Going With The Flow

Thanks, you just motivated me to make a doc appointment. Maybe my iron levels will explain my bizarre-o meat cravings.

Yay for keeping blood and bones healthy :) Although taking an iron supplement on an empty stomach would make me hurl all over the place.

hey it beats have the IV truck come to your house and infusing yourself - check out juliec's entry today :-) She is committed to getting back to 100%!!!

Lulu - yes you need to get it tested! Especially since you don't eat meat, I wouldn't be surprised if your ferritin values were low.

Jake - I HAVE to avoid an IV! It took me 3 months just to get up the nerve to get blood taken!

My hematocrit has always been fine. What's the deal with ferritin? I guess I will have to read those articles, while I eat my oatmeal and pretend it is a big bowl of bacon of course.

Iron/Ferritin is needed to produce hemoglobin... which carries oxygen to your muscles.

From http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/hs/coachscorner/20051215.html:

"Anemia, clinical iron deficiency, is not rare among runners, but even more common than iron deficiency is "iron depletion" due to low ferritin stores. Ferritin is an iron-containing protein that is primarily responsible for iron storage in the bone marrow. It is common among distance runners to have acceptable hemoglobin and hematocrit counts even when ferritin levels are severely depleted. For less active people, low ferritin levels are much less significant and don't often draw the attention of medical professionals.

However, the results of low ferritin levels for distance runners are significant. While iron depletion rarely results in the general lethargy associated with true iron-deficiency anemia, distance runners with low ferritin will likely experience abnormal exhaustion, increased blood lactate, slow recovery, declining performances, heavy legs, muscular tightness, loss of motivation, and substantially increased risk of injury. Does any of this sound familiar? "

Interesting stuff Andrea! I'm such a nerd about loving to read stuff like this. I now wonder if I ought to get mine checked. I don't think it is abnormally low, but it would be interesting to have a benchmark of when I feel somewhat 'normal' and see where I'm at. I'm glad you were able to avoid the IV and it looks like you've got a great plan in front of you as well. Nice miles this morning.

Useful post Andrea, It reminds me that I need to get blood work done. Those symptoms really made me realize that. I have had a history of anemia and low iron stores since I was a kid. Thanks!

Very very interesting information Andrea. Thanks so much for sharing. Like everyone else it makes me think it's probably a good idea to get mine checked. Anemia runs in my family and I know for a fact I do not eat enough red meat. I just don't like it.

Do you go to a special Dr. for this test, or just a Family Practitioner? I am curious now as well:)

Carina, any family doctor / nurse / PA can get these labs drawn.

All I know is....when I was pregnant all 4 times, I puked myself into around 28 lbs less than normal. And I always ended up anemic the rest of my pregnancy and beyond. Then when I would try to get a comeback in running, I would have one heck of a hard time for months because of the anemia. I bet I am still borderline. I want to get mine rechecked too.

Iron is such a fickle thing! I really have to stay on top of my levels. One thing that has really helped me is taking iron (I also do it with calcium) several times a day. The body is able to absorb it more effectively in small doses than all at one. For example, when I get home from the gym, I take my iron supplement with a big glass of calcium & vit D fortified OJ (which helps with absorption). Then mid-morning/lunch I will have a smoothie with lots of spinach (I try to throw an orange in there too). Or I will add lots of spinach to my sandwich at lunch. You get the idea. Small doses all day. Good luck!