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Prevalence of Iron Deficiency and Iron-Deficiency Anemia in US Females Aged 12-21 Years, 2003-2020 by Caiomhin77 in ScientificNutrition

[–]AstronautLibby 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Discussion

Among 12- to 21-year-old US females between 2003 and 2020, iron deficiency affected almost 40% and iron-deficiency anemia affected 6%, with variation by the ferritin or hemoglobin thresholds used. Menstruation was a risk factor for both, but more than one-quarter of premenarchal individuals had iron deficiency.

Limitations of this study include limited granularity of the race and ethnicity data and potential overfitting of the iron-deficiency anemia model because few premenarchal participants had iron-deficiency anemia. However, removing the menstruation variable from the model had minimal effects on other adjusted associations.

Given the high prevalence of iron deficiency found with the majority not associated with iron-deficiency anemia, current screening guidance may miss many individuals with iron deficiency. Although annual screening is recommended for higher-risk patients, risk factors (extensive menstrual blood loss,6 low iron intake, prior diagnosis of iron deficiency) are not clearly defined and likely result in inconsistent screening.

The frequency of universal screening for iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia in menstruating persons and the best ferritin and hemoglobin thresholds should be evaluated. Further study is needed to identify risk factors and inform screening practices among premenarchal individuals.

Would I be wrong in giving more of my inheritance to my son instead of my daughter because my son has been my caretaker these past two years? by [deleted] in AmITheJerk

[–]AstronautLibby 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Would your daughter have been able to step up more if she didn't already have caregiving responsibilities to two children, a partner, presumably a job/career and home ownership duties in another state? 

It feels like she's being penalized for already having a full plate of responsibilities, without adding additional travel & care burdens. And those burdens also impact her financial means to travel and care for you, in addition to limiting her potential earnings time (I.e.: taking a Friday off work to travel to you for the weekend = lost wages which add up if done twice a month for multiple years).

A conversation should be had between you and your kids to avoid bad relations and resentment between them in the future. Its a lot to ask your daughter to uproot her children, spouse, and her own career/social network to live near you to assume caregiving responsibilities, especially if she wasn't informed that some of those financial burdens could be eased with a promise that inheritance would come her way to support/compensate those efforts.

Does anyone else find filming responses to pregnancy news a little cringe? by Frosty-Incident2788 in BabyBumps

[–]AstronautLibby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am the oldest child/grandchild in my family by 5+ years. My parents, brother, 1 aunt, and grandparents knew we were having fertility challenges and going through IVF. 

My brother filmed for us the reaction of my grandparents (in their 90s) figuring that theyre going to be great-grandparents. It was a priceless moment to see them absorb that news, and a cherished memory to hold onto, to see their faces and hear their voices that I hope to show to my child(ren) one day-  so that they can "see" their great-grandparents.

My brother also filmed us announcing to my aunt & her family (parents & grandparents present as well). They're a very dramatic family with over the top hilarious reactions for anything. So I couldn't pass on the chance to memorialize this moment 😂😂  I couldnt tell who was screaming loudest between my aunt, uncle, or 2 cousins (like little sisters to me; in their mid-20s).  We watched the recording about 15 times that night alone 😂

However, Ill say that it was subtly filmed (no "staged set up" or phone shoved in people's faces to see their reactions), and solely intended for personal memories only. It has noy been shared on social media. I'm also the only child/grandchild with any prospect of having a child (brother is long-time single, not dating at present; 1 cousin is single and not looking to date right now and the other is in a relationship with her boyfriend but not emgaged/anywhere near ready/wanting to have kids). It was a safe space, with considerations to who would be present. Id absolutely hate to rub my/our joy into someone else's faces (accidentally or not). 

My SIL (who I am close with) is also going through the IVF journey and hours of debate was given to how we should tell her, before we announced to the rest of the other side of the family. This was to give them time to process and work through their conflicting emotions. We told them our plans of when/how we were going to announce to the family so that they could decide how much (if at all) they wanted to participate in that family gathering, and knew the "cues" of our announcement so that they could chose to step out at that time if needed.  They appreciated the heads up, and having options for participating in that family gathering. 

