Finally, an answer!

Well, I went to the doctor last week about my tiredness and falling asleep. She told me to go see a sleep specialist, to knock out Narcolepsy. But, we did lab tests too.

Based on the lab results, it's starting to look like I don't need to go see the sleep specialist after all.

I am anemic! (Not really something to be excited about, but thankfully it's something I can try to fix! And it's nice to have answers).

Basically, my iron was 35 and average is 37 - 170 and ferritin levels are supposed to be 5 - 204 (I read somewhere that people like you being at 100) and I was 6.

This really dropped since the last time I had this done.

So, it's no wonder I'm having problems!

And all this fatigue is really making my mood swings not so great recently.

Does anyone know what kinds of foods are high in iron? I don't like most vegetables, mostly because my tummy can't really handle them...

I am taking an iron supplement now as well, but I need to start adding more iron to my diet (which really shocked me, because I am the ONLY ONE in my family who eats meat and I love eating beef).

Thanks!

Wow that's a surprise, glad you found out what it was.

There are lists available online for iron-rich foods. Try to find it under this URL: http://www.Foodshighiniron.com

I know molasses is one of them. Red meats (choose lean ones), liver,
tuna, green vegetables including cabbage, spinach, etc.

That website will give you a much fuller list.

Several things:

1) most iron supplements are constipating and offer poorly "bioavailable" iron. The best supplement I know is liquid Floradix B-complex with iron. You can buy it from Amazon or Drugstore.com. The bad things about it: 1) you need to store it in the fridge 2) it is expensive 3) you need to take it 1/2 hour before a meal, so you need pre-planning. But it works the fastest, tastes great, and offers the full B-complex to boot.

2) you need to combine iron-rich foods with sources of vitamin C in one meal for better absorption

3) animal sources of iron are better absorbable by the body than plant sources

4) cooking in a cast-iron skillet does add iron to your diet, so it is a great way to go

5) iron foods act synergistically: eating several sources of iron in one meal is the best.

6) for a while, stop eating iron-rich foods with foods rich in Calcium, such as dairy products, in one meal. The presence of calcium-rich foods inhibits the absorption of iron. Separate them.

Thank you!

Thank you genetic for the website.

Thank you, Hamster for the advice. I am taking the... Woman's something... It's what my mom takes, only this one is iron specific. My sister takes it and she doesn't have any problems, so hopefully it will be the same for me.