Hemoglobin
Jun. 29th, 2011 02:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jayfurrI'm anemic. I have thalassemia trait (a.k.a. thalassemia minor) -- a hereditary blood condition that means that I'm always going to be low on iron. My blood cells look weird, too -- tiny little cells. Microcytosis.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, I also have O negative blood. So I get calls and emails constantly from the American Red Cross asking me to come in and save the day, but when I do go in, they measure the grams of hemoglobin per deciliter of blood and inform me that I'm slightly, very, or SERIOUSLY below the 12.5 g/dcl threshold that they require to donate.
However, there are factors that can affect hemoglobin other than my type of anemia. One is caffeine, which apparently can interfere with iron absorption. Others include the foods you eat WITH the iron in your diet. Being a vegetarian doesn't help, as the iron that your body absorbs best is only found in animal sources. Taking vitamin C can help. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
I'm hoping that my having given up coffee and almost all other sources of caffeine may have raised my blood iron. On the other hand, as a vegetarian I'm fighting an uphill battle.
Today at work the local Red Cross came and ran a blood drive. I would have gone up to try to donate, but they started shutting down at noon and I was too busy to get out of my office until about 12:30. Drat.
But now that the thought's in my mind, I'm contemplating going to the Red Cross after work and trying anyway. They're open until 6. Who knows? Maybe the caffeine thing may tip me over.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, I also have O negative blood. So I get calls and emails constantly from the American Red Cross asking me to come in and save the day, but when I do go in, they measure the grams of hemoglobin per deciliter of blood and inform me that I'm slightly, very, or SERIOUSLY below the 12.5 g/dcl threshold that they require to donate.
However, there are factors that can affect hemoglobin other than my type of anemia. One is caffeine, which apparently can interfere with iron absorption. Others include the foods you eat WITH the iron in your diet. Being a vegetarian doesn't help, as the iron that your body absorbs best is only found in animal sources. Taking vitamin C can help. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
I'm hoping that my having given up coffee and almost all other sources of caffeine may have raised my blood iron. On the other hand, as a vegetarian I'm fighting an uphill battle.
Today at work the local Red Cross came and ran a blood drive. I would have gone up to try to donate, but they started shutting down at noon and I was too busy to get out of my office until about 12:30. Drat.
But now that the thought's in my mind, I'm contemplating going to the Red Cross after work and trying anyway. They're open until 6. Who knows? Maybe the caffeine thing may tip me over.
