Iron Poor Blood
10-25-13, 06:19 PM
#1
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Iron Poor Blood
I have been riding for over 40 years and have always been pretty darn healthy. Well I'm a couple years short of 60 and recently (the last 6 months or so) I have been slowly loosing my stamina. Since I retired a number of years ago I have been putting in about 150-200 miles a week which has now dwindles to 40-50 miles a week. Well it turned out I was/am anemic! I went to the doctor after a bought with a kidney infection a blood tests showed my blood was turning into water. As with most 50+ riders, while I have no problem getting older, but I still don't pay attention to what that really means. So now I'm on Geritol! Yes, I could be taking iron pills, but Geritol is just too iconic not to utilize. I feel like I'm coming back and will back on my game hopefully in a couple of months..I am now officially a part of the Geritol generation!!
10-25-13, 06:38 PM
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The same thing happened to me a couple of months ago. My blood tests showed I was anemic and I could tell it especially when climbing stairs at work. Since then I've been trying to eat more iron rich foods and I started taking Centrum Silver for men 50+. I can tell a big difference now when I take the stairs at work and my blood work shows I am less anemic. I also feel a lot better and don't get winded as easily as I did before.
10-25-13, 06:50 PM
#3
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I was diagnosed as being slightly anaemic about two years ago. The doctor asked me if I had had an infection of any sort, which I had when a tooth was pulled. He wasn't overly concerned about it. However, the message seemed to be that in many cases, iron content in the blood is related to whatever infections your system may be battling.
10-25-13, 07:16 PM
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Glad to read that things seem to be getting better for you. Should help you improve your distance and speed.
I'm 63 and have not donated blood in many years due to Dr's orders. Anemic? Yes. Does it hinder my cycling? Not according to guys I ride with. Could I be better if I had proper levels? Maybe.
Maybe I should give Geritol a try.
I'm 63 and have not donated blood in many years due to Dr's orders. Anemic? Yes. Does it hinder my cycling? Not according to guys I ride with. Could I be better if I had proper levels? Maybe.
Maybe I should give Geritol a try.
10-25-13, 07:28 PM
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Interesting. I take iron pills because my friend the doctor (who is not my doctor officially, but is a sleep problems specialist) recommended iron pills to reduce or eliminate RLS, Restless Leg Syndrome, which irritates me (and my wife) as I'm trying to go to sleep.
Kind of an odd thing, but my legs just twitch around by themselves, certainly without consulting me first! So the iron pills work to solve that problem but after reading the above, they may be solving another problem I didn't know I had!
Rick / OCRR
Kind of an odd thing, but my legs just twitch around by themselves, certainly without consulting me first! So the iron pills work to solve that problem but after reading the above, they may be solving another problem I didn't know I had!
Rick / OCRR
10-25-13, 08:11 PM
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Im 75, and about a year ago my doctor said I was slightly anemic. He had me quit donating blood, and now every thing is fine.
10-25-13, 08:59 PM
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Have been a blood donor for decades - a month and a half ago they told me my Hbg was too low - 12.3. Has to be at least 12.5. Absolutely asymptomatic.
Have tried to eat a bit more regularly and balanced. No big change, really.
Yesterday I was able to donate - hemoglobin was 16.2.
Go figure. Exercise can sometimes play with iron levels. Or not. Maybe the meter was overdue for QC.
Have tried to eat a bit more regularly and balanced. No big change, really.
Yesterday I was able to donate - hemoglobin was 16.2.
Go figure. Exercise can sometimes play with iron levels. Or not. Maybe the meter was overdue for QC.
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10-26-13, 01:22 AM
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10-26-13, 04:13 AM
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An informative read regarding iron.......https://www.seattlemarathon.org/downl...ng/lowiron.pdf
10-26-13, 06:04 AM
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Chicken livers have the most iron, and the best quality of iron.Get organic,
I get mine at Whole Foods. Cook up some organic bacon, set aside, then
cook a large onion in the bacon grease, longer the better. Proper caramelisation
takes about 15 min at low heat (and can't be rushed). Chop the bacon,
throw a couple tbsp of butter into the pan and add the chicken liver. Cook that
up, throw the bacon and onions back in the pan to warm that up. You can
add some things before the onions go back in.
