Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog

I was so glad to see this post! About a year and a half ago, my then-6.5-year-old daughter developed an insatiable craving for ice. A friend told me that was a sign of anemia (she'd had it during her pregnancy), but not one medical professional I spoke to had heard of that. My daughter ended up developing a variety of other unignorable symptoms and was finally diagnosed with colitis. At that point her crit was something like 19. As soon as she had a transfusion, the ice craving vanished. I told every doctor and they all looked at me like I was (still) nuts.
Karen (wisekaren@comcast.net)
http://verbatim.blogs.com
 

These "Zebra" cases are particulary interesting because they test how well the physician uses his or her diagnostic critieria. It also reinforces the need for patients to be as up-front and honest as possible with the doctor, even when some of the questions get rather personal.
 

Unreal about the ice. We're currently covering red cell/white cell issues and discussed iron deficiency anemia today in a small group. No mention of ice. But definitely stool occult blood tests for initial screening--but as you pointed out a colonoscopy makes just as much sense here.

I'll probably never forget the ice thing now...but I know I won't remember the word "pagophagia".
 

I've been anemic most of my life, and no Dr. ever asked about ice!! That's so cool. Sorry, bad pun.
 

My wife (late 40s) was a rabid ice-eater and chronically anemic. She had both ends scoped and was diagnosed with Celiac Disease. Within a very short time of going gluten-free the ice cravings went away.
 

Fortunately, it dawned on me today to look up "ice chewing" on the internet. I have been eating ice for about the past 5 years, in varying quantities. But over the last few day, the craving has hit an insatiable peak. I haven't been able to stop. I must have eaten hundreds of cubes over the last two days.
And yesterday and today i was so exhausted i could barely get out of bed.
When i looked on the internet i was not at all surprised to see ice eating associated with iron deficiency. A few months ago, when my blood was tested, the doctor mentioned that my 'deep stores' of iron were extremely low. So why didn't she prescribe supplements? And why didn't she react when i've told her over the years that i chew a lot of ice? And why didn't she subscribe supplements when i've told her that my periods have been so heavy in the last year or so (apparently due to fibroids) that i can't leave the house (changing tampons every hour isn't enough).

Why are doctors so incredibly worthless?

Oh, and did i mention that i'm also a vegetarian? Another red flag pointing towards iron deficiency anemia. But she didn't need flags. She had the blood test and even mentioned it, but didn't treat.

So, rather then stay in bed forever, i've begun to self treat. Beginning today i'm taking Slow FE, plus one multivitamin. I'm hoping i'll feel better in a few days. If not, I'll visit the doctor and see what she says.

But i'm convinced this will solve the problem.
 

and that's interesting...i'm the person above whose doctors have apparently failed me miserably....who never asked the right questions..
and now i've been doing some more research and it seems that hypothyroidism exacerbates the situation...and guess who only has half a thyroid?......
did my doctors actually go to medical school?????
 

Interesting.

So what was the result with this particular patient?
 

Ice chewing is not a "zebra" situation. It's practically a dead giveaway.

Did they find the "leak"? :)
 

Could it be diabetes incipides? My wife has this disease of the pituatary and when she doesn't get her DDAVP medication on schedule she must drink lots of water. Eating ice cubes was one of her coping mechanisms before she received the proper diagnosis.
 

wow. in january of last year i had laproscopic surgery for endometriosis and was diagnosed with a case of severe iron deficent anemia. my doctor did not start me on any treatment because at the time i was given lupron and was told to stay away from other treatemtns until we got everything under control. over the past month i have been eating ice like crazy. now i cannot stop. i have pretty much lost hunger for food at this point and every time i eat something substantial i get nauseaous. (i do make sure i still eat however) i decided it was about time to seek treatment and came across all of these things that add up for my obsession! it is nice to know now that i'm not just crazy, i have an actual problem that others have as well and now i can seek out proper treatment. thank you.
 

I'm pretty sure I have have pagophagia. I've been researching it for the past month because my ice craving sky rocketed when I started college last year. I've had an isatiable craving for ice going on 10 years now, but I knew I was "a little" anemic. I'm going to make a doctor's appointment tomorrow to get checked out.
 

I have a hemoglobin of 8.1 (as of 01-31-05) and I eat 10-12 16-oz. cups of crushed ice each day. I am 46 years old and have tried to donate blood over the years because they can always use my blood because I am O negative but have always been told, "You don't have enough iron in your blood to donate at this time." I am to see a ob/gyn next week but my periods have regulated themselves from heavy (changing tampon every hour 1st day and passing clots that are dark red, heavy and very large) to sometimes 3 days long with hardly any passing of clost. I guess it has to do with my age of 46 and that I'm headed to menopause. jchts_1216@yahoo.com
 

I am amazed at what you can learn on the iternet!I have had ice cravings so intensly that if I pass by a store with crushed ice that is all I think about!I did not think it was a problem until people started telling me that I was like an addict.I have fibromyalgia and gained quite a bit of weight and tried losing it by going on a low fat diet and have lost 20 pounds ,but now I am slowly gaining back and my ice cravings are intense.
 

