Beauty

[hyacinth003]

On 2/20/2015 Blondieee said:

Hey everyone! I started making some healthy positive changes. I completely changed my breakfast and have incorporated milk back into my diet. I started going on my exercise bike for 5 minutes just to move my muscles so I'm not so weak since all I do is lay around all day. I was unable to swallow any iron pills, even small ones. So my doctor recommended Flintstones again. I tried another flavor, grape, and moved it around in my mouth but I couldn't bring myself to chew and swallow it. It didn't taste as bad as the orange that I had previously tried but it took a little while to get the taste out of my mouth afterwards. I had a couple spoonfuls of chocolate ice cream and brushed but it still lingered for a little while which scared me. I also felt a little nauseous a couple hours later. I'm not sure if this was related or not since I didn't actually swallow it. I really need to take the Flintstones cause it's my only option and I really want to take them. But my fear is stopping me...does anyone have any suggestions? I'm going to start off just taking half the vitamin for a few days until I get used to it but I'm just really worried. I know it's for kids and not likely to cause any side effects. But I'm worried the stress over it could actually make me sick. I know I could get it down. But I'll panic afterwards and I'm worried about keeping it down. But I have to take it and the sooner the better.

I have noticed that not only is my hair thinning, but I now have a receding hairline and patches with no hair on the sides of my head :'( I really want to highlight my hair but I can't.

I say this with kindness. Most of your problems are psychological, and I hope you are getting help with these things.

You have a lot of hypochondriacal issues going on, and certainly have a significant anxiety disorder. I can say this because I went through it. I was even scared to take medication to treat it. Long story, but at one point, I just had no choice but to try it. I am a registered nurse, so I had more things I COULD worry about! Using Paxil changed my life with these issues. I am not saying that it is YOUR solution, just telling you what mine was.

I don't know for sure if you are stressing over chewing the vitamin, but if you are, Centrum makes a liquid form of a multivitamin. I believe there are iron medications made in liquid form too. Check with a pharmacist about these. They make lots of things for kids that are liquids, or for adults who have swallowing problems. Your doctor MAY have to prescribe them, but it's an idea.

It takes time to get iron levels up with medication. Only blood transfusions work more quickly! Your initial Hgb and Hct levels are okay, so don't worry so much.

Hyacinth

[Blondieee]

Thank you Hyacinth! I'm actually already on anxiety medication, Zoloft. The same dose I've always been on. I'm thinking some of my anxiety may be related to my health issues but it's hard to tell. I'm not stressing over chewing the vitamin, I'm stressing over taste and possible side effects. I feel most comfortable with Flintstones vitamins since they're for kids. I just can't bring myself to take it. Even just to take half. I feel like there's never a perfect time to take it. It says to take with a meal but I prefer not to take it on a full stomach cause I get really nervous and that would make me more likely to get sick. I'm thinking about maybe taking it in between meals after 2 pieces of toast but it doesn't seem like I have enough time in between meals cause of the time I wake up every day and I'm worried that might not be enough on my stomach, although I would think it would be for half the vitamin.

I know everyone is probably frustrated with me and think I'm not listening. But I have listened and I have made several changes. I've cut out eggo waffles with syrup and Honey Nut Cheerios out of my diet completely. I've been having a bowl of cereal and milk with a banana in it and orange juice instead. I am making small changes, even though it might not seem like it. I really don't mean to be stubborn or difficult. I just come here for advice and support. All these health issues are really getting me down. I'm a college student, I just want to have fun but I'm just so exhausted that I can't. I just want my life back and I want my appearance back. That may sound shallow but nobody wants to lose their hair, especially not a 21 year old girl.

Recently I've noticed I have bald patches on the sides of my head (temple area). I'm really starting to panic cause I don't know if it's thyroid related or if it's caused by this new shampoo/conditioner I've been using. I have reacted to several sulfate-free shampoos in the past (this one is sulfate free) and they have caused thinning/hair problems like this before. It's like my hair doesn't like to get too moisturized. So I'm going to stop using it and switch to Herbal Essences (the shampoo I used in high school, never had any problems) for a while and see what happens. I think I'll use the Herbal Essences shampoo and the conditioner I've been using just at the ends cause if I use the Herbal Essences conditioner, it won't be enough and my hair will get tangly and dry. I have an appointment scheduled with an endocrinologist so I'm just waiting on that. But I just feel like all I do is take one step forward and two steps back. I can never make progress. It's so frustrating! I just want answers and I want to get better and have energy and thick hair like I used to.

