Low Iron, low blood levels

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Thanks for the update. Hope he continues to improve.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[tickyul]

I have been following this thread because I have had low RBCs for quite a long time. When my iron levels go low......wow, I can feel my energy going away....much weaker, labored breathing, very irritable, pale lips, gums and face. My RBCs do not even have to be much below normal for me to really feel the effects.

I have been tested for a lot of different things including blood in the stools.....tests have been negative.

I have tried taking supplements and they did help somewhat, but it also had unpleasant side effects. This will gross a lot of people out.........but, HANDS DOWN the best treatment for me is EATING liver or other OFFAL at least 3 times a week. The best type offal to eat is BEEF because it is almost all HEME-IRON, the most absorbable form. If you have iron deficient anemia.....well, forget about plant sources of iron........they are very poorly absorbed.....spinach is not going to do a very good job of treating anemia.

Iron Deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in the world......and a leading cause of anemia:

Iron Disorders Institute:: Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron deficiency is a condition resulting from too little iron in the body. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause of anemia in the world.

[LaFemme86]

Originally Posted by tickyul

I have been following this thread because I have had low RBCs for quite a long time. When my iron levels go low......wow, I can feel my energy going away....much weaker, labored breathing, very irritable, pale lips, gums and face. My RBCs do not even have to be much below normal for me to really feel the effects.

I have been tested for a lot of different things including blood in the stools.....tests have been negative.

I have tried taking supplements and they did help somewhat, but it also had unpleasant side effects. This will gross a lot of people out.........but, HANDS DOWN the best treatment for me is EATING liver or other OFFAL at least 3 times a week. The best type offal to eat is BEEF because it is almost all HEME-IRON, the most absorbable form. If you have iron deficient anemia.....well, forget about plant sources of iron........they are very poorly absorbed.....spinach is not going to do a very good job of treating anemia.

Iron Deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in the world......and a leading cause of anemia:

Iron Disorders Institute:: Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron deficiency is a condition resulting from too little iron in the body. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause of anemia in the world.

Thanks for the tips. The doctors don't believe the iron levels are due to his eating habits though; they believe it is due to some type of blood loss. I will post an update below.

[LaFemme86]

Update:

Blood test results came back. His ferratin levels have risen from 2.4 to 4, likely due to the removal of the polyps (one was bleeding)... however apparently the normal is still much much higher (20-300). I do believe he is now qualified to have the capsule enteroscopy, so here's hoping that gives us some sort of answer.

[eggalegga]

Thanks for the update. I hope he only improves from here.

My friend is going for her colonoscopy in June after her son is out of school. One less thing to have to coordinate then.

[LaFemme86]

Another update-- his pill cam results came back and found 2 ulcers in his lower intestine. The doctor believes this was causing the blood loss. He has now been put on meds (Nexium, I think) to help heal the ulcers and has been told to avoid certain foods. They will do another blood test in a couple of months. Hopefully this clears things up-- he's been having some sharp pains in the lower left side of his stomach, which they said could have been caused by the prep for the colonoscopy. I hope things get back to normal soon.

[bongo]

Best of health to your hubby, LaFemme. I'm cheering for you. Now is a good time to incorporate the healthiest diet possible into your lifestyle. Has he been tested for h pylori?

[LaFemme86]

Originally Posted by bongo

Best of health to your hubby, LaFemme. I'm cheering for you. Now is a good time to incorporate the healthiest diet possible into your lifestyle. Has he been tested for h pylori?

Yes, it came back negative for H. Pylori.

What are your suggestions for diet? We eat quite healthy, but that's more in regards to heart health than anything else. Are there specific diet suggestions for this?