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Iron pills and babesia?

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Posted 11/13/2018 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
Because babesia attacks red blood cells do you guys think taking iron is a good idea? On one hand I think yes because babesia is killing so many that I need to take iron in order to make more. On the other hand I think what if I'm just giving this disease more food. Idk I hate over analyzing everything but being sick for so long you get scared to do even the sunokest of things. My body is so fragile these days I want to only make it happy.
Posted 11/13/2018 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
I take 18 mg every three days to prevent restless legs, when I take more it sets off my neuropathy (babs and bart).
Posted 11/13/2018 3:25 AM (GMT 0)

Wisco woman said...
Because babesia attacks red blood cells do you guys think taking iron is a good idea? On one hand I think yes because babesia is killing so many that I need to take iron in order to make more. On the other hand I think what if I'm just giving this disease more food. Idk I hate over analyzing everything but being sick for so long you get scared to do even the sunokest of things. My body is so fragile these days I want to only make it happy.

I don't buy into the feeding of the infections. If your iron is low - and you don't supplement...and it keeps feeding...you will be anemic...and the iron will just keep going lower.
It's going to feed on what you have anyway....so you may as well try to build it up.

My ferritin is on the low side. I took a supplement for awhile...and it raised slightly.

I should test again...as it's been about a year now.

What is your iron or ferritin level at?
Posted 11/13/2018 11:32 AM (GMT 0)
I have been extremely anemic in the past. Years before I got lyme sick I went through an extremely lethargic period and discovered I was way anemic. It took three iron pills a day for about a month to get me back to decent iron levels. My lyme doc however tested my iron back in August and my levels are apparently ok. I'm just so untrusting of blood tests these days I dont want to just go off of that.
Posted 11/13/2018 1:10 PM (GMT 0)
Interesting question as I have never heard that before. I am currently treating Babs as well and on Iron. Will have to do some research!
I would like to know out of curiosity what others Ferritin levels are at as well. Mine was at 7 ng/ml and I was told by my Nurse Practitioner that it should be closer to 60! I managed to get it up to 14 a few months back, but that was it.
Quick note though. I purchased the Iron Fish at a local store for $30 (literally a piece of Iron shaped like a fish). You boil it in water for 10Min and drink. It gives you about 8 ml of Iron. The little iron fish lasts for 5 years if used once a day. Simple way to get extra iron in you naturally. Sure beats spending $50 every couple of weeks on iron supplements.
Posted 11/13/2018 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
This is a good question. Often this comes to trial and error, trying something and seeing how you do. Philosophically I think it's better to help the body be as strong as possible because that allows it to counter the pathogens more effectively. I would think being iron deficient is not an ideal state for the body to be in, an important element for helping the body function. I've heard different theories on how this relates to babesia and some say the body tries to sequester and store iron in various arenas to keep it away from the pathogen. Personally I have no clue.

I understand about not trusting blood tests! may just want to try a supplement and see how you do on it. If you are already treating effectively for babesia the iron might not turbocharge the pathogen...

On my end I've been trying to read up on lactoferrin and how it relates to babesia. Per Dr J it is a biofilm buster but I also wonder if it has other impacts in regards to babesia/iron availability.
Posted 11/13/2018 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
It'd be interesting to get Georgia Hunter's take on this one...
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