Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Me and My Iron


Unpaid advertisement:

Years ago, I thought that it was normal to be so tired and sleepy all
the time. There were days when I didn't have to go to work but still
feel tired the whole day, not doing anything. I'd wake up feeling sleepy. I'd sleep and still feel tired after a few hours and yearn for the bed.

Everything changed when I
discovered iron supplements.




I did not have to take naps all the time. Things seem to be clearer somehow. It's hard to explain but it's like I just became more awake.

When I came to China, I brought several months' supply of vitamins with me: iron and vitamin C. When these ran out, I tried different supplements but I never really found the perfect vitamins. I gradually went back to being tired and sleepy and listless all the time. Except that it was so gradual that I didn't really notice it. Again, I thought it was normal.

Today, I was pleasantly surprised that I did not need to take naps throughout the day and still had enough energy to make loads of lesson plans that I'd been neglecting to write, prepared for my classes for tonight (which I never really do. I just think of what we'll talk about and take it from there), and am writing this entry.

Ordinarily, I would be sleepy by the time I get up in the morning. I only drag myself out of bed so I won't feel bad about staying in bed the whole day (which I sometimes do, actually). I take at least one nap during the day, sometimes two, and almost always still wake up feeling tired. I always say that heaven is if I could sleep all day and on the same breath wish that I don't have to be so sleepy all the time because I'm missing out on so many things.

And so I finally met up with Evonne again last night. She went home to Manila during the October holidays and thus had the opportunity to bring me things that I asked Nuna to send me. And so after a looong time, I am reunited with my iron.

It took me a while to realize why I wasn't feeling as tired as I should be today. I was still up and running after lunch and for me, that was odd. And then I realized that I had my iron fix the night before. And so after more than two hours of classes (I had overtime :p), I still have the energy to tell you about my amazing miracle vitamin. It put the life back into my life!

I love my iron.


56 comments:

  1. I think I'll be getting me some of those.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I used to take iron supplements din so I know it works... I stopped for what reason, I don't know. :)

    Teka, teka, teka.... Sino magbabayad ng airfare mo going back to Manila? Its a pharmaceutical company isn't it? =)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hahaha! My boss says they're going to pay for it. And no, the company has nothing to do with drugs, vitamins, et al. Hehe. I couldn't find anything here nga that has the same effect. Although I did think that one of those pharmaceutical companies from back home should get me as a spokesperson. Tipong pang mga United Homes ad :p. If I can be convincing without getting paid, imagine how much better I'll be after I get paid.

    ReplyDelete
  4. damn i need this. has it enhanced your stamina like two-fold? i find myself panting after three fastbreaks in a ball game...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Joni, I can almost imagine you giving your spiel infront of a camera wearing a black turtleneck and sporting a ponytail... hahaha :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. hehehe red bull lang ang sinasamba ko eh.. =)

    ReplyDelete
  7. hey be careful of medicines/vitamins made from China...Joey Marquez's daughter almost died taking diet pills from China hahahaha

    ReplyDelete
  8. pati vitamin e. makes you bright and perky inside and out.

    ReplyDelete
  9. talaga? i used to take vitamin e pero parang walang epekto sakin.

    ReplyDelete
  10. bright and perky ka na kasi. nire-reject ng system mo.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oliver, I can't answer that. I don't do sports. The athletes here are always inviting me to go running with them and I always decline because um, I'm too lazy. But then now that I have more energy, I might join them one day.

    Erwin, or I could start an iron deficiency anemia awareness campaign. Then I'll get funding from different pharmaceutical companies and other wealthy philantrophists. Then I'll get rich. Then I'll live happily ever after. :p

    Rachel, I'm wary of those energy drinks because I have this notion that they might not be "healthy". I don't know. I once tried Lipovitan Ira (there was a taste test of sorts just outside DLSU once) and I was already shaking after just two gulps.

    Marky, I got these vitamins from Manila. And no I don't take diet pills. That'll just be too ridiculous for me.