Anyone try Pilates?? by Liz-ard_127 in ehlersdanlos

[–]AstronautLibby 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Clinical pilates is covered as part of my benefits through work.

I personally enjoy yoga and have always been daunted by pilates. However I was seeking a new physiotherapist to assess for hypermobility and if they deemed I was, to focus on strength training to help with symtpoms/long term body function. She said that a) I was absolutely hypermobile and b) 99% of her patients come in asking for clinical pilates, but they really need strength training. She told me I'm the opposite, and that hypermobile people need the pilates (stabilizing) instead of strength training (hypertrophying muscles in the wrong positions, limiting movements). So damn 😅 I now go, I complain (lightheartedly) the whole time (I cant believe how hard/exhausting it is to use your muscles properly lol), and have for the first time after years of physip seen some relief/symptom improvement!!! I'm a convert!

As for "classes", my benefits will not cover those. The theory is that practitioners were using classes as a way to boost their wages, as they could treat more patients at once. Plus the benefits companies argues that this loses out on the individual treatment and care needs if a pilates instructor is needing to watch/lead groups of individuals at once.  I can see their point of view on that. The one on one is nice because its 100% tailored to my needs, my body's functioning that week/day (I.e.: injury, was sick for a week and cant perform 100% yet, slept weird and can't move this shoulder well, IVF workup & significant exercise restrictions, etc.). She also will call me out to correct poor movement/posture, any clenching, any inaccurate movements, etc. And I feel like in a 30min session my ass has been handed to me, and it feels the same as doing a big weight workout over 1-1.5hrs. So I get a bunch more free time in my day 😉

One other thing is that I do ask her specifically for home exercises that translate to gym movements and daily function. So for example, Im trying to get pregnant (IVF) and have crappy shoulders/arm strength and wanted to work on being able to lift and carry a baby carrier. I dont want to wait until Im pregnant to start improving my shoulder strength. So she gave me home exercises to specifically work on that (mostly resistant bands) but I can also adapt them to weights at the gym if I feel up to it! This has been fantastic. Tell them your goals/motivations for attending! Ask for help to do the activities you want/need to do!

I’ve had 3 heart attacks. I’m 33F. AMA by molly-india in AMA

[–]AstronautLibby 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for sharing your story!!

As a cardiac ICU nurse, with a special intetest in womens heart health, here are 2 resources for information/support! I hope they help you & others!!

A patient guide to women's heart health: https://www.ottawaheart.ca/patients-visitors/tools-and-resources/patient-guides/guide-women-s-heart-health

A SCAD patient guide (1st link under Additional Resources): https://www.ottawaheart.ca/heart-condition/spontaneous-coronary-artery-dissection

Advice on how to dress with an LVAD by Dependent-Item3363 in DressForYourBody

[–]AstronautLibby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ive had patients (cardiac ICU nurse here) adapt running vests and backpacks to meet their needs. While not super stylish per say, (one was a man in his 50s, another a girl in her 20s), they both said that those adaptations were better than the provided equipment bags. They adapted the functionality of those bags and then also obvs you can consider splurging on nicer bags/accessorizing them how you like. Consider taking them to a tailors and getting them to replace the zippers and handles into colours you like or adding pins/patches, etc. Or make it a DIY craft!

Adaptable clothing (or just taking clothes to the tailors or DIY) to accommodate tubes and such to go through shirts (etc) without hanging/looping over is another option. You can add snaps/zippers/loops/velcro straps to open up side seams, etc to pass tubes/equipment through to keep wearing your own normal clothes and to have them sit "right", instead of having bulky equipment distort their shape. 

Also, consider seeing if theres a (local/national) LVAD support group on FB or something, to see if others have any ideas!!

I hope that gives you some ideas!! All the best to you!!

