A reader writes:
This was the chief complaint of a 45-year old female. She’s been doing this for several months, but worse over the past several days. She would go into the freezer and nibble on ice cubes and ice chips constantly throughout the day. No other complaints, and does not have any other abnormal food cravings. She does report more fatigued than usual, but denies nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, chest pain, fevers or chills. No blood in the stools nor any menstrual irregularities.Past medical history non-contributory, and does not take any medications. Physical exam unremarkable. She’s simply concerned about her “ice cravings”.
Pica is defined as an appetite for substances not fit for food, such as clay or paper products. Pagophagia is specifically pica for ice, and studies show this to be a specific indicator for iron deficiency anemia. The latter study studied 55 patients with iron-deficiency anemia. Thirty two (58%) had pica, and in 28 (88%) it manifested as pagophagia.
A blood count and iron studies were performed. Hemoglobin was slightly low, serum iron 35 (low), iron binding capacity 490 (high), ferritin 6 (low).
In patients without a concurrent inflammatory state, a ferritin level of less than 10 to 15 ng/dL is diagnostic of iron deficiency with a specificity of 99%. Thus, the findings are consistent with iron deficiency anemia.
Possible causes were discussed with the patient, including heavy menstrual bleeding – which the patient denied. Iron supplementation was started, and a colonoscopy was scheduled.
In the absence of a gynecological cause, the focus should then shift to a source of GI bleeding. A stool guaiac test would have been reasonable, but given the fact the patient was close to 50-years old (where colon cancer screening would have been initiated anyways), colonoscopy was chosen as an initial workup. If negative, an upper endoscopy can be considered to evaluate for sources of upper GI bleeding (i.e. ulcers or inflammation of the stomach, small bowel, or esophagus).
A study evaluating patients with iron deficiency anemia with upper and lower endoscopy showed 25% with a lower GI lesion, and 36% with an upper GI lesion. Peptic ulcer disease were the primary abnormalities found in the upper gastrointestinal tract, while cancer (detected in 11% of patients), was the most common finding on colonoscopy.
It’s always interesting to see what I’ve only read about in medical school.
(Disclaimer: Any pictures shown are not of the patient. All identifying features, including race, age, gender and ethnicity have been modified significantly or fictionalized.)
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I was an ice craver last year. I thought it was just my body saying I need to be more hydrated because I live in the desert. I had my physical last September and my blood test did find that I was anemic. Next, my fecal occult blood tests came up positive times three. At the end of October, while still going through some work up, I had my first diverticulitis episode and we found out why I was FOB positive and anemic! I am no longer anemic and I no longer crave ice. My dentist is happier now…I cracked a few teeth with this bad habit!
Years Ice crunching , Chronic Anaemia, hospital visits, heavy periods, bloating enough iron tablets to sink a battleship. Then I went to a nutritionalist instead of a doctor to ask why I was losing the iron in the first place. A simple shortage of folic acid and B12 (B12 especially for vegetarians) and A wonderful product called CALMAG-C and 3 weeks later I was a changed person.My doctors were astounded. Never looked back. I have helped many friends by passing on this simple advice – good luck.
hi, I am 23 year old and have a craving of Ice eating. I ate alot of ice in a full day. and i have problem of heavy menstrual bleeding, thus it can lead to wait loss as well Kindly suggest what should i do
Hi
Im Amunet, my god im glad to see so many people here with the same concern, i always thought tat im the only freak who loves to eat ice.. I just cant keep my hands off the ice tray , its like some kinda drug for me , and as far as my health is concerned , im perfectly fine.. touch wood.
Happy ice eating
Been eating ice for years, since my last pregnancy (8 years ago). I knew my craving had to be from anemia. I will go through 3 or 4 trays of ice a night. I will pour just enough juice to cover my ice and give it a bit of flavor. I do have heavy periods therefore a lot of blood loss. I know I am probably ruining my teeth. I can control my cravings at work, but at home I am constantly in the freezer. It’s been worse than usual lately, and I have also gained weight lately, could there be some kind of connection???
HI, MY NAME IS BONNIE, AND I AM AN ICEAHOLIC AND I AM 62. ! MY SYMPTOMS :ICE EATER, VAGUE CALF CRAMPS,AND A BIT TIRED., ICE OF CHOICE; FOUNTAIN ICE, BUT NOT THE BIG GUYS WITH THE WHOLE IN THE MIDDLE. YOU KNOW THE ONES I MEAN. FIRST OF ALL 5 YEARS AGO , HAVING MY ANNUAL EXAM, LABS INCLUDED, RESULTS SHOWED MY HEMO WAS 3 . I GOT A CALL AT WORK, A MEDICAL OFFICE. WHERE MY DR SAID, IF YOU HAD A 3 HEMO YOU WOULDN’T BE STANDING HERE. SO, IMMEDIATELY I WAS SENT TO THE ER FOR A TRANSFUSION, ENDOSCOPE,COLONOSC,LIVER ULT
SND, CANCER WORK UP, AND MORE LABS. 5 DAYS LATER I CHECKED MYSELF OUT, I WAS STARVING FROM ALL THE PREPS FOR THE TESTS ,BUT HAD STOPPED THE ICE EATING ALL OF A SUDDEN. MY HEMO DID NOT GO UP FOR 3-4 WKS, AND MY DR. WOULDN’T LET ME RETURN TO WORK TILL MY HEMO WAS AT LEAST 11.
