Anemic Vegan

I was diagnosed with being anemic when I was younger. I can't remember exactly when, but probably when I first started going to give blood with Monica. I guess that would have been about 2004 - 2005 and that would have made me around 18 . I've kept on donating over the years and one of the great things about it is that I get a hassle free iron check every time I go!

Back in the day with Monica, I remember ordering two plain whopper beef patties like an hour before going (No idea if that even has time to absorb, probably not) just trying to make sure my iron levels were at an acceptable level to donate. I was prescribed iron supplements but I was really bad at taking them. I decided soon after that I would just regulate it with food and that worked for the most part. I also sometimes cheated and took an iron pill the day before going to give blood just to make sure I would be alright, but mostly I was able to control it with diet.

I went vegan in March and the next time I went to give blood I did the same thing. Had an iron supplement before going in and the lady said my Iron was great. The next time, I did the same thing except this time even with the supplement I didn't pass. The third time I was rejected again, and they even did two tests just to make sure, but it was even lower the second time. The forth time the lady had a worried look on her face and made me see a nurse, who gave me a pamphlet and made me promise to see my doc.

I'm feeling so dejected about not being able to donate. I can see my body has been changing. I am weaker now and I bruise like a peach. I have bruises on my legs that I have no idea how they got there. I've been constantly having colds, I get one almost every two weeks. I'm tired all the time and have just not been feeling well in general. I got a warning at my work for calling in sick too often, which is what kinda prompted this blog entry. But these colds have seriously been knocking me on my ass. I can't concentrate and am weak and dizzy, I just can't even bear the thought of getting out of bed to go to work when I'm in the worst of the cold. Lack of concentration, dizzy and weak are also symptoms of anemia so I'm sure the colds are just taking it to a whole other level.

The problem for me with taking iron supplements regularly is that they are not vegetarian,  and moreover, I really felt like I could control it with diet. But I'm obviously not, and my body is suffering. So I did some research and found out that not only are there veggie friendly iron supplements, they are also available in the health food stores that I go to, to get some of my vegan products. (Dammit, I could have been healthy all along!!!) They were only $14.99 which isn't bad. I've been trying to remember to take my other vitamins daily (which I haven't been) but now that iron is in the mix and I'm aware of how desperately I need it, hopefully that will get me back on track with all my daily vitamins.

Vitamin C, D and E, Q10, Multi, Flax oil,
Garlic, Kelp, Ginseng and Iron!



 



I was always borderline anemic even with eating LOTS of meat before going vegan, so I thought I should add in this article as well:

Anemia has many causes and vegans do not have a higher incidence of the condition than do meat eaters. Still, many people believe that if a person is anemic, he or she should eat more red meat or that the person’s diet is inadequate. In reality, eating meat is an unnecessary step and is not even a healthful option (as vegans know), but diet might still be the cause of the problem, especially in newer vegans who might be eating a starchy diet or one with more processed foods than produce. Learning about the condition and causes, as well as what to eat if anemia is the result of a poor diet, are steps you can take toward feeling better.

Read more: How to Eat for Anemia as a Vegan | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2301619_eat-anemia-as-vegan.html#ixzz1fJFmybFK