Back toUpdated on October 25, 2024
Iron-deficiency anemia, or IDA, is when you have unhealthy blood cells due to not having enough iron present in the body. In this video, Nikkie shares her IDA diagnosis story and the importance of seeking treatment for this type of anemia.
Transcript
The best advice I can give to another person with IDA, go get checked out. And it's not a death sentence.
You can still live life. [UPLIFTING MUSIC] I was diagnosed with iron deficient anemia back in 2011.
My initial symptoms of my IDA was heavy vaginal bleeding. I was always tired.
Once I actually fell asleep at a red light, driving home, picking up the kids from school, normal routine. And I was awakened by horns honking
and my children screaming, "Mommy" in the backseat. That was a real wake up call for me because when it comes to endangering the lives of my little ones, that
was the final straw for me. I had to get this under control. So on the first visit to my doctor, I let him know I was bleeding really heavily
and I let him know, hey, something's wrong. And he says, you know what? We're going to run some tests. And we found out that my blood was really low.
My doctor told me if I didn't get this anemia under control, I was going to die. I had to be hospitalized for four to six days,
then I had to be on bed rest for six weeks. And then after that he said to me, now, you need to go live life. Take the necessary steps, which was change my diet,
stay on my iron, exercise. I had a lot to live for-- my sons, definitely, my husband, my mom, my family,
and also just for me. First I had to change my mindset and realize, hey, this isn't a death sentence. Since I was treated by my doctor,
my day-to-day has improved greatly. I have lots of energy. I eat right. I exercise. I cut out carbs.
I cut out breads, sugars, and I'm down 75 pounds. Took my medication. I did what the doctor said do, and I'm a living testimony.
I'm more happy. I embrace life. I don't run from it. I want to be a lighthouse, a voice, an inspiration
to help others with IDA to beat this. We got this. Together, we can do it. [UPLIFTING MUSIC]
