I have been anemic in the past and am certain that my iron stores are nearly depleted once again. I became anemic during my last pregnancy and don’t think my body has fully built up its iron since then. Add to that the fact that I eat little to no meat and you’ve got a recipe for, well, something that doesn’t contain iron. I attributed my fatigue of the last seven months to the fact that I was getting up with a hungry baby multiple times in the night and busy with the demands of two kids during the day. But Jolie has been sleeping better (KNOCK ON WOOD) for over a month now and I expected my energy levels to soar once that started happening. Soar they have not. I am still dragging my heels everywhere I go; I fight the urge to nap while the kids are literally climbing on me; when I wake up in the morning I think, “Only 15 hours until bedtime!”
So, I am back on the iron. The thing is, I didn’t want to deal with the constipation and freaky black turds that traditional iron supplements grace me with. So I went to Hippie Whole Foods and bought some Floradix, a plant derived formula that wouldn’t bung me up. I had been warned that it tasted awful. I figured I’d just plug my nose while I downed it and all would be fine.
Well, I’ve had my first two doses and sweet mercy that stuff is TERRIBLE! It tastes like horse urine and rusty spoons and raw chicken skin and my body goes into an involuntary shuddering fit after the final swallow.
Stuff had better work.
25 Comments
Being anemic is not fun…I think pregnancy really does a number on our bodies. Floradix is great but I found that Easy Iron works better AND it comes in capsules.
And hey, you could always go gluten-free with me — it’s supposed to help with iron absorption!
UGH! That sucks :( I truly hope you get some relief soon!
This will make my friends’ eyes roll… but if the iron supplements aren’t working, consider doing a quick blood panel at your doctor’s office. When Makenna (my oldest) was sleeping 12 hours a night, every night, I was sleeping the same amount. I still awoke with bone-crushing fatigue that didn’t go away. I was a raw nerve, angry, and a little depressed. I thought that maybe I was just in a depression, or not coping with motherhood very well. I went to my doctor for some bloodwork, and it turned out that I had an underactive thyroid — I had a condition that was kick-started by pregnancy. I started on thyroid medication and VOILA! totally better within a couple months.
Anyway, just want you to get better. I know how you feel.
Yuck. Oh yuck yuck yuck.
I’d listen to the Mrs. BiteTheRabbit IronWhiz. She seems to know her stuff. Me? I know nothing. Iron? What’s iron?
I can totally relate. My iron stores fell to 9 when I was pregnant with the twins. I took the iron capsules and docusate. It worked. If the nasty tasting stuff is more than you can bear, try the good old iron capsules and get a bottle of docusate gelcaps. Worked wonders for me. I went from 9 to 140 in two weeks.
One idea – have you considered taking a children’s iron supplement like a Flintstone’s vitamin with iron? I’m assuming they would have less iron and be less poo-stopping. Plus – Flintstone’s vitamins are delicious!
Laura
One question – how do you know what horse urine and rusty spoons and raw chicken skin taste like? ICK!
~Mad in Alabama
Ok, that stuff sounds so nasty. Maybe try something like Benefiber? The stuff that dissolves in water isn’t bad at all. I can’t even taste the stuff.
Do you like smoothies? A good way to boost your iron is to add more greens, like spinach and kale. There are people all over the food blogs making “green monsters”–basically a fruit smoothie where you add some greens. Add enough fruit and the greens taste is covered, even if your drink is a vibrant emerald color! Also, this blogger felt lots of energy when she upped her greens intake with “Green Vibrance” and these supplemental foods: http://eatliverun.com/amazing-grass-amazing-me/
i have an idea that would help the iron situation and keep the gross tasting stuff away from you…it would mean no constipation, no black poop and no laxatives.
Are you ready for it?
EAT MORE MEAT!! mooooo, cluck cluck, oink oink!
you only need it 2-3 times a week…plus it’ll give you natural iron instead of synthetic iron…PLUS the protein from the meat will help to increase your energy sustainability.
BRING ON THE BEEF!
When I was pregnant, my midwife recommended Easy Iron to ward off anemia. It’s big ol’ capsules that you have to swallow, but they don’t cause constipation AND they don’t taste like anything. It really helped me. :)
Floradix is disgusting. So disgusting that I’d honestly rather be anemic than take it. I’m on a tablet again that is supposed to be the best one out there. Sooo much better.
I’m on palafer pills, docusate sodium (I think ya know what that one is for. I know it’s spelled wrong, oops)… and B12 at 1000mg!
I feel the ass-problems with you. But I have a low tolerance for gross tasting things, so good luck with that. I couldn’t do it.
Have you considered or looked into Docusate or Docusate Sodium pills? It’s those wonderful little ‘stool softener’ pills that they give you after you birth a baby (or three). I am no expert, but in the past (when I’ve had to take the iron pills…[I have been through pregnancy anemia and post pregnancy anemia twice]…they have made life a whole lot easier.
Doesn’t it make more sense to get iron out of food instead of pills? Not being a meat-eater doesn’t exclude the possibility of intaking iron! There is a wide variety of foods that contain iron – and taste better than what you’re taking, it sounds…there’s tuna, salmon, beans (including black, pinto, and also lentils), spinach, tofu, broccoli, blackstrap molasses, egg yolks, nuts, dried fruits (raisins, prunes, apricots…).
This is just a short list…but basically there’s lots of tasty food with iron!
I got really anemic with all three pregnancies and went and got that stuff.
Nasty doesn’t even begin to describe it…
Good thing they aren’t asking you to advertise for them…I’m pretty sure the reference to horse urine, rusty spoons and raw chicken skin might be a small deterent for most potential customers.
Amanda, I feel your pain. At the beginning of the second trimester my iron was low and there wasn’t a moment out of any day that I wasn’t exhausted. I tried the supplements and didn’t poo for a week so then I was tired and felt like I was going to explode. I also tried the liquid stuff and you’re not kidding, it’s awful. I’d rather chew on a tailgate. What helped me was taking a TB or two each day of unsulfured black strap molasses. It’s an excellent source of iron and other nutrients and its about as gentle on your body as you can get. And it’s palatable. And it’s super cheap.
Carolyn
It works really well. I’ve taken it for almost 3 years since my first pregnancy. I mix it in a shot of V-8 and throw it back like a mini bloody mary, the V-8 hides it well
Interesting and useful info – thanks for informing everyone. Matt
haha. I remember that wonderful concoction. I would shudder for a least a full minute after.
gross.
That reminds me…to NOT get pregnant again.
Miss you.
Calling you tomorrow.
I don’t think I could down that stuff to save my life (just by your description). We used to have a concoction recipe at work for new moms with low iron. It was a tea made with molasses, lemon juice, hot water and honey. I don’t know the amounts but I can try to find out. Are you sure it is just anemia? pregnancy also makes you extremely tired!!! Sorry, just had to put that in there.
once in a while i just need to comment to say i love the way you write :)
Hope the energy levels pump up soon!
LMAO.
Sorry, you crack me up.
Hi, interesting post. I have been thinking about this issue,so thanks for writing. I’ll certainly be subscribing to your posts.
your description of the taste leaves very little to the imagination and I wouldn’t go near it after reading that!
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