SI Question - Iron deficiency?

Kimaru · 17-06-2011, 05:58 AM

If you cut every two days or so, over time would it cause iron deficiency or contribute to it? I don't really get quite enough iron in my diet but I usually feel fine but I've been self harming more lately and I've been feeling really tired and cold. Sorry if this was a stupid question.

riotgrrrlcori · 17-06-2011, 06:35 AM

Yeah, it could definitely be contributing. In a lot of cases, your menstrual cycle may also contribute.

Amaryllis · 17-06-2011, 07:21 AM

It could be a possibility, I would think, if you were losing enough blood. Perhaps, you could try either cutting less and seeing if that helps or you could maybe try iron tablets and see if that perks you back up.

tiptoes · 17-06-2011, 10:57 AM

The getting enough iron in your diet is also likely to be a significant contributing factor, especially if you are getting iron from none-haem sources (e.g. not meat). Also, iron is poorly absorbed by the body so you need to also be getting enough B vitamins and vitamin C to help absorption whilst avoiding food that hinder the absorption of iron when consuming iron.

sherlock holmes · 17-06-2011, 01:56 PM

Yes. I ended up anaemic through self harming and I didn't think I was losing that much blood. Though if you combine it with heavy periods and a diet that could be improved, it's easy enough to happen. I had a blood test and GP prescribed iron and I was fine again afterwards.

fragile as glass · 18-06-2011, 10:31 AM

My GP put me on iron tablets permamently. I was ALWAYS anaemic from the SH and ended up having blood transfusions twice.

If you get free prescriptions and can hack going to see your GP then go and get a prescription for iron otherwise you can buy it from any chemist.

Anaemia is characterised by pale skin, tiredness, dizziness, lack of blood through heavy periods and/or SH. If you don't take much iron in your diet that will contribute to anaemia too. Try and up your iron intake through your diet - google iron rich foods for a comprehensive list - and take iron tablets too.

You can get constipated by iron pills but that does not affect everybody and isn't a definate side effect - it don't make two hoots to me.

Susu. · 18-06-2011, 04:35 PM

Yes.
I just got out of hospital a few hours ago.
I narrowly avoided being 136'd because i didn't want to co ooperate and didn't want to have a blood transfusion.
But with that threat hanging over me i had one.
Now i feel like crap and want to harm more.

My point? Yes it can make you very anemic and if there's one thing that can freak doctors out it's anemia from blood loss so be careful love!
Don't be like me, actually take your iron tablets!