Re: STILL ANEMIC?- exercise?

[Guest guest]

e wrote:

> Okay I am 6 months post myo

> It has been three months since my period returned

> Yes the first one was hellish

> BUT shouldn't it have gone up by now?

Yes and No.

Some OTC pills are far better than others. You might want to switch

brands. I personally brought my hemo up from 6.1 to 11.5 in 7 weeks by

taking Slow FE, Floradix Iron + Herbs (nasty liquid - don't take it

without a chaser of chocolate pudding or similar nearby!), and liquid

liver extract (pills). I followed many of the recommendations in

Nutrition for Natural Healing by Dr. Balch including, when it was very

low, drinking 1 T of blackstrap molasses 2X a day.

I feel much better despite very heavy periods with well over 1 pound of

blood loss each month. I am still very dizzy and such for a week after

each period - but my recovery time is much improved. I also don't get

mosquito bites anymore because of all the B vitamins! LOL! (I am still

searching for a hospital in my area that has a latex free surgery and

ward... so my honeydew melon is still very much with me.)

The other thing to consider, perhaps there is another cause? There are

lots of things that can cause low iron levels. My PCP wants to give me

an upper and lower GI because he has trouble understanding how my levels

got so low in the first place. I'm glad my OB/GYN at least gets it. LOL!

Kathy in Northern IL

kwentz@...

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Your doc is right, it can take a year (sometimes longer) to get your counts back

up. Once your counts are really down, diet alone won't work. You have to

replenish your stores too, not just get your counts up. Until your counts are in

the normal range, exercise could be more harmful than helpful. Your periods may

not be heavy but you are still losing blood all the same. Many women with

" normal " periods have anemia.

I too still had problems with my anemia after my surgery. It's taken me 9 months

to get back to exercising. I did walk after my surgery, but not power walking or

for long distances. Just walking for healing.

Anemia is a curse and it's dangerous. Listen to your body and give it the time

it needs to heal and get over the anemia. And yes, drink lots of water (skip the

caffine drinks and soda - they will only add to your problems). Take it easy

until your body is ready.

Ku

e pchelkajustine@...> wrote:

Okay I am 6 months post myo

It has been three months since my period returned

Yes the first one was hellish

BUT shouldn't it have gone up by now?

I went into the Drs last Wed because Tuesday night I

passed out. I was trying to get on the floor to do my

strengthening therapy exercises and the next thing I

felt was pressure and I woke up on the computer

keyboard on the floor. I had had a wobbly moment on

Monday but I thought it was the flu. I was very

concerned considering through hemo counts of six I

didn't pass out.

I don't get this. I eat well. Salads, meat, beans

stuff with iron. I take pills too to help. It has

been MONTHS! since I have had a major bleeding

episode. No puddles no disasters so why am I down on

my floor. Others here have suffered from long term

bad anemia is anyone else having trouble recovering?

I asked the Doc (my general practitioner) He said a

hemo of 10 is good for me and it may take a year to

get everything back. This doesn't sound right.

People here are raising their hemos by whole points in

months why not me? I have had abdominal cramps and

have been running for the bathroom every hour if I eat

or drink for over two weeks now but come on a few

strength exercises and that shouldn't mean that I pass

out. My back and legs still hurt a lot after work and

they aren't strengthening up like I hoped I really had

hoped to be riding a bike or lifting weights by now.

I put on 60 lbs since my hemo dropped too low to

exercise and I want that weight off but the exercises

I am doing now are hard enough on my body, My back

screams all night every night. The Doc had prescribed

Bextra for the pain but it didn't help at all so I am

back on Tylenol

I have been told no swimming or running until things

improve. He said to drink more fluids and stay out of

the heat. He said to take the iron pills and wait

IDEAS PLEASE I AM TIRED OF WAITING

[Guest guest]

Maybe you should up your iron pills. My blood was down to " 20 "

(hemocrit) at the time of my UFE. They put me on 65 mgs. of iron

3X's a day in the hospital. I was back up to normal in 4-5 weeks

time. (35) On top of this, I ate a lot of red meat (which I don't

normally do,) those green colored flat seeds (forgot the name but

high in iron) and tons of green leafy vegys. Sounds like you've

done a lot with diet and your not bleeding anymore. Maybe you need

to up your intake of the pills. You can get that strength over the

counter, but you should check with your doc 1st. That is a lot of

iron to be taking without checking. Hope it helps.

