So, I've definitely added something to my training. I mentioned on another thread that on my last hike to Meysan Lake, I was really sucking wind. And then come to find out after a physical that I was pretty severely anemic. This of course caused my doctors to wonder if I had sprung a leak inside. And while waiting for my GI doctor to see me, my physician had me take 325mg of Iron three times a day (which I am still doing).
GI doctor takes down my history and I mention that I gave a double red cell donation in August. Says that my hemoglobin and hematocrit should have recovered by now.....and yes, there is a point to all of these details.....he then points out that my MCV number indicates that whatever is going on has been going on for a while. He then asks, "how often do you give blood?", I respond pretty much every 8 weeks. He then askes how long I have been doing this. I respond "28 years...give or take". My GI doctor is not worried about me having a slow leak. He's convinced that my anemia is caused by the blood donations and the double red donation in August depleted my iron stores to a tipping point.
last week I did three two mile hikes. These hikes normally winded me to the point that I had to stop a couple of times along the route. Last week I did the hikes without stopping and felt great at the end. I am 100% convinced that the iron deficiency has been there for a long time and that the iron supplements have helped my endurance significantly. An obvious conclusion from a non-medical background is that my blood just wasn't carrying oxygen efficiently.
I think it serves as a warning to those who give blood regularly and hike in altitude to make sure that their iron levels are adequate.
I wonder if iron levels could contribute to AMS?