I have been very anemic for about 5 years now and was told for several years before that, that I was anemic too but I didn't know what level. Endometriosis has been a way of life since I was a teen, a whole other nightmare, including 5 surgeries, which never helped for very long for that condition. My energy level is non existant! If I feel good, I go out to enjoy it, but, once I get to the store and get maybe 100 ft from the door, exhaustion takes over. It has been so bad that I have had to sit in my car and rest a while just to be able to drive back home. The iron I take doesn't help me feel any better or raise my levels. But the doctors hadn't ever mentioned anything about the eating of ice being related. I am very interested in why that we crave ice with anemia. I don't even like to go do the things I love to do because of my need for ice. I take it with me but never have enough, not to mention the fact that you can't always take it with you. I have been wanting to visit my young children's classes at school but can't have my ice in the classroom so I dread going, even though, I want to be there!
 

Wow! And I thought I was the only "weirdo" always craving ice every moment of the day. As soon as I get to work I go straight to the ice machine and fill my mug- and I'm right back at the machine once I've run out. I could never figure out why I had this craving but I remember my grandmother and aunt mentioning that I as probably "anemic". Reading up on it has been really informative and now I know that there is a solution. Thanks!
 

i am 49 and have chewed ice for years. my masseter muscle in my jaw is so big from chewing that doc/dentist have suggested surgery. I have now a lopsided pear shape face (the muscle on the left is biggest). I have low rbc but no one has mentioned low "deep iron" counts. My colonoscopy was fine. Any ideas? what transfusion was wisekaren speaking of?sranco@aol.com
 

This is cool i thought i was the only one who loved ice this much......i mean i told my friends and theyre all oh me too i love it but they dont have to have it 24/7.I do. I dont know why i like it so much but i have to have a class of crushed ice with me everywhere.....lol i am eating it while im typing this. This is about my 5 glass in the past hour. I am scared to go see if i am anemic though cus i dont want to get a blood test. So what does that mean for me then, do i have something els other than anemia? And if i do is it really so serious that i should get treatment, i feel ok most of the time cept i feel like i could feel better to, like i am just adapting to something that i shouldnt have to, so ya if anyone reads this id really appriciate it if you could tell me what i should do. Thankyou
 

I am so glad that I saw this web page. I am 57 and have been an ice addict for years. Not just cube, it has to be crushed and I started buying 2 7lb. bags every other night on the way home from work. Just two days ago I bought a 20 lb. bag and have eaten almost half of it now. I teach medical at a local college and I know about pica but I do not have any bleeding problems. I had a hysterectomy at the age of 30. I was anemic at times due to poor nutrition. Annual colonoscopy was normal. As I type this I am eating from a 20 oz. cup. As soon as I get home from work at night after teaching two classes from 10-2 then 4-8, I go right to the ice and fill up my cup pour a little root beer in it with a splash of milk. If there were a 12-step program for this I would be the leader.lol If anyone could suggest or give me some feedback I would appreciate it. I am also very thin and my friends tell me it's because of all the ice I eat. Whatever! lol
 

I also have a huge craving for ice. I have 2 big mugs (64 oz) that I keep ice in while working. I carry the extra mug in an ice chest with ice packs to keep my ice from melting too fast. I too had started buying a couple of 7 lb. bags of ice but now I'm up to a 20 lb. bag of ice every 3 days. I can not go very long at all with out crunching on my ice. It is like an addiction. I had gastric by-pass surgery in 2001. My ice cravings started about 2 years ago. I am told that I am anemic and have been taking iron but apparently I'm not absorbing it. Yesterday the doctor took 6 vials of blood for testing. Hopefully they'll find a solution for me. Last August after surgery I had to have 2 units of blood because of my anemia. I too have told my doctors about the ice cravings but just like everyone else it seems to go through one ear and out the other. Here I thought I was some kind of weirdo. Glad to hear that I'm not alone. Yesterday I started taking my iron and B12 twice a day instead of only once. Hopefully this will help to reduce my cravings. Good luck too everyone.
 

I can't believe how many other women eat ice the way that I do. I bought a large cups so that when I pass Wawa or 7-11, I can fill my cups. Sometimes I have paid for cups of ice because 7-11 charges for the cups. WaWa does not. I have had two operations for fibroids. Once my blood level was really low. my family members get annoyed sometimes when I crack large hunks of ice to fit my cup. I will begin taking iron tomorrow.

Once my friend and I almost had a physical fight because she tried to take my ice from me!

Ice monster
Philadelphia
 

I ALWAYS HEARD CHEWING ALOT OF ICE WAS CAUSED BY A LACK OF SEX! IS THIS TRUE? HASN'T ANYONE ELSE HEARD THIS?
 

So glad you lot are out there...... I eat ice cubes by the loadful every hour of the day if i can.
I too have 3 very large fibroids, im due to have a hysterectomy later on in the year.
The only thing that is starting to worry be i'm starting to suffer from terrible stomach pains and my stomach seems very tender and bloated...
Surely in the quanity that we are eating ice we must be doing some sort of damage to our insides....
I trip to the doctors is obviously called for - but by the sounds of things are they going to take any notice of my unusal craving...
 

