Help me with a health overhaul please

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Have felt rotten for ages, and think one of the things that might help is a change in diet. I'm vegetarian but need a big boost in iron and vitamin B12, I think.

I also think I probably need to eat little and often, to avoid dips in blood sugar - and also to drink much more water.

Any tips for iron and B vitamin rich foods, please? Ideas for healthy snacks to keep in my bag for a quick boost? Ways of remembering to drink lots of water (when I don't like it much) etc?

Anything else? Supplements?

I want to take more exercise but currently feel so weak that I just haven't been up to it - have passed out a couple of times, and feel on the verge of it a lot. I do try to walk as much as possible.

Thank you.

11 is 'normal' but 'low normal' apparently. Was 8 last time.

I think the problem is that my periods are so heavy that every time I 'sort' the iron and then am told to stop taking it, it dips again pretty quickly.

I have pernicious anemia. My GP spotted it as my red count was good but the red cells were very big which makes them inefficient This is corrected with b12. It is slightly different from the one that some vegetarians get as that is purely a dietary issue. I was very light headed and scared to go anywhere at times! Strange sensations in hands and feet sore mouth.

Noddy - I've got frequently cold and tingling hands and feet, and sometimes they feel as if they don't belong to me. When I get lightheaded, my legs don't work properly and I start walking like Frankenstein's monster! Hopefully the iron and the B12 under tongue stuff will help.

That is what I had exactly. My haemoglobin was 13 but the cells were not doing their job. I had b12 injections every other day for 2 weeks then once a week for a month and now every 2 months for the last few years. My nurse was away and the last 2x its been late and the cold and tingly hands and feet started coming back. I would ask your GP about PA just in case. The long term effects can be quite serious they thought I had MS!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pernicious_anemia

Thanks, Noddy. I'll add it to the list of questions for my next appointment. This time I'm going in with everything written down.

The funny walk is classic I used to ask dp if I looked funny but he never noticed but I felt it. A bit like Bill and Ben a puppet!

That is so weird - I told dp the other day that I felt like a puppet. My mouth is fine though, except for a couple of ulcers but assume they are from generally being run-down.

No the ulcers are very typical.

So, if doctor says my B12 level is fine what do I say now?

Say you want tested for megaloblastic anaemia. It is slightly different than just b12 deficiency but b12 treats it.

Cheers, Noddy.

Hope nobody minds me reviving this.

Update - I've had five bouts of what I can only describe as, 'full on swooning' in the last fortnight. Yesterday, a lady actually ran out of her shop at the train station to bring me water, because she saw me lolling around feeling awful (and probably looking drunk tbh).

I've been back to the doctor today and he's suggested another bout of blood tests, this time to include hormone levels (again!) and kidney and liver function. He said B12 is absolutely fine and there's no need for further testing of anything related to that.

I'm also annoyed because last time I saw him, he said he'd refer me a gynae - and he hasn't done it. Now he says wait until the next batch of test results.

I think I need a MNer to come to the doctor's with me!

Oh Remus! (tis I, Zebra) Poor you - not good at all.

GP sounds like a dick. It's great that you're having more tests, but why not refer you to a gynae in the meantime, as you're obviously loosing too much blood, too often.

Shall I come along and be Bad Cop ?

Thanks, Zebra. The doc is actually quite nice, but it all seems to be so, so slow. Have spent most of today asleep so far - wiped out by yesterday's swooning fits. :(

Posh liquorice is good for iron.

Ok, so not the most healthy in the world, but its medicinal

Thank you. I hate liquorice but willing to give pretty much anything a try now.

How can you hate liquorice?

I assume your blood pressure is normal and not too low?
Tingling can be owing to not enough oxygen getting to extremeties, I believe.

Blood pressure generally on the low side of normal.

Might be worth checking it?

Not drinking enough can cause it to dip -quite easy in this weather.

Just a thought.I'm no doc!

Thanks again. Doc checked it today and that was his verdict. Am trying to drink more water - have a glass on the go as I type.

Hope you improve soon whatever.
It must be quite stressful having dizzy turns all over the place, you poor thing

Thank you. It's horrible - and yesterday's one came out of absolutely nowhere. In fact, I'd just been saying how good I felt!