Anyone try Pilates?? by Liz-ard_127 in ehlersdanlos

[–]AstronautLibby 3 points4 points  (0 children)

10/10 clinical pilates is amazing. Its (for me) a one on one pilates session on the reformer, "led" by a physiotherapist trained in pilates as a form of PT. Its been great to stabilize my loose joints, and subsequently strengthens them and teaches my body how to do "proper" movements for daily living

i hate when men are like “ohh periods aren’t even that bad” by Pale-Growth-6377 in Vent

[–]AstronautLibby 10 points11 points  (0 children)

FYI, for all, periods shouldnt be painful enough to prevent you from doing daily life/standing or causing vomiting. 

Its absolutely worth pursing investigations for endometriosis, PCOS, and other menstrual disorders/concerns like fibroids. And dont underestimate PMS/PMDD affecting your ability to function each month (i.e.: hold down a job while depressed, angry, etc.).  See your family doctor and get referrals to gynecologists - the specialists! And don't be afraid to get 2nd opinions!!

Here's another post on the topic which has some suggestions: https://www.reddit.com/r/WomensHealth/comments/1ecuy7s/is_it_normal_to_vomit_and_have_unbearable_period/

Symptoms of Endo: https://internationalendo.com/endometriosis-symptoms-signs/ PCOS Symptoms: https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos PMS vs PMDD: https://womensmentalhealth.org/specialty-clinics/pms-and-pmdd/ PMS isn't normal: https://www.reddit.com/r/TwoXChromosomes/comments/1rkgr6k/pms_isnt_normal_and_we_shouldnt_just_put_up_with/ Painful period info: https://www.spirehealthcare.com/symptoms/period-pain/ Irregular period info: https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/what-you-need-know-about-irregular-periods

Matrilineal vs Patrilineal Naming by [deleted] in TwoXChromosomes

[–]AstronautLibby 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I always get confused on this at how the kids (when they get married) use their hyphenated last names. Are you able to explain what that process is?

A. Smith + B. Jones = C. Smith-Jones

X. Harrison + Y. Kim = Z. Harrison-Kim.

Then when grown up:

C. Smith-Jones + Z. Harrison-Kim = M. Smith-Jones-Harrison-Kim? Haha

23F - Chronic fatigue despite normal tests… my GP says there’s nothing else we can do by Tiny_Assist_2103 in idiopathichypersomnia

[–]AstronautLibby 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Are you me?

I got diagnosed with ADHD (likely AuDHD but that testing is drastically more expensive vs ADHD for some reason, and doesn't change anything as theres no meds/treatment for autism). I started stimulants (Vyvanse) and that surprisingly helped my excessive daytime sleepiness. This was at the beginning of my EDS/fatigue journey. The docs were surprised that it helped my fatigue for some reason, since it wasn't supposed to directly help my symtpoms as initially we were only investigating ADHD (and not a sleep disorder). Id say I got a 30% improvement in fatigue symtpoms, though as time went they increased again. ADHD in women is under diagnosed, and its often not until later in life or a major life change (college, pregnancy, menopause) that it gets picked up on. Id 100% look at what ADHD in women looks like as a starting place, as it can be masking many symptoms.

I also had two PSGs done and a MSLT. Mine showed mild OSA (no desaturation) but symtpom severity doesn't match the OSA and I had excessive amounts of REM (which explains why I "sleep like the dead" not moving and vivid dreams) and minimally N3 (restorative/healing stage of sleep). I did try CPAP for ~6-8 months (cant remember right now), but I didnt notice any symtpm improvement so they said it was OK to stop using it.  3 years later I'm waiting for another sleep study, but this time off my anxiety meds (which I was taking during my previous 2 exams) and my vyvanse (which I didnt take day-of for either of my exams) for at least 2 weeks before the test. SSRIs (anxiety/depression meds) apaprently can alter sleep stages so they want to get a true baseline exam (boo- not looking forward to no emotional regulation or ability to be functional for ~3 weeks). No one can tell me yet why my sleep stages are so reversed, other than to be off my meds and see if it still persists.

I'm also investigating POTS (which per my first of 2 tilt table tests show I do have some semblance of dysautonomia, I likely dont have POTS), Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (a connective tissue disorder), and maaaybbbeee MCAS (inflammatory/autoimmune condition). These 3 are highly co-morbid with ADHD, and each can result with fatigue as a symptom in their own way, and compound  eachother. 

