If I have anemia, how long will it take to cure with strict diet and iron supple!
Question: If I have anemia, how long will it take to cure with strict diet and iron supplements?
I know, I should perhaps see a doctor, but I would like to avoid it if I can because it is an uncomfortable thing for me in a foreign (non-western) country.
I have a history of being border-line anemic, though, my last test results seemed to concern my doctor. (They were given to my mother, I'm not sure exactly what they are.) My doctor recommended iron supplements.
I haven't been very good about taking them for the past month, my diet has changed significantly since I've been abroad, and after reading the symptoms online (yes, I know, online, the scourge of real medical help,) I feel it is very likely I am anemic.
Since my legs are currently hurting, my first question would be, how long will it probably last??? I will be taking supplements, drinking orange juice and eating lots of vegetables.
Of course, if you feel I have completely misdiagnosed myself, that is worthy of comment as well.
Some additional things to know, in case you think it is not anemia, I have been treating a yeast infection for 3 days (it appears to have gone, though I feel a little dry.) I also recently (last a few days ago) took amoxycillin for a couple of days for a sore throat (I did see a doctor about this.)
I know, I'm a mess! I've never had so much trouble in my life!
Answers:
Not all anemias are from a lack of iron, although they could be, iron is in every food that you eat, there is no food that does not contain it. You might take some digestive enzymes too to make sure your iron is getting absorbed, and also up your intake of B vitamins, the best is to eat plain yogurt, with no sugar..then your body can make it's own b vitamins, and the antibiotics have probably killed the good bacteria in your stomach that make these as well as the bad. nutritional yeast from the health food store, wheat germ and liver are the highest in B vitamins, b complexes can be used temporarily but are chemically balanced instead of nutritionally balanced, so long term use isn't recommended. Maybe you are having some reaction to the water, it happens when you move to a differen't country sometimes. If you have enough vitamin C, your body will not bruise, and it is washed out of your system every 3 hours, and although it may not help you absorb iron, it will lessen its toxity, because the iron is not the same as what you get in foods, and your body will use a lot of vitamin C to do this, because it is destroyed in the process. Pharmacists are very helpful in how much iron to take, what type is most easily absorbed, and how long it will take to work, especially if you go to a small pharmacy, they know so much, and will have time to inform you, and I have found are very helpful when I am in a differen't country and have no money for a doctor, one even gave me medecine for free...
you,re also dehydrated. none of the food works well without a lot of water to process it. slow release iron pills will help. you won,t get much iron from veggies.
To cure your anemia would probably take at least 6 weeks and could take several months.
Have the doctor who gave you the antibiotics run the bloodwork to confirm the anemia. If you do have it, diet alone isn't going to treat it (orange juice and vegetables don't contain it, and vitamin C DOESN'T increase iron absoption, that's old evidence) The amount of iron you need could be huge. (Seriously, HUGE)
Self-diagnosis of anemia is too easy, usually wrong, and usually delays the correct treatment. There are plenty of other conditions that have the same symptoms - Not to mention, it's always a bad idea to practice medicine without a license, especially on yourself.