YES, SEVERE ANEMIA, BUT THE IRON CAUSED ME TO HAVE SEVERE VOMITING. TWO YEARS LATER, GUESS WHAT, I WAS BACK ON THE ICE. I FEEL LIKE A HEROIN ADDICT. MY FAMILY HATES IT, CUPS OF ICE
WAITING TO GET SOFTER, BUT THANK GOD FOR MY LOCAL ‘MOM AND POP ‘ STORE, THEY HAVE THE BEST READY TO SERVE FOUNTAIN ICE, AND I’M UP TO 5 CUPS [44oz] PER DAY, BUT ALWAYS HAVE WINN DIXIE 20 BAG IN THE FREEZER ON STANDBY. NO, ITS NOT FUNNY, BUT IT IS WHAT IS.! I DON’T FEEL TOO BAD, BUT I HAVE OTHER HEALTH ISSUES, NOT RELATED TO ICE OR ANEMIA, MORE LIKE. HYPERTENSION, HEADACHES, SCIATICA, ARTHRITIS CERVICAL DAMAGE ETC, SO THE MEDS FOR THIS MAY BE RELATED TO THE ICE CRAVING. I CAN’T LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT ICE, AND PLAN HOW I CAN GET THRU AN EVENT AND STASH THE ICE ON ICE!!
GOOD LUCK MY FRIENDS, I LIVE IN FLORIDA, SO I NEVER LOOK FORWARD TO HURRICAINES! no power/ no ice, omg!!
ICE EATING IS REAL; LIKE CIGARETTES, ALCHOHOL OR DRUGS. IT DESTROYS TEETH AND APPETITE. HOWEVER, IT HAS NO CALORIES, NUTRITION OR VITAMINS.
IF YOU CAN STOP, STOP BEFORE YOU HAVE WORSE PROBLEMS. ANEMIA IS SERIOUS AND CAN KILL YOU.
ITS NOT A LAUGHING MATTER. **
***
ALSO, CAN ICE FROM MACHINES CAUSE A BACTERIA THAT CAN CAUSE CONGESTION OR BRONCHITIS? GOOD LUCK
OOOMMMMGGGG! I can not believe this is real! I have been eating ice for sooooo long and I really mean when I say I CAN NOT STOPPPP!!!! I actually have a cup in my hand as we speak! I could not believe that it got so bad that I had to go onto the Internet and put in “ice addiction”. I never knew sooo many people suffer from this!!!! I also, like others have a low blood count (4 and now 7) and heavy cycles. I know I’m anemic and was given iron pills to take 3 times a day along with a multi vitamin. Going to start taking soon. I feel sooo guilty because I have an ice shaver and I live in an apt. Lately, I’ve been using the machine at least 3x a day and unfortunately it is VERY LOUD! At first I use to feel so bad because the walls are so thin and I crave ice all day and night. I’ve tried everything to muffle the sound but my “addiction” is stronger than my “consideration”. I keep thinking they’re going to tell the landlord to put me out!!! I use to joke with my family and say it’s like a cigarette, drugs or alcohol addiction. I have to have a specific bag of ice from Wawa and I shave it reeeal fine and eat 2 – 3 16ounce cups in one sitting. Like others, while I’m at work I can control it but you better believe I am thinking of it on the way home!!! I want to stop! So far my teeth are okay but I don’t want to cause any damages over this. I JUST LOVE THE STUFF!!!! HELLLP!!!
Since I became pregnant I have been eating ice every second. I actually just finish eating a cup of ice at my desk. My doctor told me to take iron pills twice daily due to my low level of iron. After reading this, I am starting to think that part of my problem is due to the ice habit.
Is it normal to crave ice while your pregnant?
I cannot stop the cravings. Morning, noon and night!! It drives my husband crazy!! I even have to take a full cup with me on my drive to work. I know I’m probably driving my co worker crazy but, I can’t help it. I have been diagnosed with anemia my hemo is a 6. I also have heavy periods and sometimes lasting 3 wks at a time. I’ve been told to take iron supplememnts but than there is the problem with constipation. So, I end up not taking it like I should. Gotta Go…my cup is now empty. Need a refill!!
im so hooked sometimes I cant even wait for the trays to completely freeze, I started eating ice to help my cutting back on smoking, I used to eat peanut MnMs but im type 2 diebetic now so ice wasthe next best thing …no sugar, but im so hooked now ill smoke and eat ice at sametime…its crazy
I took the iron pills and guess what, I had to go to the doctor one day and have an “extraction” done, I was blocked. It was a terrible experience and I will not take those pills again, I threw them out. But, my doctor has said that this will have an effect on my heart eventually if left untreated, so I don’t know what to do.
So glad to know I’m not the only one out there with this problem, and yes, it’s like being a drug addict sometimes!
oh GOD so many ppl. addicted of ice . few months later started eating ice.I thought iwas the only one.It means iam also anemic because i also have heavy bleeding problem. Definitely will see a doctor tommorrow. Thank you all of u who shared their experience.
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