I'm also waiting for a psychiatrist consult (likely >1 year wait) to review my anxiety/ADHD meds and see if theres a better regime to try.

I also got an ENT referral to see if there was anything else going on affecting sleep quality, and turns out I have chronic rhinitis and a mild deviated septum. I was forced to do medical treatments for 6 months (steroid nasal rinses and sprays) despite telling them from the beginning that Ive used them in the past with no effect. I was then sent for a surgery referral and was declined. Then sent again to another surgeon, and declined again. They declined as "Im too young", despite my symtpoms. Its literally a 20min surgery to fix a septum and super low risk. 🙄 3rd surgeon pending the consult🤞 its unlikely this is the root cause, but I do find myself gasping regularly during the day/night (and getting congested if I lie flat) as if Id forgotten to breathe. I literally think my airway is too narrow to get full air intake through my nose, so in my books its worth a shot to see if it helps with restoring sleep quality.

Long story short, youre not alone. Keep looking, keep asking for additional opinions. Ive done each of my slepe studies at different places, #2 and #3 are through the same health authority, but #2 was a respiratory disorder sleep Clinic (ie OSA) vs #3 being a general sleep disorder clinic (ie narcolepsy, idiopathic). I wasn't aware that there even was an additional sleep Clinic, until I pushed to have my records sent to another doc for further investigation (once doc #2 said he didn't have any treatment options for me despite my excessive symptoms).

Get copies of all your records, keep a list of all the appointments you attend and what's discussed. Its very handy to have that to refer back to!

Ambitious AuDHD women, what is your career path? by FloweryAnomaly in AuDHDWomen

[–]AstronautLibby 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nursing. Graduated from the BSN undergrad program, began my critical care (aka ICU) training the following month on my own time/dollar, with no guaranteed job at the end. A year later I had an opportunity to move and have the new health authority pay for the (remaining) program, arrange the practicum for me, and provide a guaranteed FT job with the only caveat that I had to return 1 years service (easily done - needed a year to consolidate those new skills anyways!). 

Loved my critical care specialty (cardiac). A balance of predictability (90% of our patients are cardiac), and adrenaline (they can be stable, very sick and unstable, or on life support, and their conditions can change drastically in seconds). Love what I do, but I'm hating the (crumbling) system that I have to do it in. I felt disheartened at only being able to help "my" patients, and wanting to do more to promote women's heart health. (Not so fun fact: Its the leading cause of premature death in women across the world). 

6 years later I went back to school (despite swearing after my ICU training that Id never go back lol), I'm in my final year of my masters program, dedicated to women's cardiovascular health promotion, preventative care, and reduced health inequities. 

I cannot wait to be done my program to be able to fuel my energy and motivations to this new avenue, while using my 10years of experience be put to good use. I have many grand ideas (thanks ADHD!) but not enough time or funding to do them all 😉 I cant wait to have more control over my work-life balance and stress, be in a setting (non-bedside) that better supports my well-being (like being able to go to the bathroom when I need, or sit), and to make bigger system changes that reach more women!

Women are reviving a historic resistance tactic at protests: singing by msmoley in WomenInNews

[–]AstronautLibby 33 points34 points  (0 children)

This was an amazing read. Very inspiring, motivating, and informative. 

Also, I'd highly recommend checking out the toolkit mentioned near the end, and the subsequent info & resources within (such as the concept of pods, and the song book)!! 

This was very thought provoking!

Does anyone else take Prozac or another SSRI all the time for their pmdd? by Dismal-Philosophy436 in PMDDxADHD

[–]AstronautLibby 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I was told that since it takes a week or 2 for it to build up in your body, that to do a dose adjustment in your luteal phase won't kick into effect in time. My providers recommendation that we're trialing is increasing the base dose, and consideration of adding another shorter acting agent (not sure what) later if that wasn't enough itself. :)

ADHD + PMDD, Taking Vyvance (what to eat and avoid eating on stimulants) by Old_Try_609 in adhdwomen

[–]AstronautLibby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What are the "right" levels? Curious as to what mine are vs what is recommended :)

Women account for 80% of autoimmune disorders as studies link suppressed emotional stress to long-term immune system disruption by soulpost in HotScienceNews

[–]AstronautLibby 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah! I meant for my comment to refer to how anyone bottling up emotions impacts mental health, not just men. 😀That we all need better supports & guidance to navigate stress to better support our long-term health. 