> Okay I am 6 months post myo

> It has been three months since my period returned

> Yes the first one was hellish

> BUT shouldn't it have gone up by now?

>

> I went into the Drs last Wed because Tuesday night I

> passed out. I was trying to get on the floor to do my

> strengthening therapy exercises and the next thing I

> felt was pressure and I woke up on the computer

> keyboard on the floor. I had had a wobbly moment on

> Monday but I thought it was the flu. I was very

> concerned considering through hemo counts of six I

> didn't pass out.

>

> I don't get this. I eat well. Salads, meat, beans

> stuff with iron. I take pills too to help. It has

> been MONTHS! since I have had a major bleeding

> episode. No puddles no disasters so why am I down on

> my floor. Others here have suffered from long term

> bad anemia is anyone else having trouble recovering?

>

> I asked the Doc (my general practitioner) He said a

> hemo of 10 is good for me and it may take a year to

> get everything back. This doesn't sound right.

> People here are raising their hemos by whole points in

> months why not me? I have had abdominal cramps and

> have been running for the bathroom every hour if I eat

> or drink for over two weeks now but come on a few

> strength exercises and that shouldn't mean that I pass

> out. My back and legs still hurt a lot after work and

> they aren't strengthening up like I hoped I really had

> hoped to be riding a bike or lifting weights by now.

> I put on 60 lbs since my hemo dropped too low to

> exercise and I want that weight off but the exercises

> I am doing now are hard enough on my body, My back

> screams all night every night. The Doc had prescribed

> Bextra for the pain but it didn't help at all so I am

> back on Tylenol

> I have been told no swimming or running until things

> improve. He said to drink more fluids and stay out of

> the heat. He said to take the iron pills and wait

> IDEAS PLEASE I AM TIRED OF WAITING

[Guest guest]

Oh, gee, e....

So sorry to hear about this fainting episode. Not sure we should necessarily

chalk it up to anemia--maybe yes, maybe, no. I hope your docs are aware of

this, because I think all fainting is a sign and should warrant concern, and

medical investigation.

I agree with Marsha--if you haven't done so already, you really should see a

competent hematologist for a consult and a plan. I wonder whether it would be

appropriate to have more sophisticated iron tests performed to monitor your

iron storage.

Could your problem not be iron intake per se, but iron absorption? Are you

taking any stomach meds like Prilosec or antacids which decrease absorption?

In e's case I don't think she need worry about her spleen, Marsh.

The spleen produces red cells before we are born, but after birth, our bone

marrow takes care over this function. However the spleen is responsible for

the removal and subsequent recycling of approximately 90% of all our old red

cells. Sometimes here too it can take

out red cells more aggressively than normal. But iron deficiency is not a

problem with red blood cell production or destruction........

Also wondering, e, whether your 60 pound weight GAIN might have

increased your requirements for iron.

Also, just wondering aloud here (at 1:00 AM...in my semiconscious state...)

about your DIABETES. Could that have been a contributing factor? How controlled

are your sugars?

What about this latest bout with diarrhea? It's not hard to lose fluids and

electrolytes rather quickly with diarrhea, which could have led to the fainting.

e, I think you need to pursue this with all members of your health

team--and maybe it's time for a thorough checkup to make sure they're not

missing

something.

Take it easy, my friend. Keep us posted.

-Roma

[Guest guest]

Hi e,

I'm glad you saw your GP the

very next day after the fainting

episode last week. Have you also

been doing alot of lifting/bending

at work recently? Outdoors with

your clients alot?

And 2 weeks of abdominal cramps

and diahrrea? I don't like the sound

of that.

Hmmm. Have you thought about a

referral to a hematologist to make

sure your spleen is producing the

red blood cells / oxygen uptake?

Let's hope this is just a little

pothole in your rapid road to

recovery. At age 35, you just want to go

gangbusters by now...but your past

history of severe/significant anemia,

lupron, and 2 surgeries in one year....

whoa, young lady...

and how many clients at work now?

Concerned for you, hoping Roma might

chime in on the spleen/rbc production,

and of course, when you get woozy,

get horizontal with the legs elevated,

call that Mama of yours...is she

living in the same town?

Marsha

> I went into the Drs last Wed because Tuesday night I

> passed out.

