Still here. I'm feeling like crap though. Stupid low iron anemia. I am starting to wonder if distance running could be the culprit? Still waiting on one lab to come in, but the latest blood work shows the same, some elevated liver levels (ALT and AST), not super elevated but a bit. Even lower total iron with higher iron-binding capacity, ferritin now at the lowest number of the normal range, some other iron related enzyme elevated. The liver tests other than ALT and AST were normal, thank goodness (other than the one with a longer turn around time), and I have read even stress or vigorous exercise can increase ALT and AST, not to mention the fact that I had to take Tylenol daily (often more than once a day) nearly all of March because I had 3 new crowns put in, and one of the bottom ones just flared up the nerve horribly. I was ready to get a root canal, but the dentist thought it was worth waiting a few weeks as nothing obvious was wrong on the x-rays. That nerve/tooth is finally feeling much more normal and less painful.

Could be distance running is the culprit though, and I might have to take a break, depending what the doctor says. I'm already running much less from the fatigue and have been a couple weeks now, but maybe not long enough to make a difference in the lab and my body just yet? I exercised and ran like a fiend in college, and I never got to this point of anemia, even with restricting calories too. And definitely not ice eating pica. A lot of days I run the refrigerator icemaker out of ice, and I'm here by myself all day. The craving for ice is super strong. I can't resist it if I know I can get ice. Feel like I'm an addict to it or something.

Wanting some answers. I see my PCP next week, my GI doc the following week. Something from my ulcer surgery may have caused this, or perhaps the hiatal hernia he found at my recent upper endoscopy. Just feel like crap and don't know if it's worth it to take an iron supplement or not or if I even should. The GI doc ordered the latest bloodwork, but he is super busy (workaholic, I think). Also, I think he wants the last test to come in, which has a longer turnaround time, probably also the biopsy results from the upper endoscopy. I follow up with him near the end of the month. Hopefully, my PCP gets me on iron supplements or initiates a few more tests. Maybe it's as simple as running being the culprit, but I hate that because I like running and especially distance running. It helps me with my anxiety and panic attacks. But then again, low iron anemia can cause anxiety & panic attacks, so it's all a great big confusing jumble.