Very Anemic and need some help!

[trayciem]

Hi! I am writing in to seek some advice in getting my hemoglobin count up. I have been anemic for years but now I have slipped down into critical range of 7.9 hemoglobin. normal range for women is somewhere around 12-15 and below 8 is considered life threatening. My doctor was threatening me with blood transfusions last week and we have agreed on IV iron infusions instead. I cannot tolerate oral iron supplements and I can't stomach the ingestion of meat. My husband is ready to force feed me a hamburger if I cant get my iron levels up! I am scared to get the IV iron but I feel like I am in a corner and need to do something. Any advice on vegan iron sources and iron absorption would be great! I have started a sublingual vitamin B12 supplement and I am taking large doses of vitamin C when I eat other foods with iron to help with absorption. I also gave up iced tea because it blocks iron absorption. If anyone out there has had this problem or knows someone who has please respond with your experience and hopefully solutions! Thanks!

[EnglishRose]

Hi, i found this info for you, hope it helps. I'm vegetarian and don't have anemia, but I struggle with supplements too. I have vit C as a drink- the brand I like is Haliborange, and you can get chewy multi-vitamins too. I'm not sure if the USA have the same brands as the UK but it's worth looking into. We have the vegan society (do you?) and I get loads of info from there!




Table 1: Iron Content of Selected Vegan Foods

Food


Amount

• Iron (mg)
• Soybeans, cooked 1 cup 8.8
• Blackstrap molasses 2 Tbsp 7.2
• Lentils, cooked 1 cup 6.6
• Spinach, cooked 1 cup 6.4
• Quinoa, cooked 1 cup 6.3
• Tofu 4 ounces 6.0
• Bagel, enriched 3 ounces 5.2
• Tempeh 1 cup 4.8
• Lima beans, cooked 1 cup 4.4
• Swiss chard, cooked 1 cup 4.0
• Black beans, cooked 1 cup 3.6
• Pinto beans, cooked 1 cup 3.5
• Turnip greens, cooked 1 cup 3.2
• Chickpeas, cooked 1 cup 3.2
• Potato 1 large 3.2
• Kidney beans, cooked 1 cup 3.0
• Prune juice 8 ounces 3.0
• Beet greens, cooked 1 cup 2.7
• Tahini 2 Tbsp 2.7
• Peas, cooked 1 cup 2.5
• Black-eyed peas, cooked 1 cup 2.3
• Cashews 1/4 cup 2.1
• Brussels sprouts, cooked 1 cup 1.9
• Bok choy, cooked 1 cup 1.8
• Bulgur, cooked 1 cup 1.7
• Raisins 1/2 cup 1.6
• Almonds 1/4 cup 1.5
• Apricots, dried 15 halves 1.4
• Watermelon 1/8 medium 1.4
• Soy yogurt 6 ounces 1.1
• Tomato juice 8 ounces 1.0
• Green beans, cooked 1 cup 1.2
• Kale, cooked 1 cup 1.2
• Sunflower seeds 1/4 cup 1.2
• Broccoli, cooked 1 cup 1.1
• Millet, cooked 1 cup 1.1
• Sesame seeds 2 Tbsp 1.0

Sources: USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 18, 2005 and Manufacturer's information.

The RDA for iron for vegetarians is 14 mg/day for adult men and for post-menopausal women and 33 mg/day for pre-menopausal women.

There are two types of iron: heme and non-heme. Non-heme iron makes up over half of the iron in animal tissue and all of the iron in plant foods (including nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables), but it is not absorbed as well as heme iron. Eating foods rich in vitamin C greatly increases the absorption of non-heme iron. One-hit wonders, such as broccoli and bok-choy, are high in both iron and vitamin C.

Hope this all makes sense!

[EnglishRose]

Just realised I didn't check the list for GF food- sorry!

[jax]

There are iron injections that you can get... I have had them and they hurt and leave a "bruise" (stain) at the injection site - which happens to be the butt cheek, not very attractive but at least it can be hidden even in a swimsuit. It has been a long time since I had my last injection and the bruise is still very visible.


There are also iron products that are said to not cause stomach issues.

Spatone - Spatone is 100% natural
Spatone is a naturally occurring iron rich water which is collected and packed straight from the source in the heart of Snowdonia, Wales. We collect it, we filter it for bacteria and we fill it into our convenient, easy to open sachets, at no stage do we add anything or convert the water’s natural composition. That means you don’t have to worry about other ingredients that might cause adverse reactions or complications.
Spatone? - Official UK Site - Nelsons


Maybe try Spatone and see if that increases your iron... along with eating iron-rich vegan food.

