Question:
Pre Op and Craving Ice- Any significance?
For the last 2 months I have been preparing for my surgery Aug7. I started taking a good multi-vit and drinking 64+ oz of water every day. I find I must have ice in it and I have taken to eating the ice cubes. Cold, wet and crunchy LOL I have herd that craving ice is a symptom of something like a vitamin deficiency or it is stress related. Do any of you know what if anything craving ice means? I go through 2 or 3 trays a day in my glasses of water. I am not doing any extra activities, don't go outside when it's hot and humid. Not eating more sweets or salty foods. I've never craved ice before since I have always had sensitive teeth, now the ice doesn't bother them. Weird huh? — mary ann T. (posted on July 27, 2003)
July 27, 2003
My mother, who was not obese, was a brittle diabetic. That means it is
very hard to control. I don't ever remember seeing her except at night,
without a huge 32oz. cup of crushed ice. ice, ice, ice, all day long. It
is a sympthom of diabetic along with being excessively thirsty. Not all
diabetics crave it but it is one of the first sympthoms. Don't mean to
scare you but have you been checked?
— Delores S.
July 27, 2003
I used to crave ice. Had to be "soft ice" I called it. I LOVED
munching ice. I could not munch the 'out of the frig' kind of ice cubes.
Had to be the shaved kind that comes in fountain sodas. I am not diabetic.
Someone told me it was a sign of low iron. Now I was always borderline
anemic. Not any more...since the WLS. I take my vitamins faithfully and
for he first time in my life I am not borderline anemic. Wooohooo...I can
give blood now. Having O Negative this is GOOD (unversal but not rare).
Everyone wants my O Negative. :)
Don't know whatever became of my ice munchin'. I just stopped doing it one
day.
— Ginger M.
July 27, 2003
LOL.....my friends used to tell me that eating ice is a sign of sexual
frustration....just a myth, I'm sure. Hahahahahahaha
— Jen D.
July 27, 2003
Craving ice is a sign of iron deficiency anemia. You should have your dr.
run a CBC to check it out before surgery.
— Jean S.
July 27, 2003
I've been borderline diabetic for years, and one of my first clues that my
blood sugar was out of whack was a craving for ice.
— Dragon G.
July 27, 2003
I also agree with Jean. Iron deficiency. My daughter was craving ice
constantly and one day passed out. I had blood work done & her iron
level was so low they said she shouldn't have been standing let alone doing
sports, going to school, etc. Please have it checked.
— j A.
July 28, 2003
I too eat ice like crazy..I will eat the whole ice tray full at times and
then start on the next one..and for sure always refill for later! haha..but
I am anemic (8.8) and have taken iron pills but do not seem to help..and
have been told insurance wont pay for shots since it is just cuz I'm
anemic...As all the others have said you do need to go get your blood
levels checked..Good luck! Rhonda
— Rhondaroo78
July 28, 2003
I concur. Iron deficiency is usually the cause of pica (craving &
eating weird things-ice, laundry soap, dirt). To Rhonda, whose iron is
still falling.. which iron have you been taking? Perhaps changing iron OR
how you take it will turn it around?
— vitalady
July 29, 2003
Pica????? Now laundry soap and dirt ARE weird..but ice?
— Ginger M.
July 29, 2003
From a kids health website:
<p>
<i>
pica, is an eating disorder characterized by persistent and compulsive
cravings to eat non-food items that last for 1 month or longer.
<p>
Persons with pica most frequently crave and consume non-food items such as
dirt, clay, paint chips, plaster, chalk, cornstarch, laundry starch, baking
soda, coffee grounds, cigarette ashes, burnt match heads, cigarette butts,
and rust. Glue, hair, buttons, paper, sand, toothpaste, soap, oyster
shells, and broken crockery also have been cited in pica cases.
<p>
Although consumption of some items may be harmless, pica is considered to
be a serious eating disorder, sometimes resulting in serious health
problems such as lead poisoning and iron-deficiency anemia.
</i>
<p>
http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/nutrition/pica.html
<p>
My cousin had WLS several years ago and became anemic last year, she would
eat ice by the glassfull all day long. It eased up after she was treated
with blood transfusions and prescription iron supplements.
— Ali M
July 30, 2003
I went thru this. It was iron deficiency anemia. I also had extremly bad
periods due to large bleeding fibroids. Since I was thru having children I
had a hysterectomy one year ago. Not that I'd suggest such a radical
procedure but it was the best decision for me. I can't believe how much
energy I have now and not having to deal with PMS anymore (I chuckle to
myself when I hear the women in my office complain at that time of the
month). I had my yearly bloodwork done and I am no longer anemic. I don't
crave wierd food items anymore (especially the ice). You should probably
speak with your doctor, anemia has many causes and I'm just so glad mine
was pinpointed. Being anemic drains your energy and after going thru WLS
to get rid of the weight and increase my activity, the last thing I wanted
to worry about was not having energy for my children. Good Luck!
— Mary A.
October 6, 2003
I had surgery 3 yrs. ago and crave ice all day long. I'm severely anemic.
My hemo. is 8.0. I was told I might need transfusions. I take iron and
eat it at every meal. Still not going up. I take Niferex 150.
— robin T.
Click Here to Return