First of all, are you talking about a hematocrit, hemoglobin count, or total red blood cell count? Those numbers could be either very scarry or almost normal, depending upon what you are talking about. What are the units? Depending upon the cause of the anemia, changing your diet may or may not have any effect. There are 3 general categories for causes of low RBC counts: destruction (usually an autoimmune, infectious, or cancer cause), blood loss (GI bleeding is the most common source), or reduced production, which can have many causes (cancer, kidney failure, or any missing "ingredient" in the RBC-producing pathway could all be causes). If your anemia is caused by an iron or vitamin B deficiency, then increasing your intake of those will help. But for most causes of anemia, changing your diet isn't going to help. You really need to see a doctor. Symptoms of anemia are related to lack of oxygen- dizziness, lack of stanima, weakness, inability to catch breath, etc. Please give us more information about what measurement you are using for your RBC count and any relavent health information (do you have kidney problems or cancer), etc.

Dear Jodi, Thank you for sharing that picture of your brother and family ... doesn't that daughter just sparkle? How good to hear that Ginger is improving, even though it appears that there is a long road ahead. Sending many good thoughts and hopes, for them, and your family, and others who love her. Offering some prayers of behalf of Ginger and for all of you. Good wishes to all of you through the coming days. ole joyful

My diagnosis for arthritis happened about 7 years ago. I was on DMARD meds and went off them to get pregnant, which was great because I would go in remission with pregnancy. Anyways, that one pregnancy turned into two and after the birth of my second it came back fiercely. This was last year. I started with anti-inflammatories because I really didn't want to go on harsh meds again, which worked for 6 weeks, then went to Celebrex with worked another 6 and had to move to the DMARDS again. I had a pretty strong reaction this time which really worried me as my blood count got really messed up and this when I started a natural route. I did an elimination diet and had results within 10 days - I could pick up a plate with one hand, turn a door handle, pick up my 1 1/2 year old. At the beginning of the diet, if I ate the wrong foods, the inflammation occurred instantly so with paying attention I could really find my agitators. At this point I was at about 80% (3 months in) so I got an IgG test (food sensitivity) and found dairy and soy to be very high on the list. I now eliminate those but will have a cheat with them every so often. Basically, I follow the 80/20 rule. Eighty percent veggies and fruit with remaining being fish, meats, grains, etc. An ideal day for me could be a spinach salad for breakfast (topped with walnuts, fruit), 1 cup cooked oats with 1/2 cup blueberries, an egg with sauteed spinach, onions, asparagus or zucchini - lunch would be something similar, or meatballs with squash, a soup, rice cake with almond butter and sliced banana, dinner can be a salad with souvlaki, hamburger with green pepper and onions, etc. It got easier as I got into it and more food options became available as to what was good for me. I found it hard going by a book as I do believe each person is different for what it good for them. Since being on the diet my blood count (specifically my ESR rate) has changed, my anemia, gingivitis, fatigue, tooth sensitivity is gone. These are all physical changes that happened - I have psoriasis, which is pretty much cleared except a couple of spots but no dry skin either. I have had all these conditions all my life, as they have been monitored, but not in the past 6 six months since starting this diet! My last dental appointment - no lecture! A first for me. I brushed and flossed regularly beforehand and would always get a tutorial and I would follow and would get the lecture again at the next checkup. It's hard and frustrating but I am glad I didn't give up. The next round of meds suggested scared me. I will no longer be skeptical if someone suggests something to me because if I didn't have that reaction to my medication I wouldn't have done it (the natural route). Sorry it's so long.

Lars, when my late husband had each of his cancerous cells removed, and there were many from the size of a pea to the size of a half dollar, they gave him pain killers, but he stuck to Tylenol. These were cancer cells on his head caused by the immune suppressants he had to take after his heart transplant. The first surgery kept us at the hospital from 7 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. They had to remove a good portion of his ear. He did not suffer any of the dizziness or wobbling afterwards so I think the painkiller was your villain. When I had the breast cancer surgery, I took 600 mg. Ibuprofen a time or two and was fine. Each person's body is different, but if either of us had the symptoms you have had, we would have contacted our doctors as soon as possible. Take care and do call your doctor just to be on the safe side. An ounce of prevention, you know. Madonna