Help with blood test results
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- Adélie Penguin
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- Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2015 4:31 pm
Help with blood test results
I went and had blood work done because I've been feeling weak and tired with constant muscle pain....still having a hard time keeping weight up. I've been on entorcort for 1 month. My globulin and hemoglobin were elevated. My iron was low and vitamin d was low. Potassium and magnesium were on lower normal limit. My diet is mostly meat and rice now (tons of iron in diet). So why is mine so low.
Hi Pilot,
Since we have an IBD it is not uncommon for us to have low iron....even men and non menstruating women. We have absorption issues in our gut thus the low iron. My ferritin score got down to I think 16. Very low and I felt lousy. Does your doc want you to take a supplement? I responded to Proferrin. It is specially ordered in at Walgreens or CVS. No scrip necessary but it takes a day or two for them to order it in. It is "heme" iron which is the best absorbed.
Several members have taken it. I found it tough to tolerate when I took it (I was off of entocort at that time.) I could only take one a day due to gurgling.
A lot of the iron supplements act like laxatives. This one won't. It is centrifuged cows blood.
If you and or your doc thinks you need a supplement suggest take it while you are on Entocort. You will be able to tolerate it better while on Entocort and be able to take several pills a day and get your iron up quicker. If you supplement do another blood test in several months. It took me about 10 weeks to bring my ferritin score up to where I did not feel like death.
Don't drink tea or iced tea when you have your meats. It prevents absorption.
Cook with cast iron. Liver and/or shrimp and scallops also have high iron.
Since we have an IBD it is not uncommon for us to have low iron....even men and non menstruating women. We have absorption issues in our gut thus the low iron. My ferritin score got down to I think 16. Very low and I felt lousy. Does your doc want you to take a supplement? I responded to Proferrin. It is specially ordered in at Walgreens or CVS. No scrip necessary but it takes a day or two for them to order it in. It is "heme" iron which is the best absorbed.
Several members have taken it. I found it tough to tolerate when I took it (I was off of entocort at that time.) I could only take one a day due to gurgling.
A lot of the iron supplements act like laxatives. This one won't. It is centrifuged cows blood.
If you and or your doc thinks you need a supplement suggest take it while you are on Entocort. You will be able to tolerate it better while on Entocort and be able to take several pills a day and get your iron up quicker. If you supplement do another blood test in several months. It took me about 10 weeks to bring my ferritin score up to where I did not feel like death.
Don't drink tea or iced tea when you have your meats. It prevents absorption.
Cook with cast iron. Liver and/or shrimp and scallops also have high iron.
If your blood test actually showed magnesium to be near the lower limit in the normal range, then you are very magnesium deficient. The body stores magnesium in muscle tissue, and withdraws it as needed whenever the diet is low in magnesium. Since magnesium is a vital electrolyte, the blood magnesium level doesn't begin to go down unless your muscles are running out of magnesium. That's a serious condition. When I was magnesium deficient I was steadily losing weight at the rate of about 2 lbs per week, no matter how much I ate. As soon as I began taking a higher dose of magnesium, I began to gain weight at about the same rate as I had been losing it. Note that I had been taking roughly 200 mg of magnesium supplement for years, but it just wasn't enough. And being low on magnesium, can interfere with a lot of other normal body processes.
Bananas and other foods contain potassium
I see that Brandy has already addressed your iron deficiency problem. Her remarks are right on target, of course.
Tex
Bananas and other foods contain potassium
I see that Brandy has already addressed your iron deficiency problem. Her remarks are right on target, of course.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Pilot,
If you google men, low iron, crohns, ulcerative colitis, celiac you will see that it is not uncommon for men with IBD to have low iron.
I took supplements for about 6 months. I no longer take iron supplements as I am in remission.
Looking back I think it would have been tough to eat my way out of my low iron scores, i.e. the iron supplement helped me feel better faster even though it still took awhile.
Hopefully some of the other proferrin users will chime in.
If you google men, low iron, crohns, ulcerative colitis, celiac you will see that it is not uncommon for men with IBD to have low iron.
I took supplements for about 6 months. I no longer take iron supplements as I am in remission.
Looking back I think it would have been tough to eat my way out of my low iron scores, i.e. the iron supplement helped me feel better faster even though it still took awhile.
Hopefully some of the other proferrin users will chime in.
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- Adélie Penguin
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2015 4:31 pm
The highest rated brand appears to be Doctor's Best (it's what I use) and their chelated magnesium (magnesium glycinate) is the safest form of magnesium. Here's what it looks like.
http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Abso ... B000BD0RT0
No one here has reported it causing D. Virtually all of the other forms of magnesium can cause D if higher doses are taken. If you want to totally avoid the risk of magnesium causing D, use topically-applied magnesium oil or lotion, or soak your feet in Epsom salts, or add a little Epsom salts to bath water. It can be absorbed through the skin just as well (or better), and this totally avoids any risk of it causing D. Wnen I use a magnesium oil, I spray it on my legs, arms, belly, etc., about 15 or 20 minutes before I'm ready to take a shower.