[trayciem]

Thank you English Rose so much for the list. Don't worry about the GF. I always check everything anyways. FOrce of habit...

[trayciem]

I am terrified of those injections! They wanted to give me a series of 10 shots in 10 days. How barbaric is that? I wouldn't even be able to sit down Im sure...So I am fighting for infusions instead. I am a small woman at only 105 pounds and I dont have that much of a butt to use for that many injections! I will look at that water source Thanks!

[lucidaisy]

English Rose posted the great list and others have posted some great additional advice, too. I don't have too much to add, but I have had anemia for years, too. There are iron supplements that are GF, veggie, etc. that are also, low acidic and gentle on your stomach (they list all of that on the label). Have you tried those? I take Ester C to help, too and it's GF, veggie, etc., too. Also, maybe you're not 100% GF and don't realize it, so your stomach isn't absorbing like it should be. I thought I was and then I found out my chapstick (which I had checked before and thought was safe) had non GF ingredients and I didn't realize it and from chewing on my lips, I broke out into a huge DH reaction and didn't feel well. Small things such as hairproducts, etc. can trigger it. Have you been checked with further endoscopies a year after and then on to make sure your villi have healed from your celiac? I'm not trying to be a scary poo, but if not, it could present something mopre serious like refractory celiac or just that you may be ingesting gluten that you're unaware of. I'm just putting that out there, because if it's that, it could completely explain why you aren't absorbing iron. I hope something works out for you!

[vancouver_vegan]

Hello, I would suggest this product. I tried oral iron supplements and noticed little difference. After a few days of this I felt a greater sense of well being and a very noticeable difference re previous Iron deficiencey symptoms.

Floravital Iron & Herbs (yeast free) - Manufacturer - SALUS

Here is the lable information:

Floravital Iron & Herbs (yeast free) AND GLUTEN FREE!!!!

Iron is one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in the world. Floravital Iron + Herbs provides a very highly absorbable form of iron and combines it with B-Vitamins, Vitamin C, digestive herbs and rosehip extract. Floravital is specially formulated without yeast or gluten and is safe for people with yeast or gluten allergies.

Floravital Iron + Herbs offers nutrients required for proper growth, energy, and for maintaining optimum health*. All family members can enjoy the health benefits of this liquid formulation. Unlike other iron products, Floravital Iron + Herbs is non-constipating.

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Supplement Facts:

Serving Size: 2 tsp (10 mL)
Servings Per Container: 50

Amount Per Serving & % Daily Value**

Calouries 20
Total Carbohydrate 5 g 2 %
Sugars 5 g †
Vitamin C 10 mg 17 %
Vitamin B1 2.5 mg 167 %
Vitamin B2 4.0 mg 235 %
Vitamin B6 2.0 mg 100 %
Vitamin B12 7.5 mcg 125 %
Iron (elemental) 10 mg 56 %
(from ferrous gluconate)

**Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
† Daily values not established

INGREDIENTS:
Aqueous extract from: african mallow blossoms, chamomile flowers, fennel, spinach, juice concentrates (grape, pear, black currant, cherry, blackberry, carrot), rosehip extract.

DOSAGE:
Adults (12 and over): Take two teaspoons (half of measuring cap), twice daily before meals.

Children (4 – 11 years old): Take two teaspoons (half of measuring cap), once daily before a meal.

Directions:
Shake bottle well before using. Take before meals.

For Kosher use: Mix two teaspoons (half of measuring cap) into half a glass of water or juice.

As this product does not contain alcohol or artificial preservatives, it must be refrigerated after opening.


This product is available worldwide and you can search for a store near you here:

you can search for a store near you at florahealth.com

Cheers.

[Valerie]

I didn't see nori (seaweed) listed among the recommended iron rich foods. It is the highest among vegan foods.

Also, eat some vitamin C with every meal, as it is necessary for iron absorption.

Cooking in cast iron pots also helps. Cooking vitamin C rich foods in the cast iron pots is ideal. Think vegan chili (beans, tomato sauce, onions, etc.) You can even sprinkle crumbled nori on top.

[MoniDew]

Please be aware that some of the Flora stuff contains gluten - get the gluten-free version!

Also, it may be nearly impossible to correct iron deficiency anemia without first correcting folate and b12 deficiency anemias.

be CERTAIN you are using METHYLfolate and METHYLcobolamine. regular folate is built on a chain of gluten molecules! I take an Rx methylfolate called Deplin and it saved my life.