Happy Labor Day!

I cannot believe that we have somehow stumbled into September, but I am glad we are here. Autumn's crispness is greeting us each morning, the last of summer teases us in the afternoon, and the foods that I love are coming into season just in time to be fashioned into sumptuous, dairy and egg free high iron treats! What could be better?

My new Autumn Muffin is loaded with flavor, low in sugar and fat, and packs a powerful Iron Woman punch with quinoa flakes. Try it, eat a few, freeze the rest, and treat yourself to a quick healthy breakfast on the go for mornings to come!

Results are in...

and I am pleased! The supplements, additional heme iron from meats, and removing dairy and eggs, and all those other "inhibitors" has served me well, it seems. The hemoglobin is up to 11.3 (remember, in May, it was at 7!) and the ferritin level has come from 1 to 22! This is all good news; however, the reticulocyte count is still low, so this is of some concern. But what a long way I have come! I am continuing on the 3x/day supplements for another week, and then am able to drop back to 2x/day for 3 weeks before my next lab work. I am; however, still off the "inhibitors", so expect to see many more dairy-egg-free recipes on the foods page.

Stay strong!

Iron Woman FeFe

2010 Iron Conference

Click HERE to visit the Iron Disorders Institute for more information on IDA or the Conference.

I wanted to make you aware that the 2010 Iron Conference is being held in Charlotte, North Carolina on October 9, 2010.

And while you're over at the IDI site checking out the conference info, check out this story regarding a food that is VERY high in heme iron, but may not be entirely safe, at least for some.

And a note on those Chewy Date Cookies that I posted yesterday: I had some batter left over (I know, it's really hard for me to believe, too!), so I decided I'd experiment with freezing it. I formed it into a log, wrapped it in wax paper, then in plastic wrap, and placed in the freezer. Now, I obviously cannot tell you how long it will keep in there (although I generally use cookie dough within a month); however, I can tell you that it slices like a dream and bakes up wonderfully. I left today's batch in for a couple minutes longer that the original recipe, and they got a bit crispier on the edges and were wonderful! The coconut touching the pan toasts a bit and imparts a super flavor - give it a try! This makes a great iron-rich snack when combined with fresh fruit - I had mine with mango.

Stay Strong!

Iron Woman FeFe

The Waiting Game

This morning brought with it my bi-weekly lab visit - yay. I know, the excitement is palpable, isn't it? Honestly, I am beyond over these blood letting sessions, as well as the waiting game to see the "magic" numbers. Weekend anxiety is not exactly what I'm looking for. But it is, at least to a degree, what I've got. I should know early in the week what today's samples rendered in the way of results, and we'll go on from there. Basically, if the reticulocyte numbers are not up appreciably, then we are in the IV/IM iron area. You may have imagined this is something about which I am less than enthused.

The medical gist of this is that if the reticulocyte number is not high, then I'm not making enough new RBCs. If that is the case, it appears that the oral supplements, even at a very high dose, will not get my levels where they need to be. I have an absorption issue, as in I absorb virtually no iron that I take in, therefore, we must by-pass the GI tract altogether, eliminating the need for absorption. This would build up iron stores, leaving me with a supply to last for...well, that's a good question. How long would the infusion last? We'll address it at later time - let's get the results first. I maintain a tremendous faith in all the work I have done to get the iron levels up. 

Which brings us to my efforts. Remember that list of foods that inhibit iron absorption that I posted a few days ago? Well,  I querried the doc today regarding those foods, and I was told that in my situation, no dairy - period. Of course, being concerned with all vital nutrients, I posed the calcium question, to which the doc replied, "calcium is not something you should be worried about right now". OK. No dairy. Oh, no eggs - the protein in egg white binds iron, thus preventing absorption. Of course, I'd already cut out these items, but it was different when it was my decision and not an order. Now that it's an order, well...I want dairy...and eggs. Together. Perhaps with some cheese. And butter. How about a quiche?

Not a chance. It would so not be worth it, and besides, I am rising to the culinary challenge, just as I did when I realized gluten was a gastronomical "no-no". So, I have been creating little treats with lots of absorbable iron, no dairy, no eggs, no gluten, as little sugar as possible (considering we're talking baked goods here), and a fat content that is reasonable. Now, you jump on over to the Recipes page and check out the Chewy Date Cookies that meet the above requirements. They are YUM, and guess what else? I used quinoa flakes, which is a complete protein grain AND has an amazing amount of iron! These cookies are kind of like taking your medicine, except the medicine actually tastes good. So, eat up and be healthy!

Iron Woman FeFe

Anemia effects the brain...

