Posting because it could be helpful for anyone that tries to stay active, or who maybe trains or helps others.

I've shared about struggling with this before and for me it is something that still isn't "fixed".

Odds are you are aware that "normal lab values" can vary by lab and that "normal" doesn't mean optimal. It can be a struggle to convince some medical providers that something isn't quite right and needs treatment, maybe because most medical training focuses on "not sick".

Found this today re:anemia in athletes/increasing oxygen carrying capacity-

https://firstendurance.com/endurance...-levels-arent/

Iron deficiency anemia is diagnosed with blood tests. The tests necessary to make the diagnosis include a complete blood count [CBC] with differential, and an iron panel which includes: serum iron, total iron binding capacity [TIBC], iron saturation, and Ferritin.The range of normal is quite wide, and many times patients, and especially athletes, may be told their levels are normal, when in fact they are low. Here’s why: Normal values can vary between laboratories, and normal is a range of values clustered around a mean value for that particular lab. In other words there are a lot of results that are considered “normal” simply because they occur commonly. Many of the population tested have some sort of illness that may cause a low hematocrit.While the results for these patients might be considered normal, they are far from normal for a high performance athlete.

For example consider hematocrit [the volume percentage of blood that is made up of red blood cells]. The normal range for hematocrit is 40-49% for men and 35-46% for women. Doctors are used to treating patients with medical conditions that cause their patients to have hematocrits in the anemic range.

Cliffs:Unhealthy people have more labs run which likely skews "normal" values to the less optimal range.

Please don't read this as a blanket recommendation to take a lot of iron supplements. You can get iron levels that are too high/toxic.

Ok, you say this athlete must just need a better diet and some iron supplements. Come to find out that this athlete has already been on supplements for the past 3 years and is still low on iron. The point here is that it takes years to improve total body iron stores with oral supplements, and may not even be possible at all. The body has a difficult time absorbing enough iron to keep up with the depletion caused by high volumes of intense exercise. Intravenous [IV] therapy is required to make any real, meaningful change. After IV iron treatment, this particular athlete’s hematocrit increased from 39.7% to 45% in just 6 weeks. That’s a 13.3% improvement, which translates into 13.3% more oxygen carrying capacity.

There is also a recommendation in the article to train & increase protein intake while receiving IV iron infusions.

Screen shots of my labs that I could grab quickly (I know there are some one other place):

Spoiler!

Old HGB labs:


Recent HGB labs:


Old RBC labs:


Recent RBC labs:

I had a round of iron infusions in May and then again in September. The ones in September didn't seem to help as much. Maybe my protein intake was too low? Or maybe I was treated w/a different version of IV iron. Can't find info on the May infusions in my chart.

I know I don't feel right.

During the 5 week period of the infusions, it is important for athletes to consume extra protein, up to 1 g per pound of body weight. The body needs both iron and protein to manufacture the red blood cells.

Doctor agreed to 2 more infusions [last time it was 4].

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Originally Posted By orangetide⏩

? Buy some rebar at home depot

Give that chit a lood lickin a few times a day

??????

Lifetime supply of iron

Kinda like this?



Too bad I have a glass top stove.

Originally Posted By Rajc⏩

good thread but i just wanna fukk man

Judging from recent threads I would say you have that-

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Originally Posted By Jestbrah⏩

sounds like your protein from meat is definitely too low

also baby rice cereal is a good source of iron

99% of women with low iron problems are eating <100g protein a day which is stupid. IDK why women are SO afraid of eating protein. I eat 150g protein in 1 meal everyday.

I'm not afraid of eating protein.

- I'm picky; generally don't like meat that has been frozen or cooked and then microwaved.

- Managing fresh meat/avoiding spoilage is a PITA living alone.

- Protein powders tend to make me constipated/gassy. Yuck.

I have to make some kind of conscious effort w/tracking to hit 100g. It feels like a chore needing to make sure everything I eat has a good amount of protein in it.

Originally Posted By jtaylor2010⏩

My iron levels are always on the low side, and sometimes I think I’m fighting a similar thing. Was your doc skeptical to recommend the infusions? Seems like it could be dangerous if they give too much.

Not skeptical, more like cautious. At first she was saying "not too bad, your hemoglobin is in normal range, let's wait a few months and check again". Then maybe she looked at my chart more.





You can potentially get too much, but if your numbers are already above mid-range it would probably be tough to find a doctor that would prescribe IV infusions anyway.

Getting treatment is probably tougher for women than for men just because low iron has been normalized for women.