Wow, I too eat a lot of ice. I worry about and have even tried to stop. Doctors don't really seem to think it a problem, maybe because it doesn't have any altering affects like drugs do. I was able to quit smoking but the ice craving has just gotten worse. I too believe that it has to have some kind of last affect in our bodies. It would be nice to have someone take a look at it. Wow maybe I will and write a book on the instiable craving for ice. Maybe I will find a doctor who will help us.
 

i cant do without ice. i admit i have a serious problem. my craving for ice is really bad. sometimes while im at home i get this terrible craving. sometimes i can even smell it. and when i get that taste or smell. i would just dissapear to go and get it. even while riding with my family in the car i sometimes have to pull over and stop and go in a convience store satisfy this craving. now since i read these testomonies. i know now that something is wrong.i will now go and get myself check out to and find out5 what is going on.
 

IT FEELS SO GOOD TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE OTHER WOMEN IN THE WORLD LIKE ME. MY CRAVING FOR ICE IS INSATIABLE...
I DID NOT START CHEWING ICE UNTIL I STARTED HAVING CHILDERN. I WAS HIGH RISK WITH ALL THREE PREGNANCIES BECAUSE OF MY LOW BLOOD COUNT. WHEN I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING I FIX MY CHILDREN BREAKFAST BUT I DON'T EAT WHAT I COOKED FOR THEM ALL I WANT IS A NICE CUP OF ICE. WHEN I AM AT WORK I DON'T EAT ALL DAY UNLESS MY HUNGER IS UNBERABLE..I WILL GO THE SANDWHICH SHOP NEXT DOOR AND GET THEIR JUMBO COKE OR LIMEADE WITH EXTRA ICE OR I AM AT SONICS EVERDAY IF NOT TWICE A DAY TO GET THEIR SONIC SIZE "OCEAN WATER WITH EXTRA ICE." IT HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT WHEN THEY SEE MY CAR COMING THEY AUTOMATICALLY JUST BRING IT TO ME AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T CHARGE. I KNOW IT IS AFFECTING ME BECAUSE I AM A DRAFTSWOMAN AND SOME TIME I GET CONFUSSED ABOUT THE SIMPLEST DRAWINGS. MY CONCENTRATION IS LITTLE OF NONE AND MY EYE SIGHT IS HORRIABLE. I AM TIRED ALL THE TIME AND I HAVE SERIOUS MIGRANIES BUT I JUST CAN'T SEEM TO STOP. I SMELL IT IN THE AIR..I TASTE IT. SOMETIME WHEN I AM WATCHING TV AND I SEE SNOW OR ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH FROZEN ANYTHING I AM LIKE A CRACK-HEAD I JUST HAVE TO HAVE IT.
MY BOYFRIEND THINKS I AM CRAZY BECAUSE I WILL SAY THINGS LIKE "THAT LOOKS SO GOOD" AND WE COULD BE LOOKING AT A COMMERCIAL ABOUT GOING VACATIONING IN ALASKA..WITH THE SNOWY PEAKS AND SPRING WATER.
I FEEL REALLY BAD AND DECIDED TO MAKE A VOW TO MYSELF TO STOP EATING THE ICE AND START TAKING MY IRON PILLS,VITIMANS AND CHANGE MY EATING HABITS BECAUSE I HAVE LOST SO MUCH WEIGHT AND MY CHILDERN HAVE STARTING DEVELOPING THE HABIT ONLY BECAUSE THEY SEE ME DOING IT.
MY BOYFRIENDS SAYS MY SEX DRIVE HAS FALLEN TO THE WASTE SIDE BECAUSE I AM NEVER IN THE MOOD OR VERY HARD TO SATISFY.
SO STARTING TODAY AFTER READING THIS WEB SITE I AM GOING TO STIKE BY MY VOW AND PULL MYSELF OUT OF THIS LOOP FOR MY OWN HEALTH, MY CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND THE HAPPINESS OF MY FAMILY AND SOON TO BE HUSBAND.
 

My sister and I are ice eaters.
I buy 7lb blocked ice weekly and crush it with a hammer. I eat ice every night in a big plastic bowl.
I work in the restaurant business, so ice machines are easily assessable for my cravings..I live at the ice machines. I just found out that I have fibrods and severely anemic. My doctors has prescribed a birth control to help with the heavy bleeding I experience every month from the fibrods and a iron supplement. I hope it works. Glad to know I'm not the only person craving ice
 

AHHH wonderful ICE!!!! I take spring water bottles and freeze them...the ice cracks on the walls of the container and I roll and scrunch the bottle till all the ice settles....ahhhhh regular water is lousy...give me ice!!! yea...by the way I am anemic also..haha
 

Im Amarilis, Im 23 and Im adicted to ice...Yeay now we can have our own club! j/k Anyways, I also thought I was the only one that ate ice. My family thinks Im weird and they always argue with me cause they can never find ice for their water or coke...I have very heavy menstrual flows so thats probably the reason why im anemic. I love ice but not any ice, just ice cubes made from tapwater. When I first got my braces I would pay my brother to crush the ice for me because my teeth hurt and i couldnt bite my ice cubes. Im so glad Im not alone. Oh and I also scrape some of the ice that forms on top of things in the freezer! Oh well!
 