Here's an example...
https://www.woodstockfarmersmarket.co...x-mustard.aspx
I have literally had people that said they hate chicken liver beg me for more.
I also take a chelated iron pill
https://www.swansonvitamins.com/swan...18-mg-180-caps
Vitamin Shoppe calls the same thing Comfort Iron.
Lastly, kale is a superfood, and it has iron. I made noodle bowls,
and the kale blends in with the seaweed and stuff, you can hardly tell its
there. I get Trader Joes frozen kale, it's easier to deal with than fresh.
I put water in the pot, and then the kale, and bring it to a boil so the kale
gets cooked some.
I had always assumed Geritol was an inferior product. I just looked
at the ingredients, and it's better than I expected.
But if you're anemic, odds are you are deficient in other nutrients.
I'd do chicken liver once a week for a while, kale a couple times a week,
and some supplement daily, I'd also add 2K Vitamin D. I suspected I
was low in D, and took 5K for a year (still do) and after more than a year
I had my blood tested. I was midrange, not low, not high. Most need extra D.
I get mine at Whole Foods. Cook up some organic bacon, set aside, then
cook a large onion in the bacon grease, longer the better. Proper caramelisation
takes about 15 min at low heat (and can't be rushed). Chop the bacon,
throw a couple tbsp of butter into the pan and add the chicken liver. Cook that
up, throw the bacon and onions back in the pan to warm that up. You can
add some things before the onions go back in.
Here's an example...
https://www.woodstockfarmersmarket.co...x-mustard.aspx
I have literally had people that said they hate chicken liver beg me for more.
I also take a chelated iron pill
https://www.swansonvitamins.com/swan...18-mg-180-caps
Vitamin Shoppe calls the same thing Comfort Iron.
Lastly, kale is a superfood, and it has iron. I made noodle bowls,
and the kale blends in with the seaweed and stuff, you can hardly tell its
there. I get Trader Joes frozen kale, it's easier to deal with than fresh.
I put water in the pot, and then the kale, and bring it to a boil so the kale
gets cooked some.
I had always assumed Geritol was an inferior product. I just looked
at the ingredients, and it's better than I expected.
But if you're anemic, odds are you are deficient in other nutrients.
I'd do chicken liver once a week for a while, kale a couple times a week,
and some supplement daily, I'd also add 2K Vitamin D. I suspected I
was low in D, and took 5K for a year (still do) and after more than a year
I had my blood tested. I was midrange, not low, not high. Most need extra D.
10-26-13, 07:54 AM
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I always thought Curtis should do a humorous 50+ Jersey design.
Cover it with sponsorship logos from Geritol, Depends, FloMax, AARP, Lipitor, Viagra, and whatever other iconic "old folks" brands you can think of. Purely tongue-in-cheek.
Cover it with sponsorship logos from Geritol, Depends, FloMax, AARP, Lipitor, Viagra, and whatever other iconic "old folks" brands you can think of. Purely tongue-in-cheek.
10-26-13, 08:24 AM
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10-26-13, 08:30 AM
#17
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This is for general information only. It is not meant to constitute medical advice.
Iron deficiency in a male, especially an older male, is abnormal.
The explanation can be straightforward, such as in frequent blood donors or after certain types of surgery. Sometimes the cause is obscure.
Sometimes it can be the first manifestation of colon cancer. Sometimes it can be the only manifestation of celiac disease.
Taking iron without trying to identify the cause of the deficiency could be a grave error.
just hate to see the forum lose good members.
Iron deficiency in a male, especially an older male, is abnormal.
The explanation can be straightforward, such as in frequent blood donors or after certain types of surgery. Sometimes the cause is obscure.
Sometimes it can be the first manifestation of colon cancer. Sometimes it can be the only manifestation of celiac disease.
Taking iron without trying to identify the cause of the deficiency could be a grave error.
just hate to see the forum lose good members.
10-26-13, 10:17 AM
#18
Senior Member
Interesting. I take iron pills because my friend the doctor (who is not my doctor officially, but is a sleep problems specialist) recommended iron pills to reduce or eliminate RLS, Restless Leg Syndrome, which irritates me (and my wife) as I'm trying to go to sleep.
