I suddenly understand the Boiling Frog Story. The way you’ll sit in water as it heats to boiling, because you don’t notice and the change isn’t sudden enough…
So over the past few years I’ve been getting more and more lightheaded. I noticed it more when I drank coffee and was dehydrated. I’d stand and my vision would go black around the edges. Lately I’ve been woozing, to the point where I grab the bathroom doorframe in the morning after getting up. Big problem, right?
Turns out it isn’t, if it happens gradually enough. Darn it brain, we’re supposed to be on the ball for shit like this.
But that’s just it; my brain hasn’t been working great either. I’ve been sluggish. Can’t focus, can’t concentrate. Can’t think half the time.
I got some blood tests done (hurrah for finally having a family doctor!) and they called me in to discuss the results asap (cancer oh god it’s cancer, said my stupid brain). Nope; anemia.
Iron levels are normally from 50-500. Women start to feel tired at 30.
My iron is at 10.
I bought iron pills. I’m taking 100-150mg of elemental iron a day, starting today. I actually took a bit more than that to kick it off.
I have been an avid blood donor. Turns out I kind of need that blood. Hopefully I can get my iron up and be able to donate again, but in the mean time, popping iron twice a day, and vitamin C to help uptake. At least it’s an easy fix. And spinach, steak, edamame, and other iron rich foods will be eaten more. Wait, who am I kidding, my diet is pretty iron rich already. What the heck, body?
Well, we’ll see.
Glad to have that sorted out.
Sharing health things is a little iffy; I only wanted to because this crept up on me so gradually, and my brain was getting more sluggish and too stupid to realize there was a problem, that perhaps if I had read all the symptoms I’d had, I may have been able to put it together.
So I guess, iron: we need it. Do you have enough?
Ho ho ho, a little iron humour.
And now I’m thinking about Iron Man again…
Isn’t that gorgeous?
Speaking of…
But enough of that. The artist that did the above painting is Sam Spratt. Eh kills aliens and doesn’t afraid of anything.
Thanks for reading.
Heidi out.
H.G. Bells 