I am also an ice addict. It began when I was anemic and ceased after I took iron and was no longer anemic. My doctor discontinued my iron after I had a normal blood test. However, a few months later I started to crave ice again and I knew I was once again anemic and a blood test confirmed it. I am now back on iron supplements and can't wait for this intense craving to disappear again. I am a nurse and doctors don't know everything. Craving ice is definately a symptom of being anemic because there are just too many people that are suffering from this addiction and having the diagnosis of being anemic!
 

I am pregnant with my 3rd child and every time I get pregnant I love to chew on ice! Just thought it was a pregnancy thing. Did hear once that it had to do with a dificiancy, but never sought it out! All my blood tests are fine and never has my OBGYN ever said anything about being anemic. I was only anemic after having my first child during the delivery!
My husband hates my ice addiction cause I sound like a dog munching on a bone! I just crave it after meals and nothing else helps. So now I'm gonna ask my OBGYN to check out my anemic status? Who knows! And then I see other's, mainly women I assume, who have fibroids and stuff. Weird!
I hope I can get to the bottom of this. It does go away for me after the baby. But I have to really try too! Kind of a wheening process!
Very intersting to see how many people really love ice!!! Sometimes there is nothing like a good BIG cup of ice after another!
 

i have been craving ice for about 5 months and i cant stop i like to eat ice more then food i guess we all are crazy are something
 

While getting an ultrasound for my fibroids this week, the technician asked me if I was anemic yet. I said no, but I forgot aobut my ice cravings. I chew ice every day while at work (at least 1 20 oz. cup, sometimes 2 or more), sometimes at home, but only because I don't have an ice producing refrig (ice at home is limited). My sister pointed out that I may be anemic and I believe she is right. I use pads and tampons because I have to change tampons every hour for the 1st 2 days of my period and, without the pads, I would have stained clothes.
 

My cravings started when I was pregnate with my twins. And came back 2 months after. Ive been told that im anemiac and have hypothyroidism. My husband hates the crunching and ive been trying to stop. Glad to know im not the only one...
 

This is so overwhelming!!! I type in "ice cravings" and this is what I find out. I have been chewing ice since I was a kid with my grandma. I would never had imagined that this was the result of an iron deficiency. It all became unusual to me when I became obsessively addicted to the crushed ice out of my father's fridge. Even when I'm at my house I would literally want to drive over there and get a cup of ice. I am a fiend. It has gotten severly out of control. I mean, I eat this stuff like popcorn. I am so glad I saw this post. Now I can take control of it.
 

nice to know I'm not alone being an ice cruncher ! will start on the iron supplement to see if it helps...i too have fibroids and heavy periods...the ice thing is also about the texture when i chew it...have got to stop....my teeth are suffering...
so glad others are out there...
 

Wow, this is weird reading all of these comments. I really thought I was alone. It's like I have this personal romantic relationship with ice. I am not comfortable alone unless I have it with me. I find the largest cup I can in the house and I fill 1 or 2 and take them with me when I leave the house in the mornings and fill them all througout the day wherever I can. I am afraid to go to the Dr. but I am going to go because my Pediatric friend saw me guzzle an entire cup at her home in seconds and said "you have to be anemic to chew up that ice like that...."
 

Ice eating has been a way of life for me for as long as I could remember. I justify it sometimes by saying it helps with daily fluid intake, even though I know there are adverse effects. I'm not as much an ice chewer, as I like to suck/swallow hunks of it. In the car I have the heat turned on year round because of how much I eat ice. I heard somewhere that it can mess up your body chemistry, making you more likely to develop yeast infections and ringworm. I know that i'm anemic, and my doctor just prescribed chromatin to take for the next few weeks. Has anyone heard of this drug??
 

I was already in bed this evening-late. My husband was already asleep, and there I was with my book and my full cup of ice. Some times I ask him if I am bugging him, and he says no. I went to the doctor today, at the advice of the doctor I work for. The Dr. I work for suspected I was anemic with all of my ice chewing. My poor co-workers just accept my wierdness. It's off to the pharmacy for in the morning. Anyway, as I lay there in bed tonight, I suddenly had an urge to go type in "ice chewing." I am glad to know I'm not a lone. Hope the iron supplements help. I am glad I am not wierd alone-lol.
Thanks for reading.
 

I also eat a ton of ice. My sister is always getting on me. I keep telling her that I have to have it. This is only over the past few months. I am currently taking Metformin for PCOS maybe that has something to do with it. I to have very bad cycles somtimes I blled heavy for 20 days straight. What I really need to know is what are the side effects of eating that much ice. I always say at least I am getting my water lol.
 

wow thanks guys!! i thought i was the crazy one. but now i'm a little worried. i had surgery a few years ago to remove a cyst on my ovary.now to think i mught have fibroids which means another surgery scares the hell out of me!!I LOVE ICE!! i'll wait to i hear the ice machine so i can rush to get the fresh cubes that crush easy and taste soooo good!i guess i better start taking some iron pills and go to the OB/GYN.
 

