Speaking of poop…

(Robin) #1

Recently put myself on iron supplements because I’ve always tested as anemic. Little did I know, they give you black, tarry, and hard stools.
Scared the “crap” out of me. I threw those away. In theory I’ve been anemic for years, but I’m still kicking.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #2

Eat meat. It contains haeme iron, which is the more absorbable form.

(Joey) #3

Yup, that’s the do that they do. [sorry]

(Bob M) #4

Also, watch when eating beet salad or the like. Enough red there to freak out about.

(Robin) #5

I don’t know if it’s possible to eat MORE meat than I already do!
I’m not sure why I’ve always tested as anemic… no matter what I eat or weigh. I also have extremely low blood pressure. I’ve often wondered if they might be connected.

(Bob M) #6

Have you had your genetics tested? There’s a genetics mutation called MTHFR. You get this full blown if you have the same “bad” two “snips”. I have one OK and one mixed (one bad, one good). This is me, but I have hetero C677T, so I’m not as bad as this:

image
image.png856×96 3.73 KB

There are lots of locations for this, but here’s one:

Are you “anemic” because your hemoglobin is low?

For my last test, mine barely scrapes into the “normal” range, but I have very low ferritin (a measure of access to iron by your body) and high “iron binding capacity” (and “UBIC”). This combination is sometimes considered to be anemic.

Edit: My last two ferritin levels, both taken about 2 weeks after giving blood, were 32 and 35, that webpage says I need to raise this by a lot:

image
image.png823×60 3.09 KB

End edit.

But I also got this blood test not too long after giving blood. I’m waiting to get another test before giving blood.

Anyway, what you have MIGHT be genetic.

(Bob M) #7

The only problem is that I have very low ferritin WHILE eating a lot of beef. It might not be enough.

Now, I got my last two ferritin tests a few weeks after giving blood, and I’m waiting to take a test right before giving blood to see what this says. We’ll see.

(Robin) #8

Thanks. I’ll take a look tonight.
Curious… Does the connection to genetics/MTHFR change the treatment or outcome?
Or is it just informative?

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #9

Well, it can’t be that much of a problem, since you’ve made it this far. I do wonder how much of our so-called “normal” levels are actually accurate.

And if your body is genetically coded to keep iron low, even taking an iron supplement might not help. We can use research on the general population to get an idea of where healthy people mostly are, but is the general population healthy anymore? Perhaps your iron levels are healthy–for you, even if not for anyone else? It’s not clear, but I suspect that people who are not symptomatic do not, in most cases, have a problem.

We see this with ketonians and their thyroid levels, which show up low on tests, but clinicians who treat them believe that is most likely normal for people on a low-carb/ketogenic diet. even though it’s not normal for the high-carb general population. It is apparently the case that, in the absence of elevated insulin, the body can use the thyroid hormones much more efficiently.

And we all know that the body needs far less Vitamin C on a ketogenic diet, because of how β-hydroxybutyrate stimulates our endogenous anti-oxidant defences.

I also read something once about “asymptomatic low testosterone,” but no one could explain why the low level was problematic, given that the men in question were showing none of the signs of low testosterone (except, of course, that we guys tend to freak out where anything that might possibly affect our sexual potency is concerned). In any case, the possibility that their testosterone level might be fine for them on keto was dismissed without discussion.

While I tend to think that some rules may be different for ketonians, I have to admit that it is not safe to assume that being on keto automatically makes low this or high that okay. But in a case like Robin’s, where she’s been healthy enough all along, despite appearing anaemic, that I can’t help wondering if she’s actually okay, despite her apparently worrisome iron level. 'Tis a puzzlement!

(Karen) #10

If you feel you need the supps try Folic Acid as it is a bit easier on the system xx

#11

Lots of different ones, fast, slow, chelated, ones mixed with C which does something (i forget honestly) but if yours is to the point where your RBC is low, definitely supplement it in. Having low red blood cells does you no favors at all. Taking with food or digestive aids can help as well.

(Robin) #12

Thanks, good ideas.

#13

I’m glad there is a poop column happening. Thanks Robin.

I wanted to talk about how comfortable pooping is with a keto-carnivore way of eating locked in. I’m always reading about all those poor vegans and their gut problems. They sound horrendous. Some people are prisoners in their own homes as they don’t want to get too distant from the toilet.

I pick up poop, as I am a dog owner. My dog is on a very good diet and she is healthy and shiny. Her poop is well formed and easy to bag up on walks. This week my in-laws dog has come to stay and she eats commercial dry dog kibble (‘healthy grains’ but mainly cheap wheat and industrial oils). Animal cruelty? I hear you thinking. Now that dog can fart, and her stool is sloppy and mucousy. Horrible to try and collect into a poop bag. So, I swapped her over to my dog’s animal-based no-processed food diet, and lo and behold, dog #2 is less hungry, less farty, and produced a well formed stool. yes, I am a vivisectionist.

(Robin) #14

Do you give Billie food from your meals or have you found a dog food that is magical?

#15

We make Billie’s low carb meals from a mix of standard whole foods:
Ground beef, butter or olive oil, eggs, sardines, full cream yoghurt, bone both, frozen chicken frames, frozen chicken necks, sometimes roasted low carb vegetables like squash.

(Robin) #16

Wow… that’s more varied and detailed that what I make for myself!
Impressive. Seriously!

(Kiwi ) #17

There’s transdermal iron patches (with vitamin C). I am always anemic in my pregnancies and the pills gave me terrible nausea, these patches do not. They go on for 8 hours like a sticker on your skin. No side effects.

Are you taking vitamin C along with your iron now?

(Robin) #18

Thanks, I’ve quit the iron. And most of my supplements. I have enough other issues going on that I am done fiddling with supplements. Just eating well, exercising and calling it good.

(MC) #19

Just two cents worth - I’m not a doctor just a lay person- but in my experience few people are iron deficient. The ferritin measurement is inadequate since it measures short chain ferritin that shouldn’t really be in the blood anyway.

What we can have is too little magnesium, too little retinol, too much iron stuck in tissues (not where you want an oxidative mineral to be) and not enough iron in the blood (where you need it to be to carry oxygen).

My sister was anemic most of her life, iron pills did nothing to raise her hemoglobin. She finally went onto beef liver and organic eggs and she’s now no longer classified as anemic.

(Robin) #20

I take magnesium every day, faithfully. Mostly for stopping my cramps and regularity. I’ll look into the rest.
Thanks for your input!