Question:
Has anyone developed anemia beacuse of the surgery and craves for Argo starch
I am 16 months post op and I crave ARGO starch like crazy. I am at 1 box a day. I haven't lost any weight in the past 6 months. I gain a couple but lose them right away. The iron pills don't seem to work. They've done blood work and found that I have a low blood count and perscribed Iron pills 3 times a day. — D X. (posted on November 5, 2002)
November 5, 2002
Do you mean cornstarch? How do you eat cornstarch? This is very strange.
Why would you sabotage your weight loss with something like cornstarch?
Don't mean to sound nasty but I just don't understand. I have cravings
sometimes but it is for peanut butter or cherry tomatoes. Seems to run in
cycles when I want something in particular.
— Mylou52
November 5, 2002
Actually, craving starch is very common when you are anemic. It happens a
lot to pregnant women and it is not sabatoge. It is your body's way of
trying to correct what is wrong. However, it is a sign that your iron
prescription may not be working and you should call your doctor ASAP and
let him know what is going on. You need to have him help you take care of
this before your iron gets so low you need a transfusion.
— Tina P.
November 5, 2002
In answer to your question, I am pre-op so I haven't. A long time ago I was
told to dissolve about 1/4 t. in a little warm water and drink before bed,
to assist in keeping a level blood sugar. It was my understanding that it
was a slow to digest sugar, a little was supposed to go a long way in
aiding sleep. Are you diabetic, or hypoglycemic? You don't have much of a
profile... Are you sticking to the cornstarch because it satisfies your
craving, for a little while. The anemia makes you weak, and your body wants
something to help it make energy.
— Tricia J.
November 5, 2002
If you are craving wierd items such as starch- this is probably due to a
vitamin deficiency somewhere... when I got pregnant they said the same
thing to me (so not so much a WLS issue)... they wanted to know of any
strange cravings (beyond pickles) I may have- such as the craving to eat
dirt, laundry soap, starch etc. I THINK YOU SHOULD GET YOURSELF TO A
DOCTOR. As this cannot be good for you. The pills don't work, you need a
different batlle plan. This habit has a name, it's called PICA- you can
read for yourself: http://www.eating-disorder.org/pica.html
— Karen R.
November 5, 2002
Just a comment on iron pills. Did they prescribe ferrous sulfate pills?
That is not a good choice for most of us as it isn't well absorbed.
Ferrous fumerate or elemental iron works better.
— LLinderman
November 6, 2002
Dierdre, did you go to the Doctor yet?
— Karen R.
November 6, 2002
Dierdre, did you go to the Doctor yet?
— Karen R.
November 6, 2002
Craving starch, wood, wool, dirt, or other non-food items is common and is
called Pica. If you do a search on the Internet, you'll see lots of support
groups and information about it. Many women before the 20th century would
eat starch and dirt when they were pregnant. Good luck!
— Kristy J.
November 6, 2002
Just wanted to let you know that I'm having this same problem, I was just
release from the hospital a week ago from having a blood transfusion. My
blood level was so low that two of my doctors called me at home and told me
to go to the emergency room right away. Right now I'm on three iron pills
per day too. I'm still having trouble with my blood level and still have
these strange craving for dirt. Take you doctor's advice and take your
iron pills. Let him now if you feel weak or light headed. Funny thing
thou, my doctor told me yesterday I look really good to be so sick...I
guess I never felt sick because my body got so used to functioning with low
blood . Take care and don't take this lightly.
— Rebe W.
November 7, 2002
Dierdre--oh, my gosh, sounds like you've got a major case of pica!! See
you doctor ASAP!!
— Joyce C.
July 23, 2003
I crave ice all day long every day. I know it doesn't have iron in it but
still crave. I'm on iron pills.
— robin T.
February 7, 2006
i ate cornstarch a box a day until i was hospitalized I got a blood
transfusion and it cured me. The pills don't help as much as a transfusion.
The starch lowers your blood even more.
— ressetoya
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