I am moving my misery to a new thread because it is no longer about the diet I *was* on. The blood work is back today and shows no food allergy, but now I am "slightly anemic." More blood tests comin' up. Anemia can be caused by about a jillion things - Of course when I look online I'm seeing words like "cancer" and "autoimmune disease," but there are plenty of other more mild things. Oh, and the doctor told me not to go back on the diet(!)
No, I had not just had my period when I had the blood test on Friday.
I don't know what relation this can have to itching - but the itching is tolerable now with benadryl. Interesting though, the anemia makes sense because I'm always tired, can sleep forever, have trouble catching my breath sometimes, and (this is embarrassing) a couple of months ago I felt a strong desire to eat chalk. (a condition called 'pica' - basically the desire to eat weird things - another symptom of anemia).
Well, stay tuned to the saga. Sometimes I get really annoyed with how "it's always something!"
I know I posted yesterday, I swear my posts are disappearing.
So true if it's not one thing it's another. I'm also borderline anemic, but have been much better since I don't bleed excessively once a month. I still get lethargic easily and have to force myself to eat something with a lot of iron in it as I can go days without meat and don't eat a lot of leafy green veggies either. Sucks.
I hate getting older!
I'm so sorry. Eating chalk, eh? Wow, that is really bizarre!!
Bummer about the itching. Do you have side-effects from Benadryl? That stuff makes me so hyper that no one can stand to be around me. It's like taking 10 cups of coffee for me. Funny, some people say it causes drowsiness... does it bother you?
If you are not into red meat, I believe that raisins are good for anemia and so is blackstrap molasses. Hang in there and keep us posted!
EsTea
I am so sorry about your anemia.
That sucks..
My mother has Parkensons and was doing ok with it a few years back
But then this past year we found out she too had anemia.
But her situition was so bad she had to have a complete blood transfusion.
Her Dr said she did not have enough iron in her blood.
So now they have her on meds and she seems to be holding her own
Considering everything else she has been through.
I am surprised her anemia seems to be in check.
Good luck with your's I hope a different diet will work for you this time now that you KNOW what is going on.
But my advice is to take some iron tablets.
But please check with your Dr first.
You know Doctors, they always have their own opinions,
I had this once when I was younger. I spent a few months on iron supplements and adding more meat to my diet. It disappeared and never came back. It really is common, and the serious stuff that causes it is fairly uncommon, so don't freak out just yet.
Oh, and on the allergy test, remember they can't test everything, so it could be something they were not looking for. You can sometimes figure it out yourself by eliminating individual foods for a few days at a time and seeing what happens. I hope you are better very soon!
Thanks everyone for your comments, support, suggestions! I am still itchy! Guess I am luck that the benadryl doesn't make me either sleepy or hyper (but that makes me wonder if it works on what it is supposed to, since I'm never really 'itch-free').
I don't eat beef at all, but my diet has been rich in iron carrying foods - leafy greens and sunflower seeds to name a couple. I'm having a fasting blood test tomorrow and will see my doctor again for those results next week. CFS, do you think molasses cookies would count??
Do we have an itchy emoticon??
EsTea You can do what Homer did and used
Bart & Lisa's hair to scratch with. But since we don't have
Bart Or Lisa icons
will have to do.
LOL ( just kidding of course)
Good luck with your blood work. and try not to scratch.
The more you scratch the more it will itch.
Trust me, I know THAT FACT to be true for just about anything Itch related.
Maybe you should ask your DR when you get your blood work done about the itching. Maybe he can give you something better
then bendryl?
I'm sorry you're still itchy! Oddly, I've been itchy lately, too, only around the lower parts of my legs, right above my ankles. I have no idea why, nothing's new.
Benadryl makes me so sleepy I can't take it unless it's right before bed.
I hope you can figure it all out soon, the itchiness and the anemia!
dune67 Wrote:It really is common, and the serious stuff that causes it is fairly uncommon, so don't freak out just yet.
I agree. I'm a little anemic, too. I take a women's one-a-day vitamins mainly for the iron in it. I hope you find out what's going on soon!
Okay - the results are in. My iron level is "5" where normal is supposed to be 15-200 (!) My B-12 is just one point below the normal range. Gee, do you think that is why I am always tired and ready for a nap??? I'm taking iron supplement (so far no GI issues) and B-12 supplement and will be re-tested in June.
Oh - And the itchiness is gone as mysteriously as it appeared! Doctor still thinks it was a food allergy reaction but no info as to what food.
Glad you're not itchy anymore, at least.
I hope the supplements help and there's nothing else that'll be needed... Here's to a good test in June.
Wow - you were really, really low! I hope the supplements work out. You should start having more energy, too, right?Anemia makes you really tired? Wierd about the itching - glad it's gone, anyway!!