It's time to go chew on a cow

[drewbear]

So I found out why I've been so increasingly tired the past few months. It turns out that it isn't that my meds aren't working any more but rather that I'm, get this, anemic.

How this was discovered was that yesterday I started feeling really crappy really quickly (throat-stabbing coughs in under 30 minutes), so one of the nurses ran a CBC, strep test and mono test on me. I came back negative for strep and mono (thankfully) and my white blood count was normal, but my hemoglobin count was WAY low.

Now, I've been reducing or entirely cutting out red meat for the last 6 months or so, but hadn't increased my intake of leafy, dark green veggies. It just flat didn't occur to me that this could/would result in a nutrient deficiency, mainly because I've never had any of any kind before.

So now I get to go buy a good multivitamin to boost me temporarily and start eating more red meat and/or spinach. Hopefully I'll be back up to my normal self in a short time.

Comments

[ladyegreen.livejournal.com]

Speaking from personal experience, anemia will mess up your head space quickly. If my iron is low I become depressed and more prone to being irrational.

[drewbeartx.livejournal.com]

Well, low iron means lowered hemoglobin levels, which means that your body isn't getting as much oxygen as it needs. So it's no surprise that you would feel tired and out-of-sorts.

[marctic.livejournal.com]

I was diagnosed with anemia a couple times, and the vitamins do help... also they told me I could eat things like kidney beans, lentils, and chickpeas to help suppliment.

They also told me dairy products can have a negative affect, so with cutting out red meat and eating lots and lots of cheese, ice cream and yoghurt I'm surprised I never had more of a problem than I did.

[drewbeartx.livejournal.com]

I loves me some dairy, but I like meat too. I just tend to do poultry and pork rather than red meat.

[(Anonymous)]

I would definitely recommend eating more spinach, since you can add it to most main courses. Just wash it very thoroughly.
~Katie

[drewbeartx.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sis. So, how's school treating you?