From the article:

If this athlete had been female, this same lab might have reported the low end of the range as 37mcg. Iron levels shouldn’t be lower in women, but they commonly are due to menstruation and child bearing. A woman’s iron stores can drop by as much as 25% with every child she bears.

Says the normal lab range of hematocrit for men is 40% to 49%. Looking at my labs I've only been a touch over 40% twice, both just after getting iron infusions.

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Originally Posted By multiplemiggs⏩

How's your vitamin C intake been OP?

I'm trying. I have these and vit D w/K, vit A. Honestly very bad at remembering to take them. 4 days out of 7 maybe?

Originally Posted By saltypits⏩

Why the fuk aren't you just taking Palafer or the other zillion iron pills?

I have. Various tablets and liquids. Last tried this for nearly 6 months prior to getting infusions in May. Trust me, getting multiple needle jabs and having painful bruises from IVs isn't my thing.

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Originally Posted By Jestbrah⏩

That is a terrible eating practice though. 100g protein is nothing. I eat around 500g a day, you cant say its super hard to eat 100g. 100g of protein is literally like 2 7oz chicken breasts a day, and thats ALL the protein to hit 100g. Theres also different types of protein powders, or mix it in with the cream of rice which tastes amazing. Take digestive enzymes with upsetting meals, I take 2 digestive enzyme pills a day.

100g of protein is only 400 calories so unless you are starving yourself also WAY too many of your calories are coming from fats and carbs.

You have a point about the digestive enzymes. Scales say I'm not starving. But I doubt I could finish a 7 oz. chicken breast in one go. I did just let it slide over the holidays but I'm making an effort to cut out crap, eat more meat & veggies, and move more.

I tend to be habitual/eat the same things a lot. The past few days have been a turkey sandwich for first meal-



And I made some soup w/ground beef and lots of veggies that I had the last two days. Found this when I got up today though.



My brother said it was great. :/

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Originally Posted By saltypits⏩

Just so everyone knows, katya422 is full of sht.

If she got iron infusions, her iron levels would've jumped up right away and stayed up. The body hates to lose iron.

If her levels didn't go up, they should be checking her for colorectal cancer. They should've done that right away actually, but she's full of crap.

Ask me how I know.

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I'm anemic, my last test (12/4):



Been taking iron ever since, retesting next week. :/

Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;
Thus unlamented let me die;
Steal from the world, and not a stone
Tell where I lie.

2/17/15 - Dunk Tank Results: 15% bf (Omron said 18.6%) - 123.4 lbs LBM

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Thus unlamented let me die;
Steal from the world, and not a stone
Tell where I lie.

2/17/15 - Dunk Tank Results: 15% bf (Omron said 18.6%) - 123.4 lbs LBM

Originally Posted By ramimotemem⏩

Dasnotitwomane

How do you feel about chicken shawarma?
She eats two of those per day, totalling 200g of chicken. Adds up to 80g of protein for a little under 700-800 calories.

It's okay, but I usually like shish tawook better.Thanks for the suggestion.

Originally Posted By MuzzieChik786⏩

I'm anemic, my last test (12/4):



Been taking iron ever since, retesting next week. :/

I hope that the supplements work for you.

Originally Posted By Jestbrah⏩

try beef protein powder, I believe it should have quality iron in it from the beef and less digestive issues than whey. I used to use it all of the time, tastes the same in chocolate or vanilla flavor as most proteins but I just chug it or mix it in a smoothie with a banana and pb powder or almond butter.

Smoked salmon may be good for getting more protein in too easy to eat, easy to digest, loaded with nutrients.

I'm willing to consider it. I did get a beef sourced collagen powder before that I couldn't tolerate the flavor of. Any ideas on finding samples? Hate to buy a big tub of something only to find out I can't deal.

Originally Posted By ispy⏩

time to discuss ferrous sulfate pills with doc, and maybe get liver checked out. (not srs) (maybe srs)

Because? IDK. Diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are super common in my mom's family.

Browsed which tests are for liver and peeked to see what I already had. Only had two values show up as high and they went back down.

Spoiler!

ALT:

JAN 20- 35 high
MAR 20- 25
JAN 20- 31

AST:

JAN 20- 38 high
MAR 20- 18
JAN 20- 30

ALP:

JAN 20- 76
MAR 20- 88
JAN 21- 90

Albumin:

JAN 20- 4.5
MAR 20- 4.0
JAN 21- 3.7

Protein:

JAN 20- 6.7
MAR 20- 7.8
JAN 21- 7.4

Bilirubin:

JAN 20- 0.4
MAR 20- 0.5
JAN 21- 0.5

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