In addition to the standard set of symptoms that come with IDA, research indicates that the brain can also be affected. Specifically, pseudotumor cerebri can occur, appearing as a tumor, but it is not. Some symptoms are headache, dizziness, nausea, a buzzing sound in the ears, double vision, and potential temporary loss of vision. There are health issues besides IDA as well as certain medications that can cause this condition; however, as it relates to IDA, it is yet another bit of evidence supporting the importance of maintaining balance in our body - even in the blood that we cannot see. Out of sight should not equal out of mind.

And that is no more true than when I see the real deal ice cream container perched on the counter for the evening dessert. Being off dairy just makes me want the creamy cool treat, even though 99% of the time, I could care less about ice cream. Ah, the psychological impact of saying "I cannot have".

So, in the interest of staving off these intense ice cream cravings, I went to the grocery yesterday to pick up some "rice cream". I tried out the Good Karma brand Carrot Cake flavor - gluten- lactose- dairy-free and vegan. Yay! And guess what else? It was great! The texture was wonderful and creamy, not gritty or grainy at all, and there were no odd flavors. This is the real deal, all natural, no preservatives, all organic, frozen creamy goodness that you want when you can't have the real thing. I give it 4 1/2 out of 5 stars - because no one is perfect. Oh, and there really are little bits of carrot cake in there...and they are YUM!

Fridge Art

Don't you love a day when you wake up and are blessed with new knowledge? I do. Today was one of those days for me. In searching the web for some research information on iron deficiency anemia (IDA), I stumbled upon the Iron Disorders Institute website. You simply must check them out! Oddly, they are headquartered very near my home town and I never knew about them - small world. I strongly encourage you to check them out as there is a plethora of valuable information for the patient from starter kits to finding a physician in your area. There is also helpful information on what folks with iron imbalance (either too much or too little) should be (or not be) eating. Hence, the little fride art in the photo.

These are foods that impede iron absorption; therefore, are ill-advised if you have difficulty absorbing iron or if you have IDA. In my case, I know that I have IDA with unknown (as of yet) underlying cause. As you know if you have check in with me here before, I do combo foods that are high in iron with those high in vitamin C to increase iron uptake. See the recipes on this site for ideas and suggestions on doing this. So now, I will eliminate foods that inhibit iron absorption from my diet. It may at first seem drastic; however, my next treatment step is iron infusion (iv) therapy, which comes with a degree of risk and is just plain unpleasant! Personally, I'd rather give up a few foods here and there and take my oral iron therapy 3 times per day, but that's just me. You can read about the iv therapy here if you're interested.

As always, the info that I post on this blog is for your information and is not to be substituted for that of a medical professional in any way. Self-treatment for IDA or any other health concern/issue could be extremely dangerous; therefore is NOT recommended. Oh, just in case I forgot to mention anything in this regard, there's always the official disclaimer page, if you're interested.

Stay strong, take your iron, mind your diet!

Iron Woman FeFe

chest pains and shortness of breath with severe anemia

If I were forced to sum the entire anemia experience up in a single word, the answer, hands-down would be "frustrating". I cannot begin to tell you how it feels to have to pace myself throughout the day, when what I really want (and need!) to do is to take care of tasks. But instead, I have to perform an activity, take a rest; another activity, another rest. This isn't exactly my style, if you know what I mean. I'm a "do-er", a mover, a shaker, a get-things-done-right-now kinda' gal. Well, I was. Until the road block. And after 2 weeks (today, as a matter of fact), on the iron therapy, I expected more consistent results. I wasn't looking for high numbers on the recent lab work, but I did expect to be feeling a bit better with each passing day. What I am seeing is that I have a good day followed by a not-so-great day. Thursday was fabulous. I paced myself (because of overdoing it on Wed.), got things done, and felt tired, but no chest pains, no shortness of breath, etc. at the day's end. Wonderful! And today, almost from the beginning, it was a struggle. The chest pains, the labored breathing, and that good 'ol frustration that so defines this experience for me. I cannot wait to be strong again. And I will. But until then, I will occassionally vent here regarding the frustration I experience. But I will also add something worthwhile, as well. Such as this...

The chest pain associated with severe iron deficiency anemia is actually angina, which is temporary chest pain due to a lack of oxygen to the heart muscle. Scary, huh? The pain from angina is felt directly beneath the sternum and is often described as "heaviness" or "deep pain or ache". Shortness of breath is also associated with severe anemia and the angina that sometimes accompanies it. There is also a link between anemia and congestive heart failure (CHF). Some of the symptoms that may present with both of these disorders are similar (fatigue and shortness of breath), and I have been told that CHF can occur with severe anemia, but will go away with successful treatment for the anemia. Swelling in the legs and ankles coupled with any or all of the above listed symptoms could be an indicator of CHF. If you have any of these symptoms, do not hesitate to see your health care provider to discuss intervention and future treatment.

Keep taking your iron, and stay strong!

Iron Woman FeFe