Anemia?

[Mama Sandy]

Is anyone here anemic?

I ask because I am wondering if that's what is going on with me. I am so, so tired and today I feel miserably light-headed and had an unexplained nose bleed this morning. I have never had a bloody nose in my life until this morning. I take my prenatals and Expecta but with nursing I am wondering if they just aren't enough.

Any ideas or advice? I realize I should just go see a doctor for this but that would just be entirely too simple for me. I like to be difficult ;)

[Jojo]

I was suspected to be anemic a few years back because I was always so cold. Even in the summer.

I had blood tests run twice and nothing came up.

I would just ask a doc to run a blood test to find out :hug:

[Mama Sandy]

Yeah, I guess I should just bite the bullet and get some labs drawn. The last time they checked for anemia was during my third trimester screening when I was pregnant with Averie and it was fine then. I am sure alot could have changed since then. Thanks Jo.

[Elaine]

I think I am but I don't do anything in particular to fix it. :blush: My iron count is pretty low but when I'm taking pre-natals it goes up (duh). I just try to keep a balanced diet and hope for the best. If I notice I'm overly tired (and it's not from lack of sleep) then I boost my fruit and veggie intake and throw in an extra steak or two a week and I start to feel better.

[AshleyMommyto2]

You could be Sandy... Probably should ask your Dr.. Have you had your yearly pap yet? Maybe ask then.

[Jojo]

Oh you can also eat liver :vomit:

[Mama Sandy]

Oh you can also eat liver :vomit:

Oh gawd! I can't even stand the smell of liver :puke:

I haven't had a check up with the doctor since my pp visit. Guess it's about that time though :eyeroll: I hate going to the doctor, I'm such a baby :hehe:

[Ashley]

I hate the dr too Sandy! But, I would definitely check :support:

[Heather]

Ditto, can't hurt to have it checked out. Get to the doctor, girl!

[Farah]

I always get that way when I have a heavy AF. I would up your salt intake (it could help your dizziness issue and it's a great excuse to eat chips). You can also take an OTC pill called "Slow Fe". I've been anemic a few times (my sister is always struggling with it) and they have us take that because it'll up your iron levels. Make sure to get Slow Fe because straight up Iron can make you constipated.

[Mama Sandy]

I always get that way when I have a heavy AF. I would up your salt intake (it could help your dizziness issue and it's a great excuse to eat chips). You can also take an OTC pill called "Slow Fe". I've been anemic a few times (my sister is always struggling with it) and they have us take that because it'll up your iron levels. Make sure to get Slow Fe because straight up Iron can make you constipated.

Are those the chewable chocolate things? I had a friend recommend those so I think I will make a trip to the drug store tomorrow to see what I can dig up. I am really pretty sure it's an iron thing at this point.

[Jojo]

Oh yeah...heavy AF makes me sleepy and gives me headaches :thumbsdown:

[Mama Sandy]

Oh yeah...heavy AF makes me sleepy and gives me headaches :thumbsdown:

Yeah, and here I thought I was lucky because I didn't have cramps. I think this is worse than the miserable cramps I used to get.

[Andrea]

I have been anemic off and on my whole life. I hate taking iron pills so I just try to eat the right foods.

I'm sure you are taking enough iron with your prenatal vitamin, but maybe your body isn't absorbing the iron well enough. Vitamin C will help your body absorb the iron better. Having a glass of orange juice or eating some broccoli ect. might help.

Also if you drink tea or coffee, it hinders the absorption of iron. I have a list somewhere of foods that are high in iron and vitamin C, I'll try to find it.:))

Here it is:http://www.nutritiondata.com/foods-011101119000000000000-1.html?

[Mama Sandy]

Thank you Andrea! That list will be really helpful.

Do you think maybe what I am dealing with is an iron defficiency? What types of symptoms do you have when you're a little low? Now that you mention it, I do drink soda (naughty me since I am breastfeeding) so I wonder if the caffine is negating the vitamins. Man, I hope not since I really don't want to completely ditch my soda.

[Andrea]

When I'm low I am just so tired and feel like I'm in a fog. I have dizziness too but that is a main symptom of the NCS that I have so it's hard to tell what is causing it sometimes.

I would get some blood tests and go from there. Or just eat a bunch of iron rich foods and get your vitamin C in, see if it makes a difference. Also sometimes if you have a thyroid issue it can cause you to feel tired a lot.

I hope you can figure it out and feel better soon!:))