Iron Woman

Long, whiny post...

So I went in for my 28 week appointment yesterday with a list of things I wanted to talk to my OB about. Primarily, the fact that I am SO SO SO TIRED. I frequently become so dizzy that I have to lie down immediately, and even then my hands and legs are shaky for a good 10-15 minutes. Generally, I eat a piece of cheese and drink some sugary juice and I am pepped back up to my functioning self after 45 minutes to an hour of rest...but this happens at least 3 times a day, and is usually accompanied with a fever that will spike up to 102, then gradually drop the longer I lie down.
Does this sound normal to YOU? Yeah, me neither, and it has been happening for a few weeks. The fever thing IS fairly normal for me. With all of my pregnancies this has happened, but usually only during the first trimester and part of the second, never this far along, and not with the shakes and dizzy/faint feeling of total exhaustion. I'm never doing any kind of strenuous activity when it happens either, usually it is something simple, like loading the dishwasher, folding laundry, reading books to the girls, or even getting kids out of the car after picking Reese up from school.

Anyway, yesterday was my blood/glucose test for gestational diabetes, and I mentioned to my OB that I'd like to have my iron levels checked out also, because I actually FEEL anemic. I also pointed out that I've had horribly restless legs and cramping/swelling in my calves daily (also related to low iron or low potassium). I take my prenatal vitamins daily, and although I do intake more than my share of junk food, we eat pretty well. I make sure I have a glass of OJ w/calcium every day, a banana, some frozen berries, and an 8oz glass of milk with instant breakfast in it. I eat a lot of frozen pizza, sure...but I've been eating mounds of apples, broccoli, beans, and asparagus lately, too.
It just doesn't add up. Something is wrong.

My doctor chuckled at my complaints of fatigue and said "well you ARE pregnant".

YEAH. I KNOW how being pregnant feels. I also know how it feels to be anemic, and how it feels to pass out...this is a little closer to THAT end of the spectrum.

Doc: Well, are you happy?
Me: What the? Yes, of course I am happy, what does that have to do with my iron level?
Doc: Well are you exercising much?
Me: UM. NO. Doc: You know, it's going to be pretty nice outside toward the end of this week, why don't you try to get out of the house and take a walk in the sunshine. Go for a walk around the lake. It will do you some good to get moving.
Me: I seriously get so lightheaded that I don't even think I could make it all the way around the lake without having to stop and sit down. That is what I'm telling you. And what about the fevers?
Doc: How was your physical activity before you got pregnant?
Me: Well up until I found out I was pregnant I was running almost every day, and every 3rd day or so would do up to 5 miles on my treadmill. And I actually WAS pregnant when I tiled my guest bathroom floors and shower, so I'd say pretty good. I stopped running as soon as I found out I was pregnant per YOUR recommendation because of my history of miscarriage. I've been VERY good to myself this pregnancy and I try to nap nearly every day and I'm taking it pretty easy. But this is just ridiculous. I couldn't exercise if I WANTED to at this point. I can't even keep up with NORMAL activities.
Doc: Fatigue is a definite sign of depression. I think you might be sleeping too much.
Me: I AM NOT DEPRESSED. In fact. I'm quite happy. VERY happy. I'd be a lot happier if I wasn't so freaking tired all the time. I KNOW my body and THERE IS definitely SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME My body shuts down on me.
Doc: I understand, but I can't tell you how many women become exhausted at this point in their pregnancy. Hang in there, and increasing your level of physical activity WILL help. Skip the Krispy Kreme this time and get outside and get some exercise today.
Me: Remember my last appointment when I called you a jerk face?
Doc: (laughs) I promise you can call me that tomorrow if I call you and tell you your iron is low. But I also promise I won't be calling you. The last time we checked your iron it was fine.

WELL DOC. YOU WERE RIGHT!

You WON'T be calling me in the morning to tell me my iron is low.
You will have your nurse call me.