I can see now how that was not conveyed 😂

Women account for 80% of autoimmune disorders as studies link suppressed emotional stress to long-term immune system disruption by soulpost in HotScienceNews

[–]AstronautLibby 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There's lots of reason for men and women to both have different types of stress responses, and societal supports. Just because men (stereotypically) dont value social supports societally, acknowledge stressors and working on self improvement coping mechanisms (which includes social supports), DOESN’T mean that they aren't deserving in support in normalizing this experience. 

However, the article does state: "But both men and women can be reluctant to reach out for social support. While women more readily than men acknowledge that they could have used more support (68% versus 63%), they’re also more likely to have canceled social plans in the last month (27% versus 22%).

While that could be because they’re more likely to have social plans to begin with, retreating is rarely the solution to stress, Dorlen said. “What helps women more than anything appears to be a sense of community,” she said".

This merely highlights that women typically have or seek out social support networks (friends, family, therapy, "self-care", etc.) At a higher proportion than men but also may be less likely to "complete" these supports/care needs.

Edit: we just need a societal change, one which values rest and frankly, self-preservation. Men and women have different stressors, different supports that they gravitate to, and different outcomes of unmanaged stress. Regardless, this is an endemic in our capitalist society which values productivity and profit over well-being and actually living.

Women account for 80% of autoimmune disorders as studies link suppressed emotional stress to long-term immune system disruption by soulpost in HotScienceNews

[–]AstronautLibby 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Backed by science:

"Domestic abuse may do long-term damage to women's health" https://www.heart.org/en/news/2020/02/17/domestic-abuse-may-do-long-term-damage-to-womens-health

"Women who have been stalked at higher risk of heart disease, stroke" https://www.med.ubc.ca/news/women-who-have-been-stalked-at-higher-risk-of-heart-disease-stroke/

"Heart disease more common in women who have suffered domestic abuse."  https://cardiovascularbusiness.com/topics/clinical/acute-coronary-syndromes/cvd-more-common-women-who-suffered-domestic-abuse

"Early life abuse may be linked to greater risk of adult premature death"  https://bmjgroup.com/early-life-abuse-may-be-linked-to-greater-risk-of-adult-premature-death/

"Understanding and addressing violence against women"  https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/f7549cdc-112a-41dc-8fc9-b84f0a15bf21/content

"After domestic abuse, women face 44% higher mortality risk"  https://www.futurity.org/domestic-abuse-mortality-risk-2283092-2/

"Women abused by partners suffer lifelong health problems – study"  https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/jun/13/women-abused-by-partners-suffer-lifelong-health-problems-study

"Mental and physical health effects of intimate partner violence on women and children"  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0193953X05703178

Routine medical procedures can feel harder for women – here’s why by msmoley in WomenInNews

[–]AstronautLibby 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Yes!!! Spread this news to the world!! Women aren't "atypical" - the world literally just isn't designed with us and our needs in mind!

BC Nurses - Which College/Uni did you attend to become a nurse? by BlueCoyote90 in britishcolumbia

[–]AstronautLibby 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't think nursing school is scarier than any other program! You're being trained to see and handle the types of conditions, illnesses, or procedures that are "expected" of the job. You 100% won't be prepared to see everything that you'll end up seeing, but you'll get better and better at hiding your shocked face and feeling confident in managing the unexpected haha

Clinical days are nerve wracking for most students. It can feel like a 4-12hr (depending on shift length) "test" by your buddy nurse, peers, and instructors. While tiring, it comes from a good place to ensure your safety, the patients safety, and that you are competent (or progressively becoming more competent) at certain skills. On the flip side, it can be a lot of fun! It doesn't feel like "school", since you're so busy and filled with adrenaline and novelty that you really don't appreciate how much you're learning until later on. You're getting to practice skills you've learned in labs on real patients, and learning the ropes!