    Vince and Nuna, at first I didn't realize that you were talking about Vitamin E. Hehe. Pano naka-lower case, akala ko expression na "e" lang. Di ko tuloy ma-gets! Hahaha! Anyway, I don't feel the effect of Vitamin E either. Do you take them, Vince?

    ReplyDelete
  12. gasp! i am not bright and perky! take that back! take that baaaack!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Why don't you wanna be bright and perky?

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm a sucker for the big B vitamins. They keep me giong strong all day long.

    ReplyDelete
  15. bright and perky is boring. i'd rather be dark and depressed and angst-ridden. makes for more interesting conversation fare over coffee. :p

    ReplyDelete
  16. I've heard about the B vitamins but I haven't tried them. Don't bananas have loads of those?

    Oh yeah, the brooding artiste... *nods

    ReplyDelete
  17. hey you're interesting..plus the angst ridden look wont work for you...you smile a lot which is lovely hehe

    ReplyDelete
  18. hmm... maybe i have the same problem too. i'm always so tired all the time. even though i don't work as much as i used to. i'm just always sleepy. should try those iron supplements.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Try it, Achi Janice. I'm taking the 325mg per pill. And I hope someone from Mercury Drug is reading this. I'd take a lifetime supply of iron supplements in exchange for my very effective testimonial.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Dont' forget the calcium. Seriously, earlier this year I found myself suffering from bouts of what I can only describe as 'empty headedness'. Periods where I just felt, well...stupid. A Chinese-medicine doctor pal of mine informed me it was likely due to a lack of calcium. I'm not a big fan of Chinese dairy products (usually my primary source of C). After supplementing with pills, I noticed a profound increase in awareness, and well, for a lack of a better adjective, perkiness.

    ReplyDelete
  21. okay that's it. i will start taking vitamins again. not that i remember feeling anything different when i do take them, but the thought that i'm maybe missing out on some extra energy doesn't sit well with me. :p

    ReplyDelete
  22. I've actually been thinking of taking calcium! In fact, I just mentioned that to a friend about an hour ago. Mainly because I'm paranoid: I'm getting old, osteoporosis, bone loss and all that stuff. But I think I'll wait till I get home before I start on that one.

    ReplyDelete
  23. i used to take calcium. i used to take the whole fucking gamut of supplements: calcium, vitamin e, iron, vitamin c. nothing. i didn't really feel anything different. so i stopped. and i'm not really sure what my point is. only that i probably should start taking them again. just in case you know? (paranoia runs in the family)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Is that the only vitamin you take?

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love these healthy posts!

    Straight after reading this, I poured myself a ginger ale and scotch, chopped up my particular brand of hydroponic 'herbal' vitamins, and am currently in the process of absorbing them through a pipe, via my lungs. Once I deem myself 'perky' enough, I'm going to start some serious net procrastinating, so I can go into stock take tomorrow morning on an empty stomach, juiced on sugar, caffeine, nicotine, and with no more than four hours of sleep...

    ReplyDelete
  26. hmmmm, used to take some vitamin, but well, i feel nothing, but my mom said she could feel it, like skin problem might disappear, for her hands sometimes get really dry, esp. in winter.

    I guess my problem is sometimes i get overtired and it's kinda hard to fall asleep.:P Does Iron help?

    ReplyDelete
  27. I know that bananas have potassium, which is supposed to help. Not sure about B, though. I am a vitamin junkie. I take echinacea, fish oil supplements, multivitamin (Centrum is my fav), B-100 and B-12 (since I am not sure of the difference and figure better 2 than none lol), calcium (viactiv chews are great - tastes like chocolate), and vitamin C (know my smoking depletes my C levels, so.... ). Will usually take once a day, but if I am feeling like I might be coming down with something will pop it up to 2xs a day. Just makes me feel better and hopefully makes it so I don't have to see the doctor ever. Scared to death of those guys! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  28. join na! running the roads of china on mornings, isn't that

    ReplyDelete
  29. er, tageswanderer, yes? i don't think you completed your thought...

    ReplyDelete
  30. ...isn't that a pleasing image?

    errr, i lost it...

    ReplyDelete
  31. I'm not sure, Puyu. You could give it a try.

