Anaemia

[discoballs]

Hi everyone. On a train to Southampton and our cruise.... But there we are in Plymouth railway station when my GP surgery called and told me I may have Simple Anaemia. Not sure if the Lady at the office said simple or not¿?? Anyway I am booked in to see my GP when we get back.

I am almost a vegan of some 35 years and will be dosing up on vitamin b12 and folic acid as soon as we get near a pharmacy

Any tips or knowledge please fire away!

We are going to take it really easy on this 11 day cruise and I will be on a mega healthy diet.

Happy days

David xx

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It may well the "the anaemia of chronic illness" - extremely common in autoimmune disorders. So make sure the GP understands it isn't just a case of chucking iron at it ...

Have a wonderful time - no point me telling you to enjoy a few steaks though is there My daughter and grandaughter are both vegan and here for xmas - oh dear ...

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

[jinasc]

How about a 'chat' with the Doctor onboard, just in case?

[Hidden in reply to jinasc]

Hugely Expensive to see a Doctor on a Ship, maybe a chat to own GP on the phone as calls while in Europe should now cost the same.

[discoballs in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Ma'am. D x

[jinasc in reply to Hidden]

Oh dear, both were free on Saga and Cunard.

[Hidden in reply to jinasc]

Really?.......

I’ve only ever seen a Doctor on Board a couple of times, one was Complimentary (Norovirus) & the other was for Sea Sickness in a Storm Force 10 & that was about £140 for an injection but l’d have happily paid more than that!

[jinasc in reply to Hidden]

Honestly some cruises do have Doctors. A lady who has had longterm PMR and posts else where, her daughter is a Doctor and has spent the last 8 years wokring on Cruise ships. She loves seeing places, but next year will be her last as she has found her soul mate.

Year of Hurricane - we set off on the QE2 for 3 weeks. I had sold a house down South and moved North. My friend had retired early and as I don't fly (ear problems) and we wanted to see the Caribbean.......off we went via NY etc.

Whilst on board my friend had a nasty fall and concussion. Doctor and Nurse looked after her, one night on a type of ward then for 5 days a visit everyday. Luckily by the time we met her relatives in Baltimore she was tickety boo.

[Hidden in reply to jinasc]

Hi, yes all Cruise Ships have Doctors/Nurses, a Surgery & an Operating Theatre.

The reason there was No Charge is because your friend fell on their Ship.........

If you go with a cough/cold etc you are charged & you must have Cruise Insurance to cover you, should you need to be airlifted off.

I’ve have Cruised many times & the only free treatment l had was when it was classed as the Ships Fault Norovirus 🤢

Our friends are in the Caribbean now & it’s cost them £900 for Cruise Insurance,

1. Because they are going into American Ports

2. He’s over 80

3. He’s had a Heart Attack & Stents fitted.

My Insurance won’t cover me for PMR or Breast Cancer but as it’s included with our Bank Package l can’t complain.

If l was well enough & it’s a Big IF, I would Insure myself separately, as l have way more conditions now that my two exclusions.......

To be honest l’m glad we done most of our World Traveling, as to be honest, l’m not up to it now 😥

But Great Memories 🚢

[jinasc in reply to Hidden]

I had forgotten we had taken out extra insurance because of ports in the States.

That I did not know about the payment or non-payment..............like you great memories and a bit of sadness.

To be honest, like you, I'm not up to it now so - trapezing long gone.

I had just booked a cargo ship to the St Lawrence for a wedding in Toronto

for the following year and had booked early January ferries to Europe in March

Guess what came along in the February...............GCA and a wheelchair.

Hope you get a bit better soon, it does take time and you know that so take care of yourself 'pretty' please over the holidays. xx

[Hidden in reply to jinasc]

Will Do, l was eyeing up the Wheelchairs when l was at the Orthopaedic Hospital!.....

[jinasc in reply to Hidden]

I eventually bought a lightweight one (about £99). It lives in the garage and comes out when necessary.

[discoballs in reply to Hidden]

I have a USA Medicare card as I worked there for 15 years. My wife is American. I’m still unsure what it covers! I am not going back full time but must for family occasions and that scares me.....

[discoballs in reply to Hidden]

I forgot to mention that we do have travel insurance thru Barclays. My conditions are all accepted and covered. Reference Saga I am 68 on the 17th but am a bit juvenile so maybe Saga wouldn't suit me? We have always gone with P and O Cruises up til this month. D

[Hidden in reply to discoballs]

What Ship are you going on? 🚢

[jinasc in reply to Hidden]

Me too, so I can dream..................

[discoballs in reply to jinasc]

It doesn’t cost that much if you look out for deals. We managed to get an outside cabin with a balcony for £900 each all food included plus plus plus. Butlins would cost more

[discoballs in reply to Hidden]

Arcadia. Adults only.

[Hidden in reply to discoballs]

Nice! 🚢 🥂

[jinasc in reply to Hidden]

Nice, seconded.

[HeronNS]

I have low iron. The first test was haemaglobin, but my new doctor followed up with ferritin and this is what she now checks. Apparently it's possible to have low haemaglobin, which measures iron in your red blood cells, but the ferritin actually stored in the body can be fairly high. This can occur with autoimmune conditions and high ferritin is even considered a marker for inflammation. In my case the ferritin was virtually non-existent so I take a liquid iron supplement which is very easily absorbed and has helped. I'm not vegan but have been vegetarian for many years, so no iron from meat.

[discoballs]

I just swallowed some iron supplements along with a vegan pizza at Pizza Express in Southampton. Lovely. Thank you all.

[Blearyeyed]

I know iron is a tricky one with specialist diets.

As it's not so easy to pack in the iron as a vegan you may find this tip helpful.

Adding extra Vitamin C at your meals , either as a supplement , or small drink of orange juice or cranberry juice helps you absorb more of the iron you eat .

You may even be able to purchase some appropriate iron supplements on board ship from their Pharmacy with the right advice , or pop and see the ships doctor to get the right stuff straight away without it playing on your mind and spoiling your fun.

You will be able to get more help when you get home.

Have a wonderful trip and don't forget to Pace Yourself !

[Hidden in reply to Blearyeyed]

Thank you... That's why I bought vit c. I knew it wS for a reason but couldn't remember what I had been reading. Right I can add it into the routine now.

[discoballs in reply to Blearyeyed]

Just remembered I do have vitamin c and zinc lozenges that I dissolve in water each day. Quite refreshing.

[Hidden in reply to Blearyeyed]

Pop into Boots before you sail 🚢

[Hidden]

Don't drink tea with your meals as plant based iron absorption is cut in half or something. Green tea or black tea. Just as a general practice it's good to remember. I hate tea so never had to do it. Enjoy your holiday... Please try and be well enough so there's no hospital visits! 🚢

[discoballs in reply to Hidden]

I have tea to. I love Twinings spicy ginger infusion and drink lots of that

[discoballs in reply to discoballs]

Should have said hate tea.

[Hidden in reply to discoballs]

I thought you were. My phone turns can't into can or haven't into have. It drives me nuts. But often the context gives it away. A life on the ocean waves....

[Blearyeyed in reply to Hidden]

Great tip , I forgot that one , it's the tannin isn't it ?

[Hidden in reply to Blearyeyed]

Tannins and, apparently oxalate. I remember my mum had to rejig her lunches when she had cancer. Had to stop the lunchtime tea.

[Marilyn1959]

Delighted you are on your way! Hope you have a great time.

[discoballs in reply to Marilyn1959]

Thank you Marilyn