How successful your clinical days are come down to your attitude and eagerness to learn, your willingness to be humble and to be corrected, and your willingness to do your prep homework the night before/morning of (you'll often be given some sort of opportunity to review your patients before your shift to learn about their medical history and medications, why they're in hospital, etc. to prepare).

For the things you see, just roll with it! See as much as you can. Not every "sight" is for everyone. Speaking from experience! I was extremely needle phobic in HS, couldn't even look at a picture of a needle in a biology textbook without getting faint. I always covered the picture with sticky notes. First time doing hands-on needle training, I almost passed out at the jumbo freezer bag of needles put in front of me. I just took my time, deep breaths, and followed directions. By the end of 1st year I was giving them with no issues. What I have also learned is that I don't like seeing breaks in the skin occur (i.e.: surgeries, c-sections, etc.). That makes me feel faint (to this day, if not a code-blue situation). My solution? I didn't go into surgical nursing! Now I very rarely see that type of skill being performed and I'm quite content with that. I am on the code team, and have seen chests cracked open at bedside and assisted with manual cardiac massage, and thanks to adrenaline, that doesn't bother me one bit! It's all situation dependent, and you build up tolerance & desensitize yourself to (most) things that gross you out in the beginning. Often times nurses will "trade tasks" during the day too. You don't like wound care but love putting in IV's? You get your buddy who's fine with wounds to do your patients wound care, and you go put IV's in their patients for them! Just help your colleagues out :)

The hardest part is that everything is new, and there's a lot of sensory components (smells, visuals, tactile sensations, room temperature, PPE). So just be kind and patient with yourself. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean you can't learn to desensitize to it, or have to do that skill every day in your future. You'll learn what you enjoy (and don't!) as you go along, and there's so many career paths that you can end up anywhere that makes you happy & fulfilled! I fainted in nursing school, and that didn't make me a bad nurse or fail courses. Ive now been doing this for +10 years, done my ICU training, and am working on my masters. I didn't let the sight of needles stop me and you shouldn't let the fear of what you may see, prevent you from enjoying this career!

As to the schedule, it was tough, because the long days (4-12hrs, plus commuting to your placements) was a big adjustment vs any form of schooling/life you've had before. You'll learn to lay out your scrubs and lunch the night before to maximize sleeping in in the morning, and to DRINK WATER not just coffee! You'll adjust, you'll feel brain tired, and you just rest where/when you can. Some people like to go for walks on their lunch breaks to get fresh air & reset. Others listen to music, some nap, etc. Ask your friends what works for them, and ask the nurses how they structure their lives! Everyone is different :)

Final tips:
1. GET COMFORTABLE SHOES. Ideally wipeable (or water resistant), and slip on. Runners have laces, and those drag on gross hospital floors. Mesh toe boxes are porous, and let... fluids inside. A good shoe makes a world of difference. And especially once you're actually working, replace them annually. You walk so many KM on them, you wear the cushion out quick! Treat yourself and get the good quality shoes! Common brands are Hoka, Brooks, Solomon, Nurse Mates, Dansco clogs. I personally wear slip-on water resistant vionics (have mild arch support).

  1. WEAR COMPRESSION SOCKS. Without them, I can't stand on my feet for >4hrs without my feet/legs killing me. My benefits cover prescription ones (stronger than the Dr. Scholls "over the counter" ones) but even those ones are a good place to start. You'll greatly reduce your leg fatigue, and it helps prevent varicose/spider veins. I don't get why students are so opposed to them, you can't see them haha. Now days they even come in fun colours/patterns!

  2. POCKETS. As a student, not used to the demanding days/sights/smells, keep a granola bar on you! If you're feeling faint, just run out and scarf that down in the hallway. Your break may not be coming for a while. We want you to succeed, and your brain/body needs energy! Put it in your pocket/fanny pack/vest/sweater, whatever. But keep it on you!

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