcare? :o) If all of this doesn't help, have them also do a thyroid check. Since you are going so often as well, you could possibly have IBS or some other intestinal problem. They don't allow you to process food correctly, so the iron you ingest may not get fully absorbed. Just something to think about.

If you are going to ride any long distances anytime soon, make sure you have ample access to restrooms until you know how this change will affect you. good luck. :)

Not glad you're anemic, but glad you know what the problem is and how to treat it! Woo hoo! You're on your way, girlfriend! :D

I'm lusting after your cholesterol numbers. NICE!

I also have had problems with IBS/pooping too frequently (like you said - 7-10 times daily) but this problem is now mostly managed by avoiding gluten, soy and dairy, all of which I'm sensitive to. Because of impaired absorption, it took me months of taking at least 90mg elemental iron daily to get my ferritin levels up to a good place.

KSH glad you've figured out the root of your problem...

Your doctor or nutritionist probably already told you but you should supplement your iron intake with Vitamin C. Vitamin C is key to absorbing your iron intake. (Just re-read the thread and Xrayted mentioned this too!)

So lots and lots of fruit will definatley help out absorbing the iron you're putting into your body so your developing red cells can develop their Haemaglobin better...

Well that's the dumbed down explanation of it anyway :D

I dunno whether you have anything similar to Milo in the states. 1 glass of it contains 50% RDI of Vitamin C and Iron. (Plus it 's crunchy and sprinkles nicely on Icecream too)

I'm so glad they figured it out, I know what a relief it is.

I'm another anemic one, this spring I was having a terrible time with my energy. I could make it through my training but then I was coming home and crashing. I finally went to the doctor when I came thisclose to fainting at the gym.

Now I take the magical combo of iron pills when I know my diet has been lacking in the natural kind.

Hopefully you'll be feeling back up to perfect soon!

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Originally Posted by Skeezix

I'm so glad they figured it out, I know what a relief it is.

I'm another anemic one, this spring I was having a terrible time with my energy. I could make it through my training but then I was coming home and crashing. I finally went to the doctor when I came thisclose to fainting at the gym.

Now I take the magical combo of iron pills when I know my diet has been lacking in the natural kind.

Hopefully you'll be feeling back up to perfect soon!

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That's good that you found out too.

So, what is your magical combo of iron pills?

Well, I have been on the 2 iron pills a day for about a week now and I don't really feel a huge difference if any.

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Originally Posted by light_sabe_r

KSH glad you've figured out the root of your problem...

Your doctor or nutritionist probably already told you but you should supplement your iron intake with Vitamin C. Vitamin C is key to absorbing your iron intake. (Just re-read the thread and Xrayted mentioned this too!)

So lots and lots of fruit will definatley help out absorbing the iron you're putting into your body so your developing red cells can develop their Haemaglobin better...

Well that's the dumbed down explanation of it anyway :D

I dunno whether you have anything similar to Milo in the states. 1 glass of it contains 50% RDI of Vitamin C and Iron. (Plus it 's crunchy and sprinkles nicely on Icecream too)

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No Milo here in the States... I think.

But I am taking Vitamin C and trying to eat oranges.

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Originally Posted by KSH

Well, I have been on the 2 iron pills a day for about a week now and I don't really feel a huge difference if any.

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It takes weeks to bring blood counts up, and months to fully rebuild your iron stores. I started to feel some small improvements around the 3rd week of iron supplementation.

Hence, I'm always very suspicious of anyone who says they're tired and then pops an iron pill and then says they feel all peppy again! :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Dianyla

It takes weeks to bring blood counts up, and months to fully rebuild your iron stores. I started to feel some small improvements around the 3rd week of iron supplementation.

Hence, I'm always very suspicious of anyone who says they're tired and then pops an iron pill and then says they feel all peppy again! :rolleyes:

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Crap. Really? So, the week AFTER my half ironman... I'll have some of my energy back.

The Dr. did say I could take 3 pills a day... but I'm only taking 2. Will taking 1 more a day help? The sooner I have some energy the better! I'm doing my half ironman in 9 days.

Yes, it does take weeks to build your iron stores back up. That is the bummer part of it.

I take a B12 suppliment (it desolves under my tongue) and then an iron pill (I can't remember how much or what kind since they are at home).

I found that menu planning helps me forsee weeks when I don't get enough natural iron in and I make sure to take an extra pill every day those weeks as opposed to the single pill I take when I am getting enough dietary-based iron.

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Originally Posted by KSH

The Dr. did say I could take 3 pills a day... but I'm only taking 2. Will taking 1 more a day help? The sooner I have some energy the better! I'm doing my half ironman in 9 days.

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I hate to sound unsupportive, but be prepared to have a potentially sucky event. I rode the STP (double-century) while seriously anemic. It took me 18 very slow and sluggish hours and weeks to recover afterwards. In fact, those very weeks of feeling like total crap that followed were what prompted me to go see a doctor and that's when I was first diagnosed as anemic 2 years ago.

Hopefully, your event will go better for you. But be kind to your body, there's a difference between sucking it up and grinding yourself down to nothing. :)

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Originally Posted by Dianyla

I hate to sound unsupportive, but be prepared to have a potentially sucky event. I rode the STP (double-century) while seriously anemic. It took me 18 very slow and sluggish hours and weeks to recover afterwards. In fact, those very weeks of feeling like total crap that followed were what prompted me to go see a doctor and that's when I was first diagnosed as anemic 2 years ago.

Hopefully, your event will go better for you. But be kind to your body, there's a difference between sucking it up and grinding yourself down to nothing. :)

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Hey, you just have to tell it like it is.

I don't think I'm severly anemic... and I suspect I have been training with anemia for months.

I rode a century last weekend, mind you, it was slow... about 7 hours (we had a struggler in the back- and we had a 2 hour lunch so we were out for 9 hours)... but when it was done I felt pretty good. I had enough energy to stay awake another 3 hours before crashing out.

My Half Ironman should be only 8 hours at the most, and I'm going to make sure I pace myself. No blow out's for me.

Then after the race, I'm taking some needed rest for a good couple of months... only doing what I feel like doing.

Sorry to hear you had such a rough time of it. At least it prompted you to go see a Dr. I hope you doing better now.

KSH, I really hope your event goes well! :)

Hey there
Glad you found out what your body needed...

Just a thought... I find iron tablets make me constipated, and I use this liquid stuff made for children who are off their food. Its called incremin - its a supplement of Vit B, iron and lysine...
Just in case you are finding the tablets a bit tough on your gut

:)

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Originally Posted by RoadRaven

Hey there
Glad you found out what your body needed...

Just a thought... I find iron tablets make me constipated, and I use this liquid stuff made for children who are off their food. Its called incremin - its a supplement of Vit B, iron and lysine...
Just in case you are finding the tablets a bit tough on your gut

:)

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Oh trust me... there is NO constipation going on here. Actually, if I got some I would welcome it!

These pills have been absolutely fine on my tummy thus far.

Thanks for the tips though!