transcription: “i have a headache” gf: hasnt had anything to drink all day, will put her cold hands under your shirt to get warm, woke up from a 3 hour nap, motion sick from vr, eepy, draws in bed, hanst been outside in 4 days, always fucking cold, plushies on the bed, “can i have some” when you make food, want snuggles! chronic depression, naps in vc, “i dont need ibuprophen rn” cheetos for breakfast (its 3pm), iron deficiency, messy hair
Ok sweetie, (I’m not your grandmother but I could be) the dehydration and low iron anemia are the big culprits for your headache and low energy and cold hands. Your poor heart is working overtime just trying to get oxygen to your body with hardly any red blood cells, that’s exhausting. So you need to do something about that iron deficiency because I’ve been there and it can get dangerous. There’s an iron/vitamin C supplement that’s little grape chewables called Barimelts, take 2 a day. If you don’t like grape, you can swallow them with a big glass of water. If you do, chew and enjoy, then drink the big glass of water. You don’t want to end up in the ER getting a blood transfusion. At a different time of day, (because it can inhibit absorption) have a glass of Metamucil, to keep your gut moving and also because it’s more water. If you have a different iron supplement you prefer that’s okay, or start eating liver and clams, but get some iron into you. You can’t do it all in one day or you’ll poison yourself, aim for 40mg/ 200% RDA daily until your blood is back to normal. Also, if excessive periods are stealing your iron, birth control pills or an IUD can possibly help with that but talk to your doctor. You won’t magically become strong and full of energy, but getting out of bed will stop seeming impossible and a walk will feel less dreadful, even uphill.
Orange juice (citric acid) helps the body absorb iron. It isn’t exactly a tasty mix but liver and onions with a tall glass of OJ will help get you more iron into your system than without the juice.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) does so also, and is present in OJ too. And yes it works best in the same meal. But the iron in liver is heme (easily digested/absorbed) so it’s less necessary. Non-heme iron from plant sources requires the acids most.
Canned clams (regular or smoked) are another good source of heme iron, and egg yolks as well.