As a part of the posting process, we got to go for medical clearance check-ups last week, and they did blood tests. The last time I had blood taken, I was 16 and passed out. The time before that, I was six and threw up all over the nurse and my mother. This time was much more successful; I clenched my fist, took deep breaths, and watched steam rising from the building across the street while the lab tech asked me questions about my dog.
I had pretty much forgotten about it until the doctor called me a few days ago at work to tell me I was “quite anaemic.” Was I feeling tired, low in energy? she asked. Well, sure, I’ve found that I need to sleep more, but I thought that was just because I was getting older. This elicited a very exasperated noise: but you aren’t old. Touché, doctor.
I was directed to buy some iron supplements, and I’ll go see my family doctor next week to, presumably, get a list of iron-rich foods and admonishments to not drink so much coffee (an absorption inhibitor, apparently).
Iron-ically (not actually ironic, just wanted to make a terrible pun), since this diagnosis I’ve been feeling much more tired. I’ve realized that yes, I do get short of breath when exercising – I always thought that was what happened when you exercise. My nails are brittle – I was blaming the fact that I scratched off stubborn gold polish a few weeks ago. And those times I’ve been short with people? Lack of iron.
It was with my iron levels in mind that I decided to give oysters on the half shell another try (they’re higher in iron than red meat). Luckily for my red blood cells, and unluckily for my wallet, this time was akin to the seventh olive – I’m an oyster convert. Now all I need is a prescription for them.
ugh! i am chronically anaemic and pretty much every year or every other year, my doc puts me on iron pills for 3 months. she also recommends i take them for a week a month through out but i can never make myself do this. the 3 months are a challenge enough.
i hate hate hate taking iron supplements and the way they make my digestive system sad. i combined my pills with a glass of metamucil and that helped keep everything moving (along with making an extra effort to generally drink more water and eat more fibre-y things). i definitely recommend this.
oysters are amazing! though the smoked ones that come in cans are not. i guess i just love the fresh taste of the ones in the shell. someday i will live by the ocean and enjoy super fresh oysters all the time.
A few people have mentioned that they’ve had similar issues but so far, I haven’t – maybe my body is so desperate for iron that it’s soaking it right up. Hopefully next week I’ll get an idea of how long I need to be on them and can soon switch to dietary iron (but actually get some this time).
I haven’t tried the smoked ones but my aunt loves them. I should give them a try – I bizarrely like a lot of canned seafood.
they are much better on your wallet, i think!
very true!
Man, how great would it be if every medical ailment could be cured by eating more oysters? I’m anemic too and oysters would be a cheap date for me since I live between 20 and 60 feet from the ocean, depending on the tide.
Unfortunately, the accidental digestion of an ill-behaved clam landed me with cholera last year which was
a) exactly as much fun as it sounds
b) highly effective in producing a long-term grudge against bivalves\
I hope you’re on the mend soon.
as medicine goes, it’s not too bad!
yikes, that’s awful! glad you came out of it alright.
I’m terrified of opening them given the scars all over my hands from clumsy knife work. Half shell seems like the way to go!