I went to the health services clinic on my campus about 4 weeks ago on the urging of my friends. My apparent symptoms that I thought were 'just stress' ... they (friends) thought could be low iron, so they urged me to get tested...

And I did. Good for me, I can't stand doctors. Had blood drawn, got tested for everything under the sun that could make a person dizzy, feel faint, and tired all the time.

Turns out I'm anemic, more specifically iron deficient.

So it was recommended that I take an iron supplement to 'right' my levels.

I was told to look for a chelated iron. Something about chemical bonding and better absorption... I think?

So I bought my pills from a health food store, and started taking them. I don't notice much of a difference.

Saw my local oncampus pharmacist, and he says chelated iron isn't any better than another iron supplement, and that its the amount of elemental iron you get per pill that is important.

So now I'm turning to the people who might actually not confuse the crud out of me... all of you.



Questions:

Anyone else anemic? What did you do for it?
Anyone know if there's a difference between chelated and 'regular' iron supplements?
Should I be looking for a specific amount of elemental iron?
What should I be doing (besides pills) to up my iron intake? Eating anything particular? Not eating specific foods with the pills, or another type of drug?

I looked online for my answers and just got more frustrated because of all of the types of anemia out there and causes and treatments... someone, anyone, before I go insane trying to figure this out!

I just want to feel less... ucky. (meaning groggy, cranky, dizzy, tired, with these bad heart palpitations)