[Blondieee]

How do you attach pictures? When I try to, a question mark keeps appearing.

[Blondieee]

I just figured it out. Here's what I'm talking about with my hair. It's thinner than it used to be which I know is ferritin but I don't think ferritin causes these bald patches. And I'm sure my ferritin is the same it was a couple months ago. I don't think it has went down significantly to have caused this.

[Desertdi]

You've got more hair than I do. Ta ta.

[Luvtoshopathome]

Blondiee, I can relate to your anxiety issues but I'm a lot older than you and my problem started later in life. I am a worrier especially after I was diagnosed as being very anemic. I had to go to the hospital for blood transfusions and while in the hospital I was told I had colon cancer. I had the operation 3 months later and that was 3 years ago. I am Catholic and very religious and I pray and thank God everyday. Believe me prayers help. I also have a very good friend who is a nutritionist and she has helped me greatly. I couldn't take any of those iron supplements that the doctor prescribed after my operation or could I take iron from the pharmacy. Two great products are FLORADIX, which comes in liquid form, it has herbs and I believe a few fruits in it. You only need to take a capful or it also comes in tablets but the tablets may be large. Also, GENTLE IRON by Solgar is excellent, no side affects at all. I take them and I don't think the capsules are that big. If you have trouble swallowing them try this, when you take the capsule stand up and drink a lot of water, or if you're sitting down stick out your neck and swallow, you will find it goes down very easy. Don't keep thinking that you CANT swallow the capsules, tell yourself YOU CAN. A lot of it is in your head thinking that you can't do certain things but think positive and know that you can. Eat spinach or take spinach capsules. One of the best things to eat for iron are lentils, I make lenti soup with different vegetables diced up and sometimes I add some spinach to it. It's delicious. Eat other green leafy veggies, saute with garlic and olive oil. Try to eat organic beef or chicken. I eat old fashioned oatmeal with dried cranberries, shredded coconut, coconut palm sugar and coconut milk (it's so delicious) almost everyday or fortified cereal and fortified bread. I don't use regular sugar, only coconut palm sugar which tastes exactly like sugar but without the bad stuff. As far as your Thyroid problems, there are natural things you can take, one of them is kelp, which also comes in tablets. If you find any tablets too big just break them in half. Do a search on Google about Kelp and it just might help you. I know what anxiety can do, I am on anxiety meds and it helps me. But I also am very nervous and worry about everything and everyone I know. When I feel that way I take deep breaths and that seems to help. I'm not the type to run to a doctor, although I do for my anxiety and blood pressure but that's it. The only thing doctors do is push more and more medication and want you to have every test Iimaginable. That's not for me. I'd rather go the natural way when I can. I also make brown rice protein shakes, they come in chocolate and vanilla flavors and add some frozen berries, a banana, sometimes natural peanut butter, anything you like you can add and it's delicious. I buy most of my vitamins and other natural products from Swanson Vitamins online. I know there are many who don't believe in the natural way but I do and my mom at the age of 87 has only taken vitamins and herbs and she's in great shape and also looks 20 years younger. Good luck, I hope you figure this all out and wish you the very best. You're too young to have these problems, try to get out and I know it's too cold and snowy here to take a walk but I walk in my house. 30 minutes a day at once or 2 15 minute walks. Try it, it just may help you. If you have any questions and I can help, don't hesitate to ask.

[Good4u]

On 12/14/2014 gabstoomuch said:

Sounds like thyroid symptoms to me. All that iron will just make thyroid symptoms worse.

If you have a Facebook page, start reading HYPOTYHROID MOM page.

Or go to About.c om and start reading about thyroid. Mary Shomon is a thyroid advocate and has a bazillion articles on About.

Once you start reading up on thyroid problems, I bet a light bulb will go off for you.

Hyper or Hypo thyroid symptoms can overlap, sometimes you can have symptoms of being both.