    Carolyn, I think I got myself confused. Yeah, potassium. I used to think I was the ultimate vitamin-addict but after reading that post, I concede to you.

    Oliver, a pleasing image does not a pleased body make.

    Jason, ironing clothes? I'd rather do the laundry.

    ReplyDelete
  32. It's the only way I was able to keep up when I was younger and partied all the time. And it keeps my tired body going still. Well, kind of. LOL!
    Have to have something make up for all my smoking, bad sleep habits, and junk food addiction.

    Love to fold clothes, personally. Will fight over doing that part of the laundry. Terrible, I know.

    ReplyDelete
  33. I hate folding clothes! I just, um, put them away until I wear them again so they usually get so wrinkled and I end up looking stupid. Oh, this is great! We can all live together! I wash the clothes, Jason irons, you fold. Then Nuna cleans the house and Jing cooks. http://thejonastory.multiply.com/journal/item/89?last_read=1&mark_read=thejonastory:journal:89

    ReplyDelete
  34. We still haven't found anyone to wash the dishes. Or is that part of cleaning?

    ReplyDelete
  35. i can take care of washing the dishes. i find it therapeutic. *generous

    ReplyDelete
  36. Whereever I go people call me the walking and talking "Dishwasher" if that is of any help....:) I just can not see undone dishes and glasses and mess around kitchen.....

    Well this discussion is getting interesting...

    WHen I read Iron first, I also thought its all abour ircloths... hmmmmm

    ReplyDelete
  37. Ok, you can be the dishwasher then. Nuna, you can concentrate on scrubbing the floors, etc. What else have we forgotten?

    ReplyDelete
  38. No way I'm living with any of you! You'd hog the computer night and day!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Jing will cook (see above link).

    You can have your own computer! Who's going to iron our clothes if you don't live with us?

    ReplyDelete
  40. joni, i got this off wikipedia:

    "Humans experience iron toxicity above 20 milligrams of iron for every kilogram of weight, and 60 milligrams per kilogram is a lethal dose.[5] Over-consumption of iron, often the result of children eating large quantitities of ferrous sulfate tablets intended for adult consumption, is the most common toxicological cause of death in children under six. The DRI lists the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for adults as 45 mg/day. For children under fourteen years old the UL is 40 mg/day."

    are you sure yours is 325mg? i'm taking a 25mg now. no drastic effects yet. hopefully, i'll feel the gradual improvement.

    ReplyDelete
  41. you vitamin eaters seems to be worst than Cocain addicts...... why cant you live without any pills and tablets and so on?????? ........... drink plain water instead ..........In africa they dont get all those fancy vitamins and still they live there.... Come on folks.....

    ReplyDelete
  42. Achi Janice, I'm pretty sure it says 325mg per tablet. And then at the side, it says equivalent to... was it 65, I'm not so sure now but something like 65 mg of metal iron. Or something like that. And the dosage even says that it's to be taken twice or thrice a day, which I don't do because I think once a day is enough for me.

    Nuna, have you checked? I'll check again tonight to make sure.

    Sachin, I don't want to just live. I want to live AND actually be awake enough to do the living. Which is simply hard for me without my iron.

    ReplyDelete
  43. not yet. i, um, forgot. as usual. hopefully i'll remember to do it when i get home later. hehe.

    ReplyDelete
  44. yeah sachya is right, we didnt have all in one vitamins back then, we got it the old fashioned way through nature and etc.. the people in the bible lived for 800 to 900 years and im pretty sure they dint have centrum then.

    But im taking fish oil right now, vitamin c and calcium. hehehehe. will look on the iron thing if im getting sufficient doses or not. ive also read somewhere that vit d is good for prevention of cancer, not really sure though.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Hahaha! Vitamins are great! Yumyum!

    ReplyDelete

  46. Hindi lang sa vitamins jona sa lahat ng klaseng drugs pa. haha..

    ReplyDelete
  47. kaya yata masarap luto mo e. baka may extra something. :p

    ReplyDelete
  48. hahahaha.. yeah tama ka dyan, mga herbs and spices. hahaha

    ReplyDelete