Hi my name is Iris im 18 and addicted to ice....muaaahhhhaaah....kinda scary...i eat so much ice and cant go a day with out eating it..wow yeah i have heavy periods and it sucks ... my mom says that i need to go to the doctor but i say screw it if i have anemia i have it what can i say but ICE IS GREAT ..dude...i should make shirts and sell them saying something cool
 

Like everyone else on this page I am addicted to ice I cant go a day without it I thought I was crazy Im so glad Im not the only everyones always telling me I have a problem. I didnt want to admit to it. Its so hard for me to sit through class and not think about a cup of ice, or how I cant wait to get home so I can have a cup I even went out and bought a snow cone maker!! I dont add flavoring. I know I am anemic I didnt think It was a bad case though I was able to give blood once ( that was a shock ) usually they turn me away. I just had another blood test done I dont know the results yet. I got it done because I havent had my period in almost 3 months but Im not pregnant. I think its stress, but could it be related to this ice craving!?! Please Id like to know Oh ya and with this prolonged Ice chewing can it be that bad for your teeth? Someone email me and let me know what you think
 

MY NAME IS JEANIE AND I AM AN ICE-AHOLIC!!!

I WAS IN GREAT DENIAL THAT I HAD A PROBLEM UNTIL MY HUSBAND DECIDED TO LOOK IT UP ON THE INTERNET. I MUST NOW ADMIT THAT I AM GUILTY AS CHARGED. FORTUNATELY, I AM IN THE BEGINNING STAGES AS I HAVE ONLY BEEN ICE-CHEWING FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I AM 48 YEARS OLD AND HAVE VERY HEAVY MENSTRAL CYCLES WHICH I ALREADY HAD BEFORE THE ICE-CHEWING BECAME AN ADDICTION. I TEND TO AVOID ICE DURING MY MONTHLY CYCLE BECAUSE IT INTESIFIES MY CRAMPS, BUT I CAN HARDLY WAIT UNTIL I CAN RESUME MY ICE-CHEWING. I WILL BEGIN TAKING A VITAMIN THAT CONTAINS IRON AND BEGIN TO WORK ON THE BAD HABIT THAT I HAVE DEVELOPED, I AM SURE I WILL HAVE SEVERE WITHDRAWLS AND WILL NEED TO BE COMMITTED.
 

I too am an ice addict, from Northern Cal. I've been addicted for 4 years. A colleague at work teased me and said it was from "sexual frustration". In a way that makes sense since it did start when I was pregnant with my first son! And after my second child I had a miscarriage from a third pregnancy and was diagnosed with severe anemia. My ice crunching did increase! And I too have very heavy bleeding and clots. Like many others I finally sat down tonight and randomly typed in ice crunching and I'm amazed at what I've learned. My teeth are killing me! I should stop! I guess I'll have to take some iron! I have my favorite convenience stores and fast food stops which have "good ice" for crunching vs. not good. You know, those ones that are thin, or slightly melted? I love the rectangle shapes with a space between and hate the big chunky ones! It's crazy. My husband too think's I'm a nut because I'm such an ice "afficionado" !!!
 

Wow- glad to know I'm not alone in the wonderful world of ice! I have been gradually eating more and more of it over the past 6 months or so. I'm 38 and ever since the births of my two children I have had very heavy bleeding-especially on the 1st day. So bad I can't even leave the house. I often have huge clots too- last time one was about 4 inches in diameter! Another thing is that my heavy periods alternate- one month is really heavy, the next is not so bad. Last time almost all the bleeding stopped after the first day. Weird. I suspect I'm anemic because I'm tired a lot and my lips are pale. But I also can't sleep at night and have almost no sex drive. Besides that my skin itches a lot. I'm afraid to see a doctor because there might be something wrong and I don't have health insurance. But this ice thing is very interesting- it's just so GOOD! The ones from my freezer are hard to eat because they are crescent shaped. I really like the small cubes with the dent in the middle. I never knew so many other people have these same ice cravings! Want a little water with your ice?
 

I have had an ice addiction for so very many years... I enjoy the ice 'cubes' (actually, they are a hemi-cylinder shape) from the fridge's in-built ice maker. At hotels I always utilise the full potential of the fridge's ice cube tray. I also enjoy some brands of ice-blocks e.g. Quelch ice blocks, frozen coke.

I already knew that other people enjoyed crunching ice too, but I had no idea that it was a sign of anemia. But I don't believe that I have anemia, as I have no other symptoms. But last visit to the dentist yielded the startling revelation that my teeth have been grinding down from all the ice crunching. If I keep going on at this rate I'll have no teeth! So I made a promise not to indulge in my ice habit too much, lol.
 

