5 replies to this topic

[anelike]

i have searched the threads for this but have come up with nothing other than something related to drinking beetroot juice! - ( have never drunk it in my life - ewwwwwww! ) so if i am going back over old ground, feel free to direct me to a thread to read that may have some explanations:) definitely a 'running body' concern

this is a question for all, mostly 'long distance runners' though i guess ...- NOT after diagnosis (ucb, have read your thread DO NOT come here for diagnosis! - i arent but would really love to hear your views if you have any considering you are an ultra runner, and from that view point!)
have just had new tests done (friday) and dr has everything in hand and i am more than satisfied with all his thoughts/ explanations at this stage and simply await results ... but, after back up that this is 'common' - to hear stories or find out how anyone has overcome this problem if it is 'true'


i am vegetarian, eat well (though some may argue that point!), but occasionally have low iron levels etc - year ago had a series (6 mths) of B12 shots (1 each month) to bring levels up - i dont recall all the technical terms etc and unimportant, mentioned, simply because, i have been feeling tired past few weeks - yes, ive been training hard but it isnt that training hard/over training tired, that picks me up and makes me feel awesome when i get out and do anything physical! but a real have no energy need to sleep for hours but cant tired, same sort of lethargic feeling when they started giving me the b12 after blood testing and seeing the levels - so, my own self analysis was it was just the same thing, with cradle mt coming up beginning february, i thought i better get it checked and see if i cant get a boost if that was the case - so friday (15th jan) finally stopped procrastinating and trotted off to the dr for some blood tests, simple solution

however, not that simple it appears!
tuesday, reception call me up and dr wants to see me, thursday before i could get there though because of work/training - it didnt seem that important, he was after all just gonna tell me again my B12 levels are low right - not to be.

diagnosis is that i am indeed anaemic - however - my iron levels are 'excellent' - B12 'borderline low-normal' but, that is acceptable - my doctor has no concerns with either of those things but the puzzlement is of therefore being anaemic. red and white blood count, both low,

many things it can apparently be - some not so good things, so now, more blood tests have just been done (friday 22nd - friggin' OUCH!) to test everything and then we go from there - the dr however thinks it is more than likely 'march haematuria' (the lesser of many evils) - which is (hmmm how quickly we learn of things) related to 'long distance running' or even long distance walking


will get some results back this week but some of the tests ordered will take a couple of weeks - so in the meantime, because i had my last 'long run' today before cradle, the dr gave me a 'wee stick' - not a 'tiny stick', the other wee! once finished todays run, i had to wee on it and he had shown me a pic of how it 'shouldnt look' which was, basically, mouldy black spot looking - he said it could take up to two minutes to show - within ten seconds, little black spots started showing, :/ - this is (apparently) traces of blood - ( ? ) and not what he wanted to happen

ok, the basic background all there, and believe it or not, actually very brief!!
so here is my actual question.
for, being human, being female (sorry to all us females but we do ) i overthink/overanalyse/overworry!

i know im very very new and inexperienced - 12 months ago i barely knew ultras existed other than a guy called dean karnazes did them! - let alone had done any running myself - but, i have read so much info to learn as much as i can, bordering on obsessiveness - ive had the pleasure of meeting so many ultra runners (cr's and some non so) all so open and friendly and willing to share their knowledge and experience, so have been learning and hearing so much along the traps via the events or emails and of course, on here - yet, never, not even in the slightest mention to p***k my ears and go 'what', have i heard of such a thing or of anyone talking about having blood in their urine because they 'run'. even the thought of that makes me feel queasy!
but, not even a whisper of chatter.
so - IS this common - if its not too personal a thing to 'share' - i sure would like to know more about it (yes have googled it, so sort of understand how it comes about now) but surely that means theres a lot of people out there all with the same thing happening ...
any ways anyone has overcome it/beaten it??

initial chat with dr and of course, pending official results was - if i want to train 'hard' then i HAVE to do a 3 weeks hard, then one week COMPLETE rest suggestion which he stated 'may' be of help (i currently train every day, day in day out, but x train, not only running)
i am fine to run, he said the white blood count is not a concern as its fairly normal amongst long distance runners (again, i ?) but he would then expect my red count to actually be up ( ? ) the low red blood count means i am not running at 'an optimum' despite my fitness level (more ? ) - ah so many eh!

comments anyone on any of the above - certainly much appreciated

thanking you
and
peace
-a-lways


for those where this means anything and if it helps - (these are just the things that are apparently too low on the initial tests)

haemoglobin 107g/L
haematocrit 0.30
white cell count 2.8 x10 ^9 /L
neutrophils 34% 1.0 x10 ^9 /L

all other readings were fairly 'average' some a little below but certainly acceptable

[littleblackpug]

Hi anelike,

Yes it's common to me.

It's due to increased Hemolysis of red blood cells with foot strike.

The reason I know it's common to me is that I was employed as a testing officer for pre-employment drug screening for a year and part of our protocol was that testers were required to screen themselves at the start of work. There was a definite correlation there for me of what run I'd done of the weekend and the amount of hematuria experienced.

On a related note I am vegan (of 4 years) and my iron levels are great (23 - range 13-28) but I do take Floradix iron suppliment every day when running over 80kms a week, and a cheaper FAB Iron tablet when not training hard. However my ferratin levels (stored iron) are always low due to the increased turnover of red blood cells.

I hope this helps!

[anelike]

well, there is two of us!!!! thanks lbp

part of our protocol was that testers were required to screen themselves at the start of work <<- you mean like EVERY day you had to!? or only on commencing employment with them - i cringe at the thought of a blood test every day! egads, id have to quit

on that other note - been vegetarian 3 years, (and im sure its a contributing factor to losing a lot of weight) would LOVE to be vegan like you, - love eggs and dairy waaaaaay too much, ok, well, ice cream! but i imagine its just like when choosing not to eat meat? sooner - rather than later, your body doesnt even want or crave it anymore...

still awaiting new results

peace
-a-lways

[littleblackpug]

anelike, on Jan 26 2010, 10:55 PM, said:

<<- you mean like EVERY day you had to!? or only on commencing employment with them - i cringe at the thought of a blood test every day! egads, id have to quit

Haematuria is just urine related, so only a urine sample fortunately.

All the best with it anelike

[undercover brother]

littleblackpug, on Jan 25 2010, 05:52 AM, said:

The reason I know it's common to me is that I was employed as a testing officer for pre-employment drug screening for a year and part of our protocol was that testers were required to screen themselves at the start of work.

ahhhhhhhh it's all coming together now.
the change of jobs.
the cooking of the muffins.
do you have something in common with elaine?

[anelike]

i know the doctor said to me two weeks for the results but he did say maybe some may come back during the past week, but so far nothing, was really hoping to know 'something' before going away but doesnt seem like i will find anything out until coming home
ah well - no news is good news
thanks

peace
-a-lways