8am the phone rings...
Me: Hello?
Nurse: Yes, Megan? This is so and so from Dr. so and so's office. We received your blood tests back from the lab and I wanted to go over them with you
Me: Oh ok
Nurse: Well your glucose levels are fine, so you don't have gestational diabetes, but Dr. so and so is VERY concerned about your Iron levels. You are INCREDIBLY anemic.

DING DING DING DING DING!
Ladies and Gentleman, we have a winner!

Me: I KNEW IT! I spared the innocent nurse the name calling.
Nurse: yes, he'd like you to get started on Iron supplements immediately.
Me: Ok, well I took SlowFe the last time I had low iron, what does he recommend.
Nurse: He was very specific that he wants you to take 325 mg two times a day, in addition to your prenatal vitamins.
Me: EXCUSE ME? 325 miligrams? That's crazy, are you sure?
Nurse: yes do you have a pen?
Me: yeah, hang on let me write this down, because that seems like an awful lot of iron.
Nurse: He wants you to take 325 mg of SlowFe twice a day, and take it with breakfast and with dinner, because this much iron will be hard on your system.
Me: THREE-HUNDRED and twenty-five miligrams?
Nurse: yep!
Me: Ok, got it. Thanks, bye


So I get the Slow Fe and look at the package. The last time I was anemic I took 1-2 tablets a day in addition to my prenatals.

There are 47.5 mg of iron PER TABLET of Slow Fe. That is 264% of your daily recommended value of iron. My doctor is recommending that I take 650 mg of Slow Fe, in addition to the prenatal with has 28mg. That's 678mg of iron a day from supplements ALONE! I would have to pop THIRTEEN TABLETS of SlowFe PER DAY to keep up with his recommendation.

Is that even NORMAL?

My math could be off...but isn't that like over 3000% the daily recommended dose?
I know I am tired...but just how anemic AM I?

I think he is trying to KILL ME!

After examining the box, and thinking about my previous experience with low iron, I opt to take ONE tablet, and call the Dr's office back to confirm (yet again) that this is correct.
I know I am pregnant and spacey...but this is NOT adding up. I had even asked twice on the phone and written it down, so I would be sure my mind wasn't playing tricks with me.

Of course, I have to leave a message, and received no return phone call today.

I REALLY REALLY REALLY enjoyed my experience with this OB last time, and aside from this, everything has been fine...but I am really irritated right now. I honestly think in my head that taking that much iron could kill someone, couldn't it? THIRTEEN PILLS? PLUS a prenatal vitamin? What the heck people? At least call me back!

My only thought is that my Doctor WROTE 3(space)25mg of Slow Fe, meaning take THREE 25mg pills twice a day on the prescription and maybe the nurse just wasn't reading it to me correctly. Even that dose seems a little excessive...that would be 150mg a day plus the 28 mg from the prenatal...but 178 mg is certainly less than 678mg, and could be a reasonable dose if my Iron levels are as low as they feel like they are. But still the mystery of where to find Slow Fe in a 25 mg dose...didn't see that anywhere, so who knows what I am supposed to be taking. I do trust my doctor, but lately I am starting to feel like I might be better off diagnosing myself sometimes. Honestly, I think he's excellent, and did a fantastic job with Quincy's delivery. One of the reasons I like him so much is because 1) he gets my sarcasm and doesn't take offense to being called a jerk face after telling me I gained weight, and 2) He is ordinarily so compassionate. But this week I just felt like another whiny pregnant woman and that he wasn't really listening to me when I had a real concern. I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt this time, but I'm not sure how much longer my patience will last if he continues to tell me I'm "fine" when I KNOW that I am not. 'Cuz that won't fly on delivery day.

So that's where we're at today. I'll give an update tomorrow...or when they call me back.

And yes, when he calls, I WILL call him a Jerk Face. Maybe twice.
....ok, maybe Three times if he asks me if I am depressed or if I exercised today.

For what I'm paying...I think he can handle it.