I am glad that I am not CRAZY. That's how the doctors look at me when I tell them that I eat ice 24/7. I have been eating ice now for about 2 years. I can't get enough. I now eat at least 4lbs a day. I am addicted. I had always associated it with cooling down my body due to hot flashes. I have changed to a better balanced diet and exercise routine. I have lost over 25lbs..
I have had my thyroid removed over 6 years ago and take synthyroid. My doctor decreases my dosage of synthyroid every 4 months. I have also developed symptoms of adrenal fatige.
I have always told my doctors that I have very heavy cycles that include alot of large clots. I was diagnosed with amemia. My cycle will start and stop the next day, then resume heavy on the 4th day. My doctor prescribed birth control pills, but that seemed extreme since I have had a tubebulation and already take 3 meds. for bi-polar disorder.
Has there been studies relating all symptoms of "ice eaters" that would determine any specific medical condition? I am unable to take iron supplements due to interactions with other meds. that I must take. Doesn't it seem that it is long over due for a study to determine what the specific caused is and it's possible treatment?
 

hi i am 47 and i cant stop craving ice i dont eat food anymore i eat ice all day long i think we all need some help is there anyone that can help us
 

This is soooo bizarre...I am not alone!! I have the best Rival sno-cone maker (my 3rd one) that I use about 3-4 times a day for my ice fix. While I'm at work, the ice maker works for me there. I had an endometrial ablation (I am 42 years old) just 2 weeks ago to get my heavy bleeding under control so who knows? Maybe this ice craziness will subside as well? I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and had to go hypo for my treatment after surgery and it was about this time that the cravings really skyrocketed. Anyone else with thyroid problems?
 

I too eat ALOT of ice. I had gastric bypass done 3 years ago and have lost 175 lbs and feel great...but I crave ice like it is going out of style. I take supplements multivitamins, b12, potassiums, calciums, and so on...but I guess I will take an extra iron supplement as well. I don't get light headed or see spots like I used to when it go low...Time for a good DR. visit.
 

Everyone here eats (water) iced like it is going out of style. Does anyone crave frozen food? I eat frozen green peas or lima beans straight from the freezer. I love to freeze fruit (cherries and grapes are my favorites). I can eat 3-4 pounds of grapes a day this way and another pound of peas. Anyone else love frozen food?
 

I am not alone. Finally!!!! I have others. I have serious problem also. I am on my 10th cup today! I have always loved ice.....since I was about 7 or 8. I am now 24. But for the past 2 months it has been crazy. I have to have it after EVERY meal. My co-workers ask me have I taken an "ice break" today when I am cranky. I will eat ice in place of meals. I buy a bag of crushed ice EVERY other DAY.My friends often ask me what are you doing eating ice? I just laugh and say yeah......cause I usually am. Someone told me I should see a doctor. I really don't want to I dont want to stop. It is almost like a drug. I know every resturants within 40 mile radius that has the "best ice". I am sooooooo bad that there are only certain types of crushed ice I will eat.I am to the point now where I try to find other things to do instead of eating ice.
 

HELLO FELLOW ICE ADDICTS, I CAME ACCROSS THIS PAGE ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AND I WAS SHOCKED TO SEE I WASNT THE ONLY ONE WITH AN INSATIABLE URGE FOR ICE. I ALSO DIDNT KNOW IT WAS A SIGN OF ANEMIA, SO I WENT TO MY DOCTOR TO GET SOME BLOOD TESTS DONE. WHEN THE RESULTS CAME BACK THEY WERE NORMAL, BUT I FELT NOTHING CLOSE TO NORMAL. I DID SOME MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT SOME RESULTS THAT COME BACK "NORMAL" ARENT TRULY ACCURATE. YOU SEE EVERY BODY IS DIFFERENT, SO WHAT IS NORMAL FOR YOU MAY NOT BE NORMAL FOR SOMEONE ELSE. MY ADVISE IS TO SEE AN ENDINCRONOLIGIST, THEY SPECIALIZE IN THYROIDS AND RELATED PROBLEMS. I HOPE THIS WILL HELP SOME OF YOU, IN FACT I HOPE IT HELPS MYSELF
 