Look up Hashimoto's Disease too.

In my personal experience with thyroid dysfunction, this poster is absolutely correct.

I believe you have a thyroid dysfunction.

This condition is one of the most miss understood conditions in the medical community, and I would recommend your doctor give you a thyroid function test that he can do in his office to rule in or out this condition.

I found out that I had Grave's Disease (hyperthyroid) from a simple blood test marker. I was never so shocked in all my life.

But since being treated for this condition, my quality of life has improved dramatically.

Good luck!

[Blondieee]

Desertdi – That’s not the point I’m trying to make though. I’m talking about bald patches. Like you can see in the pictures where my hairline just stops and there’s no hair there. That’s what I’m talking about. I’m sure you don’t have bald patches in your hair like that. That’s why I’m going to see an endocrinologist, switch shampoos, and keep trying to take this vitamin.

Luvtoshop – Thank you for the advice and support! I’m glad you can relate to the anxiety. A lot of people don’t understand my anxiety. You’re right about a lot of it being in my head that I can’t do things that I really can. I appreciate the iron supplement suggestions but I really prefer to stick with the Flintstones since they are made by a well known brand and kids take them. That may sound ridiculous but it helps my anxiety knowing that. I just need to take it, even if it’s just half a vitamin 3 times a week. But I’m really struggling to take it cause I’m worried I might get sick. Not from the vitamin itself but from the taste. It’s not that bad, the grape ones just taste like grape. But I’m very sensitive to tastes cause of my anxiety. I doubt this vitamin has any side effects since kids take it but I’m just worried I could get sick from the taste or from getting so nervous about it. Last time when I tried it (I didn’t swallow it but I moved it around in my mouth) I had a couple bites of chocolate ice cream afterwards and brushed my teeth and it got better. I mean people take nasty tasting medicine all the time and don’t throw up from it so I guess I shouldn’t be worried but I can’t help it. Thanks for the food suggestions. My diet is slowly improving, I’m still a picky eater though so I need to work on that. Exercise is a great idea! I used to exercise 45 minutes a day on my stationary bike when my iron wasn’t so low and I had lots of energy. I stopped going on it cause I was so exhausted and now I’ve started going on it for 5 minutes a day just to get a little bit of exercise.

Good4u – I’ve already been diagnosed with a thyroid condition, Hashimoto’s. My doctor is just watching it and looking at TSH only. So I have an appointment scheduled with an endocrinologist to get more information about this.

[Tigriss]

Easy solution.....gummy vitamins. They taste just like candy gummies and are good for you. I take a regular gummy multivitamin and a gummy hair, skin, and nails. You can also get gummy probiotics and gummy iron. Their texture is just like any gummy candy and come in fruit flavors. You can get the gummy iron at vitacost dot com or iherb dot com or amazon. One is called vitamin friends iron gummy supplement.

[spiderw]

On 12/14/2014 Campion said:

On 12/14/2014 gabstoomuch said:

Sounds like thyroid symptoms to me. All that iron will just make thyroid symptoms worse.

If you have a Facebook page, start reading HYPOTYHROID MOM page.

Or go to About.c om and start reading about thyroid. Mary Shomon is a thyroid advocate and has a bazillion articles on About.

Once you start reading up on thyroid problems, I bet a light bulb will go off for you.

Hyper or Hypo thyroid symptoms can overlap, sometimes you can have symptoms of being both.

Look up Hashimoto's Disease too.

THAT'S the classic sign; thinning hair, especially at temples and hairline, tiredness, and also if your eyebrows start to disappear from the outer ends first. (get shorter)

Hard to walk up stairs. Go have a blood test--it's quick and simple.

Can't believe a doctor didn't cotton onto the classic symptoms.

I completely agree. I have had thyroid issues since the eighties. It took awhile to diagnose but finally a blood test verified. I started with hyperthyroid and eventually went to hypothyroid, I take synthroid for it and am tested every time I go to the doctor.

There are eight family members on my mother's side who have thyroid problems. With me it is genetic obviously. Once you take the medication the symptoms go away. Don't wait and have the doctor give you a blood test specifically for checking your thyroid levels.

Good luck!