>> I asked the Doc (my general practitioner) He said a

> hemo of 10 is good for me and it may take a year to

> get everything back. This doesn't sound right.

> People here are raising their hemos by whole points in

> months why not me? I have had abdominal cramps and

> have been running for the bathroom every hour if I eat

> or drink for over two weeks now but come on a few

> strength exercises and that shouldn't mean that I pass

> out.

> I have been told no swimming or running until things

> improve. He said to drink more fluids and stay out of

> the heat. He said to take the iron pills and wait

> IDEAS PLEASE I AM TIRED OF WAITING

[Guest guest]

Kathy Loyola does latex free

You have to go first but I am also allergic and they

were great

[Guest guest]

e wrote:

> Kathy Loyola does latex free

> You have to go first but I am also allergic and they

> were great

I called Dr. Z's office and they said no. He is Loyola, isn't he? Are

you sure they have an actual latex free surgery?

Maybe I got a new person on the phone who didn't know any better? Argh.

Oh, What do you mean you have to go first? Maybe they don't tell you

over the phone they can do it that way? Why?

Loyola is quite a drive for me but would be worth it for Dr. Z latex

free. I'll try again....

Kathy in Northern IL

[Guest guest]

yeth. I too second the Roma Emotion.

gigi

ARomaWithAView@... wrote:

>Oh, gee, e....

>So sorry to hear about this fainting episode. Not sure we should necessarily

>chalk it up to anemia--maybe yes, maybe, no. I hope your docs are aware of

>this, because I think all fainting is a sign and should warrant concern, and

>medical investigation.

>

>I agree with Marsha--if you haven't done so already, you really should see a

>competent hematologist for a consult and a plan. I wonder whether it would be

>appropriate to have more sophisticated iron tests performed to monitor your

>iron storage.

>

>Could your problem not be iron intake per se, but iron absorption? Are you

>taking any stomach meds like Prilosec or antacids which decrease absorption?

>

>In e's case I don't think she need worry about her spleen, Marsh.

>

>The spleen produces red cells before we are born, but after birth, our bone

>marrow takes care over this function. However the spleen is responsible for

>the removal and subsequent recycling of approximately 90% of all our old red

>cells. Sometimes here too it can take

>out red cells more aggressively than normal. But iron deficiency is not a

>problem with red blood cell production or destruction........

>

>Also wondering, e, whether your 60 pound weight GAIN might have

>increased your requirements for iron.

>

>Also, just wondering aloud here (at 1:00 AM...in my semiconscious state...)

>about your DIABETES. Could that have been a contributing factor? How controlled

>are your sugars?

>

>What about this latest bout with diarrhea? It's not hard to lose fluids and

>electrolytes rather quickly with diarrhea, which could have led to the

fainting.

>

>e, I think you need to pursue this with all members of your health

>team--and maybe it's time for a thorough checkup to make sure they're not

missing

>something.

>

>Take it easy, my friend. Keep us posted.

>

>-Roma

>

>

>

>

>

>MEETUP! with other local women who have Uterine Fibroids.

http://uterinefibroids.meetup.com

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Roma and Gigi

well my OB GYN agrees with you guys. Today was my

annual and it was amusing

Let me say again He is good! He diagnosed me in

seconds confirmed it with tests in days two years ago.

I presented him with Loyola's surgical report and he

asked me how long between surguries and he got this

funny look. He began flipping through my chart to the

picture he took of the submu fibroid then the first

surgical report and finally to the one I just handed

him. I responded with " Yes you had a picture of it

and he still left it in " He answered back " I thought

maybe it was a new one but not enough time had passed.

... I don't know why he didn't remove it "

He was all about well what do we do now. Bloodwork,

dietician and internist were his recommendations. I

have a prescription for each and phone numbers for the

last two.

Good news...

He says my uterus is SMALL

He will see me in three months to see that I am

getting healthy(he said now I am well time to get

healthy)

He changed my vitamin regimen to those easier to

digest (pre natal)

he told me to go find a husband (I had told him I

needed to marry before trying to have a baby) and then

I could start trying to concieve soon

Bad news

estrogen is still high and he is concerned

I already have a hematologist. I had to see one at

the height of all the blood lost because they couldn't

operate without it. They searched for other reasons

for bloodloss but found nothing. 14 vials of blood in

one day. Maybe should see her again. Could call and

ask or wait and see if new vitamins help the hemo

level and see what internist(?) says