Kind of an odd thing, but my legs just twitch around by themselves, certainly without consulting me first! So the iron pills work to solve that problem but after reading the above, they may be solving another problem I didn't know I had!
Rick / OCRR
Kind of an odd thing, but my legs just twitch around by themselves, certainly without consulting me first! So the iron pills work to solve that problem but after reading the above, they may be solving another problem I didn't know I had!
Rick / OCRR
This is for general information only. It is not meant to constitute medical advice.
Iron deficiency in a male, especially an older male, is abnormal.
The explanation can be straightforward, such as in frequent blood donors or after certain types of surgery. Sometimes the cause is obscure.
Sometimes it can be the first manifestation of colon cancer. Sometimes it can be the only manifestation of celiac disease.
Taking iron without trying to identify the cause of the deficiency could be a grave error.
just hate to see the forum lose good members.
Iron deficiency in a male, especially an older male, is abnormal.
The explanation can be straightforward, such as in frequent blood donors or after certain types of surgery. Sometimes the cause is obscure.
Sometimes it can be the first manifestation of colon cancer. Sometimes it can be the only manifestation of celiac disease.
Taking iron without trying to identify the cause of the deficiency could be a grave error.
just hate to see the forum lose good members.
FWIW.
10-26-13, 10:36 AM
#19
Banned
the EPO that the racing cyclists dope with is made to boost red blood cell production ,
low red cell count Old People have been the market they intended to serve in the 1st place.
Amgen ,, the sponsorship of a Pro level bike race, tour of California, By a company that makes a lot of EPO,
was, I thought, Ironic at the least ..
low red cell count Old People have been the market they intended to serve in the 1st place.
Amgen ,, the sponsorship of a Pro level bike race, tour of California, By a company that makes a lot of EPO,
was, I thought, Ironic at the least ..
10-26-13, 12:21 PM
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Many oldsters take 81 mg aspirin/d
some take plavix after stent-angioplasty
Both those can cause a bit of blood loss
Your MD will tell you about it of course
some take plavix after stent-angioplasty
Both those can cause a bit of blood loss
Your MD will tell you about it of course
10-26-13, 04:04 PM
#21
Senior Member
This is for general information only. It is not meant to constitute medical advice.
Iron deficiency in a male, especially an older male, is abnormal.
The explanation can be straightforward, such as in frequent blood donors or after certain types of surgery. Sometimes the cause is obscure.
Sometimes it can be the first manifestation of colon cancer. Sometimes it can be the only manifestation of celiac disease.
Taking iron without trying to identify the cause of the deficiency could be a grave error.
just hate to see the forum lose good members.
Iron deficiency in a male, especially an older male, is abnormal.
The explanation can be straightforward, such as in frequent blood donors or after certain types of surgery. Sometimes the cause is obscure.
Sometimes it can be the first manifestation of colon cancer. Sometimes it can be the only manifestation of celiac disease.
Taking iron without trying to identify the cause of the deficiency could be a grave error.
just hate to see the forum lose good members.
As Coach Cecil used to say, " Eat your greens, and keep your lid on."
10-26-13, 04:39 PM
#22
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YEp, raisins... that was my first thought. While you are at it, mix them with dried blueberries, cranberries, and pomegranites. Add a bit of granola and it makes for a great energy snack for the road.
10-26-13, 05:35 PM
#23
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Let's see if I got this right. Raisins are high in iron. Raisins are dried grapes. They make grape juice from grapes. They make wine from grape juice therefore wine should be high in iron. I think I'll take my iron supplement in liquid form as wine. 
10-26-13, 08:31 PM
#24
Senior Member
I like your thinking
Brandy is also made from grapes
10-26-13, 10:09 PM
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I'm 66 and 1.5 years ago I broke my pelvis going over the bars after a wheel touch. Finally healed up and I could ride again. Not really. I would go 4 miles and be exhausted, breathng like a steam engine. My face was white. Walking up the driveway was an effort. I had incredibly low hemoglobin. After several expensive tests, my doctor tossed me a $5 container of iron and said "Take 'em". I did. Within a few months I was back to normal. This was after hearing words like leukemia tossed around. I don't take iron any longer, but eat iron rich foods. My diet was very healthy before the anemia.... doctors have no explanation. Good to be back though...... anemia is no joke.