I have been an ice connoissoir for only a few months. I refill these two ice trays that have plus-shaped cubes that work okay, but my favorite is half melted of all shapes. I crunch and crunch. I love long solo drives because I get to crunch all I want until I can't even talk right becasue my mouth is frozen. I talked to my firends and they all just said I will ruin my teeth. I still could not stop, so I went to the dentist and asked. He said that my fillings in the back are the type where there is a lot of metal surface and with that the ice will spread and compress the metal over time causing the tooth to crack, but that cracked teeth are rather normal for wear and tear, and do not warrant crowns and caps until they really make a true open crack, way, way down the road...so he said some of his patients chew CORN NUTS, and that, he said is murder on your teeth. He said my ice thing is fine..not to worry, go ahead and use my teeth for chewing whatever I want, that's what they were made for. So, good, I got an okay from my dentist, GREAT! I crunched and crunched. In a seminar, there I was trying to isolate the ice out of a pitcher of water and crunching it, another attendee looked back at me funny. Later I asked that guy if he looked back becasue I was crunchng ice. He said yes in a not-too-sweet tone...I try to be aware of the noise I create with my ice crunching. Then, my mouth gets so frozen I accidentally bite the inside of my cheeks and my mouth has bite sores in various stages of healing at any given time. My tummy feels funny after 20 oz. or so, and I beleive this is the only thing that saves me from crunching every single minute non-stop. It has taken over still, though, since it determines if I accomplish certain things, such as make phone calls, or read to my kids....its a real potential problem if it continues to the distancing levels some of you already are mentioning, and I don't want ice to determine my life for me ...Now, today I saw the doctor for ultrsound. He called me urgently last week and siad I was "very anemic" and he had to do an ultrasound to see why I was this way. I had a couple known fibroids (one 3 cm 3 years ago and four small ones) and my periods were unknowingly super heavy (since I had no one to compare to) and no color in my gums, fatigued, nails and hair are dry, ridgy, terrible... all these symptoms...I punched in "anemia" on the internet...I found a site that described the many kinds of anemia...one said a symptonm was a craving for ICE Blow my mind, WOW! I had never dreamed it was connected although I was mystified by my newfound love for ice. It's called palagaphia or something, there's an actual name for ice loving. Besides, that, I learned ice some people with severe anemia crave paint, dirt and clay and overal, that's called "PICA"....anyhow...It was recomended by the doctor to have a hysterectomy as soon as my red blood cells are up in about two months with iron supps and some other thing(to reduce risk of needing trnasfusion during surgery). Today the doctor said the entire problem is these two 5cm fibroids and about 6 or 8 more all in and part of the wall of my uterus. I'm told I will feel better after, hair and nails will get better, more energy, less confused, less pale, no more heavy periods. I get to keep my ovaries and thus experience menopause in ten years instead of menopause now if ovaries were taken, too. I'm 42. I'll be in hospital two days and recovery time isn't so bad...those fibroids are the culprit as they get old and break apart and get soggy there's the blood loss, too much red blood cells for me to remanufacture quick enough, thus the anemia, then the ICE! It all makes astounding sense to me now. Today I began 325 milagrams of iron 3x per day. Doc said if I do not take care of this with some level of surgery on those fibroids I will have to have a transusions to replace the blood soon. And to think I thought all my fatigue and less-than-lovely hair and nails was from my big love of sweets and coffee or something, even though I eat good food, too and am not overweight. Thanks for this site.I feel better now. Looking forward to not missing my wonderful ice. -Northen California Mom
 

I began eating ice seriously in May of 2005. It has progressively gotten more intense. I am on synthroid for my thyroid, I have a couple fibroids, I am 46 and alternately have horrible periods with heavy bleeding and never know what kind of period I will have. Some months I have horrible clotting, other months I have periods like monsoons. My iron came back okay at first. I got retested when I read that my iron stores could be low and they were. I am on an iron supplement and it does not seem to be helping with the cravings. The dentist said his father-in-law took zinc and it stopped his craving. So I started taking it and it is not so far having any impact on the problem. It is a problem. When I am at work with the ice crusher I eat between 8 and 12 20 ounce glasses of ice. Preferably in a styrofoam cup. I take it home in ziploc bags and eat it throughout the evening also. It does make my stomach hurt and at times I cannot talk due to a frozen mouth. I am returning to the Dr. soon because I am beginning to feel like I am out of control. The air conditioner in the car cannot blow in my face because it makes my jaws ache for ice.
 

I am so glad to see that I am not alone. I have been eating ice for years. I really enjoy it. I just decided to go on the internet to see what health risk will be associate with it. I have the heavy menstral flow.. clots and all.
 

Finally, I thought I was strange. I eat ice all day and wake up during the night 3 or 4 times to grab some cubes. My husband and kids cant stand it Oh well I cant stop. I also have very heavy periods and am tired all the time. It's great to know that I am not the only one. Thanks for the info.
 

I too have been chewing Ice for many year!! And am so glad I'm not alone...I've had menses problems since I was 18, always irregular - maybe had it once every 6 months and then extremely heavy lasting for 7 days... Once I had it for 40days straight!! and never once did the doctor ask about Ice chewing or mention an iron deficincey. I recently had to have my uterus removed - abnormal cancer cell and positive paps... Still craving the ice day and night and chewing like a horse! I even put bottles of water in the freezer at work and make sure they don't freeze up - just enough to have ice in the bottle - to chew while working.. when I go to be - the ice comes with me... I am definitly discussing this with my doctor and showing him this site!!!
 

Okay, I see alot of people talking about their cravings, but I dont see any doctors' opinions on how to subdue such cravings. Maybe I missed the link somewhere to the answer I'm looking for, if so, please tell me, if not, why isnt a professional monetoring these posts and MAYBE offering a little advice on what to do or what SHOULD be done. Thank You. -91315141510
 

I am pregnant with my fourth baby and I crave ice big time. I continuously have a cup packed with ice and am always eating it. I call it my dessert an everyone thinks I'm crazy. My mom is now wondering if you can have too much water in your body cause of all the ice I drink. Sometimes if I can't have ice I start to panic a little and my hands shake. I am low in iron. They said something about my iron level being at 9.9. I don't know what that means.
 