You can find spray applicators of magnesium oil on Amazon, for example. Ancient Minerals is often mentioned as a popular brand, but there are others. Morton Salt Company makes a magnesium lotion that some members here like. I believe someone posted that they even found it at Walmart and other places for a very reasonable price. Online, it's more expensive:
http://www.amazon.com/Morton-Epsom-Loti ... B008X365AU
Tex
http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Best-Abso ... B000BD0RT0
No one here has reported it causing D. Virtually all of the other forms of magnesium can cause D if higher doses are taken. If you want to totally avoid the risk of magnesium causing D, use topically-applied magnesium oil or lotion, or soak your feet in Epsom salts, or add a little Epsom salts to bath water. It can be absorbed through the skin just as well (or better), and this totally avoids any risk of it causing D. Wnen I use a magnesium oil, I spray it on my legs, arms, belly, etc., about 15 or 20 minutes before I'm ready to take a shower.
You can find spray applicators of magnesium oil on Amazon, for example. Ancient Minerals is often mentioned as a popular brand, but there are others. Morton Salt Company makes a magnesium lotion that some members here like. I believe someone posted that they even found it at Walmart and other places for a very reasonable price. Online, it's more expensive:
http://www.amazon.com/Morton-Epsom-Loti ... B008X365AU
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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- Adélie Penguin
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2015 4:31 pm
I can imagine being 34 yrs old it is hard to take life back a notch or two, heck at 48 I'm bucking it! Unfortunately though until you get enough healing under your belt this MC trip is gonna take a lot out of you if you don't embrace it, trying not to let it control you, but understanding it is a part of your life and will be from here on. (I really hate that part)
I can feel your depression in your words, and I really feel for you....type A personalities have it the hardest with this syndrome we just want to GO GO GO!!
Have you read my post? It really does have some good basic info in it, maybe it will help get you to a solid start again in this whole process http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=21173 When we lose our way we feel as if MC is winning, I refuse to let it happen, how about you?
Hugs
Erica
I can feel your depression in your words, and I really feel for you....type A personalities have it the hardest with this syndrome we just want to GO GO GO!!
Have you read my post? It really does have some good basic info in it, maybe it will help get you to a solid start again in this whole process http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=21173 When we lose our way we feel as if MC is winning, I refuse to let it happen, how about you?
Hugs
Erica
To Succeed you have to Believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a Reality - Anita Roddick
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
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- Adélie Penguin
- Posts: 121
- Joined: Wed Sep 02, 2015 4:31 pm
Erica- i read your post and it seems helpful. I wouldnt say im a type A personality; however i used to have tons of energy and was always able to accomplish alot. Now it seems that just getting out the door is a strain. I am back to eating only rice and meats....still feeling sick and tired all the time. MY d has stopped; but anytime i add something- even a bannana or orange; i tried sweet potatoe and my symptoms come roaring back in a day or tow and seem to last for a week. Im out of food options i think......
what is remission? does it just mean that d stops, or will i ever get my stregnth and energy back? if i ever get to remission will one food screw up or food trial mess me up for weeks to months again?
im doing magnessium sprays now and taking 4000 iu vitamin d; hopefully this was a puzzle piece that will help
what is remission? does it just mean that d stops, or will i ever get my stregnth and energy back? if i ever get to remission will one food screw up or food trial mess me up for weeks to months again?
im doing magnessium sprays now and taking 4000 iu vitamin d; hopefully this was a puzzle piece that will help
Hi armstrong,
You ask "what is remission? does it just mean that D stops, or will i ever get my strength and energy back?"
That question is hard to answer, we all experience this in different ways.
My experience was that even when D stopped, and this was of course a huge relief, it took 6-9 months after that, before I could say that I felt I had more energy, like preparing a meal, doing some household, run errands without being exhausted. But again, I had been sick for more than 4 years.
But, I'm the double of your age, and age plays an important role in how fast our body starts working again.
If you make sure you get small and frequent meals (every 3 hours was good for me) with enough proteins, enough rest, vitamin D and Magnesium, you are on the right track.
(Some days my English is lousy... apologize for that...)
Lilia
You ask "what is remission? does it just mean that D stops, or will i ever get my strength and energy back?"
That question is hard to answer, we all experience this in different ways.
My experience was that even when D stopped, and this was of course a huge relief, it took 6-9 months after that, before I could say that I felt I had more energy, like preparing a meal, doing some household, run errands without being exhausted. But again, I had been sick for more than 4 years.
But, I'm the double of your age, and age plays an important role in how fast our body starts working again.
If you make sure you get small and frequent meals (every 3 hours was good for me) with enough proteins, enough rest, vitamin D and Magnesium, you are on the right track.
(Some days my English is lousy... apologize for that...)
