My Iron has dropped a little low again and I am back to suplementing Ferritan Iron tablets. It is causing severe sortness of breath an tight chest for the second time.
Can anyone relate to this. Have I any other way of raising my Iron levels? It is quite worrying. Could it be an allergic reaction or a bad mix with the antibiotics?
Your thoughts
Thanks Neil
-------------------- Pos BB and Bart(Q & H IGG pos) Began treat 1 year after start of illness. Diagnosed Feb 2007. Posts: 648 | From Ireland | Registered: Jan 2007
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djf2005
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11449
posted
babesia needs iron to replicate as far as i know.
its usually the cause of irom deficiency in TBI patients...
derek
-------------------- "Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you."
disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Never heard of iron tablets making someone short of breath. Are you sure it's the iron tablets or just a coincidence? I take iron tablets as well since my iron is very low and it hasn't given me shortness of breath.
I have heard of it giving people stomach aches though because it's sometimes hard on the stomach.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
It is definitly the iron tablets. This is the second time I have supplemented and the air hunger chest tightness kicks in within 48 hrs.
-------------------- Pos BB and Bart(Q & H IGG pos) Began treat 1 year after start of illness. Diagnosed Feb 2007. Posts: 648 | From Ireland | Registered: Jan 2007
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Lyme and Babesia are partners in crime. It seems no accident that the two infections are often found together.
Babesia destroys red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the cells. Deprived of oxygen, the body has a tougher time fighting Lyme and Bb thrives in the anaerobic environment.
So what can we do to increase tissue oxygenation? Consider increasing the body's iron stores, for one. The body uses iron to create hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the cells.
What's more, the body requires that a certain amount of ferritin (iron stores) be present in order for it to utilize artemisinin, a commonly prescribed herb to treat Babesia.
Iron is a finicky mineral that can be difficult for the body to uptake, however. Dr. Schaller, in his book, The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Babesia, prescribes ferrous heme as a highly absorbable form of iron.
Also, certain B vitamins are necessary for iron uptake and utilization, especially B-12, B-1, and B-6, so choose an iron supplement that includes these vitamins.
Taking iron away from calcium and magnesium is advised, as these inhibit its absorption. Likewise, it's a good idea to take it with vitamin C or orange juice.
Taking iron with orange juice is thought to double its absorption in the body.
Finally, if you have Lyme disease but have not been diagnosed with Babesia, yet have low ferritin levels, suspect that the latter infection might be present.
Posted by Connie Strasheim (aka Killabugger) at 1:31 PM
-------------------- Note: I'm NOT a medical professional. The information I share is from my own personal research and experience. Please do not construe anything I share as medical advice, which should only be obtained from a licensed medical practitioner. Posts: 4881 | From Middlesex County, NJ | Registered: Jul 2006
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Rianna
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11038
posted
Babesia destroys red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the cells. Deprived of oxygen, the body has a tougher time fighting Lyme as Lyme loves an oxygen deprived body and thrives.
If you have Lyme disease but have not been diagnosed with Babesia, yet have low ferritin levels, suspect that the Babesia is present.
Dr S in FL writes alot about this in his Babesia book.
Air Hunger is one of the biggest signs of Babesia.
posted
I have continued on the iron and I have had no air hunger today thankfully. I also started my B2 shots so this should help with the iron uptake also. Did an hour in the gym and felt like I was not as breathless between sets.
Good info guys. I was on malarone for a few weeks with no response. I will add it back in once my bloodwork improves. My family doc is worried as I has low iron , high creatinin and low RB and WBC count. Not too low just under normal.
I insisted that the creatinin levels where high due to my supplementing creatine as per Dr B's advice. My blood creatine was 550 normal being 0-200. I stopped it last week.
I will also add Art next week.
-------------------- Pos BB and Bart(Q & H IGG pos) Began treat 1 year after start of illness. Diagnosed Feb 2007. Posts: 648 | From Ireland | Registered: Jan 2007
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posted
I drank iron water recently. It is so called "narzan"-one of the caucasian mineral waters. And felt much worse the following several days. No more experiments with ferrum/iron for me.
-------------------- ~From Russia with Lyme~ Posts: 34 | From Rostov-on-Don, Russia | Registered: Dec 2007
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Angelica
Unregistered
posted
A good source is Ferrum Phos 6 x dose which is a cell salt by Hylands you melt under your tongue.
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Angelica
Unregistered
posted
Someone sent me a pm and wanted to know where to buy the Hylands cell salts but their mail box was full. .
You can buy them online just google them or at most health food stores. They come in a small white plastic bottle.
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