Please help! I have a iron deficiency and anemia from a particularly heavy period. I have been eating iron rich foods for every meal and snack but my period just disposes of it when I'm done. The symptoms I have are coldness in hands and feet, severe fatigue in my right leg, diarrea, lack of oxygen, and an overall cr**py feeling. My moms a nurse, and she knows exactly whats going on and she says I'll be fine as long as I keep eating iron rich foods, and I trust her with that but I'm still scared. I never ever get sick, and i have never gotten sick with anything other then a cold or stomach bug. Please help and thanks for your time.

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I would go ahead and get an iron supplement and tatke it with food since it can make you sick if you take it on an empty stomach.

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Blessings to All

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I'm sure your Mum just wants to help, but it is absolutely important that you go to the doctor's and see just how iron deficient / anemic you are through blood tests. She cannot know exactly what's going on without actually doing the blood tests to see what's going on. Nurses are NOT doctors, and while she may know the signs of iron deficiency, it is important to get a doctor on board. Iron deficiency can also be a sign of more serious illness, like gastrointestinal bleeding.

Iron rich foods cannot cure most cases of iron deficiency and anemia. All they can do is help. Even with an iron rich diet, you still often end up with less than 100mg of iron in your diet. Iron supplements start you at over 100mg immediately. You also need to be taking them, every day, for about two months before you'll see results.

In addition, if the primary problem is your period, there are medications like the oral contraceptive pill, which can help control and minimise your bleeding. If the dosage is strong enough, you can even skip your period altogether and give your body a chance to recover.

I've been iron deficient and had iron deficiency anemia on and off for 10 years now. I've had supplements, injections, I eat an iron-rich diet and I control my periods, but the only solution for me is iron infusions (sitting there while they pump a bag of iron directly into your body - very full on!)

Remember, even with the right treatment plan, it takes a couple of months to see any results. I think it might be important to get to a doctor anyway, because fatigue in one leg over the other isn't usually a sign of iron deficiency and there could be something else going on.

HI there,

I have just been told I am anaemic again, after going to the doctor for a whole heap of issues (as a Mum, I tend not to ever go, but save it for the kids, so the illness all adds up!). I just had about 10 blood tests, the Doc called it a full MOT!! I have 4 scans booked (liver, kidneys, womb and something else under my shoulder blades...) BUT the blood tests came back with anaemia.

I have been prescribed iron tablets....I really suggest going to the docs co they will find out your blood count and give you the right amount. I was having heart palpitations and headaches and my periods have stopped....

Anyway - also remeber when you eat iron ric#h foods/take iron supplements not to drink tea or coffee as they restrict the iron absorption, in the way that orange juice helps the absorption. I think eggs do too, it6's worth looking up!