Lilia
Collagenous Colitis diagnosis in 2010
Psoriasis in 1973, symptom free in 2014
GF, CF and SF free since April, 2013
Psoriasis in 1973, symptom free in 2014
GF, CF and SF free since April, 2013
Lilia's post is right on target of course. After the D stops, it takes a lot more healing time before the fatigue and brain fog fade away. But they usually do fade away, provided that we continue to be very careful with our diet.
After we have been in remission for a few years (long enough for some substantial healing), food "accidents" usually will only cause a brief, relatively minor reaction, unless we continue to have those "accidents" on a somewhat regular basis. If our diet continues to provoke immune system responses on a regular basis, immune system sensitivity remains high.
Tex
After we have been in remission for a few years (long enough for some substantial healing), food "accidents" usually will only cause a brief, relatively minor reaction, unless we continue to have those "accidents" on a somewhat regular basis. If our diet continues to provoke immune system responses on a regular basis, immune system sensitivity remains high.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
HI,
I ate the same 5 bland foods for what seemed a long time....I did not touch fruits or veggies and I only had really over cooked carrots and celery in my bone broth soup along with my gluten free noodles (that actually filled me up and felt really good) I did have to eat often during the day, so be sure to eat often and before you feel too hungry, who cares if it is 6 or 10 times a day that you eat, you are healing, this is Your time.
That soup I think was my saving grace, plus getting really good doses of Magnesium sprayed on me day an night and taking 5000mg VitD3...I still take 600mg of Mag a day in topical and internal now, along with the VitD3....I feel it has helped a ton, but I have been healing with really bland foods for quite a while and have only introduced a couple new veggies in month 5 and 6....yes the rice and protein diet gets old and doesn't give you as much energy as one would like, but it is the healing that you don't see going on inside that will turn the corner for you so don't give up it will happen.
Your body tells you when you can move onto the next item or agenda on the list ;-) Have patience...
Here's to as much healing as possible,
Erica
I ate the same 5 bland foods for what seemed a long time....I did not touch fruits or veggies and I only had really over cooked carrots and celery in my bone broth soup along with my gluten free noodles (that actually filled me up and felt really good) I did have to eat often during the day, so be sure to eat often and before you feel too hungry, who cares if it is 6 or 10 times a day that you eat, you are healing, this is Your time.
That soup I think was my saving grace, plus getting really good doses of Magnesium sprayed on me day an night and taking 5000mg VitD3...I still take 600mg of Mag a day in topical and internal now, along with the VitD3....I feel it has helped a ton, but I have been healing with really bland foods for quite a while and have only introduced a couple new veggies in month 5 and 6....yes the rice and protein diet gets old and doesn't give you as much energy as one would like, but it is the healing that you don't see going on inside that will turn the corner for you so don't give up it will happen.
Your body tells you when you can move onto the next item or agenda on the list ;-) Have patience...
Here's to as much healing as possible,
Erica
To Succeed you have to Believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a Reality - Anita Roddick
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
- Gabes-Apg
- Emperor Penguin
- Posts: 8332
- Joined: Mon Dec 21, 2009 3:12 pm
- Location: Hunter Valley NSW Australia
Healing takes time, we need to avoid inflammation triggers, have the right nutrients, and nurture the body through the healing process. (just like when they put a cast on a broken arm)
it takes 2-3 months to correct nutritional deficiencies, there is no quick fix for this... and only once we have the right nutrients can good healing happen.
in line with the bland low inflammation type eating plan and the supplements, we have to do the mental and emotional work of life with MC, acceptance, peace with what is, learn patience, be ok that it will take months, learn how to nurture ourselves - guilt free, relax,
I had a roller coaster ride health journey for 3-4 years after my Dx, I got to a good remission state, to extent where GI specialist said I was 'in remission' but Mast Cell issues. stress and nutritional imbalances put me into a spiral of chronic issues, to the extent I was not well enough to work for 6 months. It has taken me 1.5 years to start to recover. It is a slow process to correct chronic nutritional deficiencies.
The advice we are giving you is to help you avoid further chronic issues..
hope this helps..
it takes 2-3 months to correct nutritional deficiencies, there is no quick fix for this... and only once we have the right nutrients can good healing happen.
in line with the bland low inflammation type eating plan and the supplements, we have to do the mental and emotional work of life with MC, acceptance, peace with what is, learn patience, be ok that it will take months, learn how to nurture ourselves - guilt free, relax,
I had a roller coaster ride health journey for 3-4 years after my Dx, I got to a good remission state, to extent where GI specialist said I was 'in remission' but Mast Cell issues. stress and nutritional imbalances put me into a spiral of chronic issues, to the extent I was not well enough to work for 6 months. It has taken me 1.5 years to start to recover. It is a slow process to correct chronic nutritional deficiencies.
The advice we are giving you is to help you avoid further chronic issues..
hope this helps..
Gabes Ryan
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama
"Anything that contradicts experience and logic should be abandoned"
Dalai Lama