Anemia and HCL

I went to the doctor a few weeks ago because I had an anaphylactic reaction to shellfish. When I was there, I asked for him to test my iron. He only tested ferritin, but that gave me good information. I had been having shortness of breath, fatigue, restless legs, and hair shedding. All anemia symptoms. Since only my ferritin was tested, I don't know whether I'm actually anemic.

I knew from the restless legs that my iron was low, so I had taken double of my iron supplement for a while before testing. My ferritin was 27. It was within range, but the range is HUGE!!! From what I've read on the internet, over 50 and preferably near 70 is preferable. I also read that below 30 can cause symptoms. Since I was on more iron and eating lots of red meat for a few months, mine was probably on its way up when the level was taken.

My daughter and I have practiced muscle testing on each other and we've actually gotten good at it. I've been testing for more iron than I had been taking. For a while, I tested well for Floradix, but now I'm only testing well for Blood Builder, usually 2 or 3 twice daily.

After a few weeks of this, I am feeling much better! I'm no longer shedding hair. I no longer have restless legs. My shortness of breath is much less frequent, in fact, I seldom have it. My fatigue is also improving a lot, and in fact, my husband and 22 year old daughter tell me the fatigue I get is normal, ie, after teaching pilates for three hours.

I have always suffered from anemia. I've supplemented iron for as long as I can remember .... back to high school or college. I thought it was logical to look at *why* I might have anemia. Here's what I found.

One cause is blood loss, even from heavy periods. Because the length of my periods are normal, I thought that I was in the normal range there. I've read the definition of heavy, and according to the definition, I'm VERY heavy and always have been. So, there's one cause. I read that vitamin A can sometimes help with this. I already use progesterone cream. I'll let you know if the vitamin A helps.

Another cause is lack of absorption of nutrients. I've been muscle testing at every meal for HCL, and I need more than I've been taking. At least 2, sometimes as many as 5 if I'm eating a large meal at a restaurant. This has not only made me feel like I've been digesting better, it's also made me gain a few (unwanted) pounds. I'm hoping the weight gain evens out as my body gets used to regularly digesting food. I have started eating less, to no avail. Since I teach pilates, it's all muscle .... but I don't like my clothes being tight ......

I think another contributor in my case, aside from using a different brand of iron for a month, I believe I wrote about that in a previous blog post, is the high zinc intake with KPU. I am no longer muscle testing well for Depyrrol, as long as I take a multiple vitamin with 15 mg. of elemental zinc. If I skip the multiple, I need the Depyrrol, so I've been taking the multiple.

I think taking this more well-balanced blend of nutrients has benefitted me, too. I have also stopped catching everything that's going around.

I ordered Allergie-Immun and have sent in my first saliva sample. The first round should be here in a couple weeks. I'll write about it, of course.

Right now I'm taking:

Multiple vitamin
B complex
Vitamin A
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
CoQ10
Alpha Lipoic Acid
Resveratrol
Copper
Oil of Evening Primrose
Blood Builder
Magnesium

HCl at meals
5 HTP at bedtime (not sure whether I still need it)