A co-worker told me that ice eating causes anemia. Afte reading the information on this web site, I know it is the other way around. Obviously I eat ice because I am anemic. I eat ice all day long. When I come in from a hard days work, my children automatically gives me a large 32 oz cup of crushed ice. At first the two girls would take turns crushing my ice, then I used their snow cone machine until it broke, I have recently invested in another snowcone machine. This is a bad habit that I want to stop. Now when we make it home from work and school, they fix everyone ice, it is our evening snack. The make sure I have bought enough, and even but ice trays in the deep freezer for back-up. I need to seek medical attention ASAP.
 

WOW! I've been crunching ice for years now. I stopped for a while when I was convinced that it would chip my teeth... but I've always had a strong set of chops and NEVER went to the dentist in pain. I'm Vegan now and started not more than 6 months ago. At first, it was a comfort thing, but then it grew into a slow obssession... crunching ice just to calm my nerves. I have noticed that when I'm not taking a B-complex vitamin, I tend to chomp. My mother is anemic and I've been told that I've been fine... and anemic... guess it depends on who you ask. So, I'll see and pay more attention when I'm back on the B-complex to see if this is related... it does have a sufficient amount of iron supplements included.

Thanks all!
 

i eat alot of ice cubes and have been wondering what effect they have on an individual.i have never had heavy flow of mentrual cycle.i eat it as a stress reliever.put am worried that it will affect the child am bearing
 

Well used to wonder what the heck was wrong with me ICE sweet tasteless ice. Beat it with a big iron spoon go to the ICe machine. Place it in a bowl eat it constantly. I was bleeding from the hems for awhile and I think that is my problem need to get it fixed
 

I crave ice to the point of filling up a 440z cup in the am on the way to work- refills during the day & a trip to Zaxby's, or Sonic(shaved ice) on the way home. I don't eat much food all day- maybe a cup of coffee & a snickers or pound cake from Starbucks. I have 5 fibroids & was suppose to have surgery next week. My Hemoglobin is 7.9/Hematocrit 25.8 - normal is 12/35. My doctor prescribed Chromagen 1/day(iron) & ferrous sulfate- 2/day. I had large clots with heavy periods ( 1 superpuls tampon & overnight pad- changing every hour) 1 week after the real period- she prescribed me with Progestrium (progesterone pills) - my bleeding stopped. Now she d/cd the progesterone pills- gave me a shot of Depro ( will stop my period for 3 month). I pray that my blood level goes up after taking all of this iron & eating liver & green leafy veggies. My surgery is scheduled in 2 wks. I made up in my mind to not eat anymore because by eating it, it slows down the absorption of iron. My fibroids are pressing on my bladder & I have to urinate very often. I'm having a myomectomy. I didn't want the uterine fibroid embolization ( although quicker), it cuts off the blood supply to the fibroid. They don't recommend it if you want kids. I can't cut off my options like that. Those 5 areas in my uterus would not have a blood supply for an embryo to grow. Make up in your mind to not eat ice to the point of constant. The more ice you eat- the more anemic you become. I'm a nurse & most doctors (ob/gyn agree- some doctors (internal medicine) say it doesn't matter- 6 out of 8.
 

GLAD TO SEE THAT I'M AMONG MANY ICE CHEWERS...I'M 46 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN CHEWING ICE SINCE I WAS IN MY TEENS. IT WAS REALLY NEVER A PROBLEM EARLY ON. ONLY UNTIL MY LAST CHILD WAS BORN IN 1989 THAT I STARTED EATING ICE VERY REGULARLY. JUST LIKE EVERYONE HERE, I LOOK FOR PLACES ON THE ROAD TO GET ICE. WHEN I GO OUT TO EAT I ALWAYS ASK THE WAITRESS IF I CAN HAVE A CUP OF ICE TO GO. I KEEP A COOLER FULL OF ICE WHEN I GO ON LONG TRIPS. WHEN I'M PLAYING CARDS WITH FRIENDS, THEY DRINK BEER, COLA ETC. AND I GO THE THE REFER. FOR ICE. AT WORK I HAVE MY OWN ICE THAT I BUY FROM THE STORE AND NO ONE TOUCHES IT. IT'S MY OWN PRIVATE STOCK. MY FAVORITE ICE IS THE CLEAR ICE AT JACK IN THE BOX. IT DOESN'T SEEN TO BUG MY TEETH. I TO, WORRY ABOUT HAVING ADVERSE EFFECTS ON MY BODY AND HAVE TAKEN IRON BEFORE AND IT GETS ME SICK TO MY STOMACH. I GUESS I HAVE TO START EATING LIVER EVERYDAY AND FRESH SPINACH...THEY HAVE A LOT OF IRON THAT'S NATURAL WILL PROBABLY HELP ME OVERCOME THIS CRAZY ADDICTION. I DEFINATELY KNEW I HAD AN ADDICTION WHEN I STARTED CHEWING ICE IN BED AT NIGHT IN THE WINTERTIME. I'VE ACTUALLY CHEWED SO MUCH IT WOULD BRING MY BODY CORE TEMP DOWN SO FAR THAT I WOULD START SHIVERING...HOW CRAZY IS THAT..ANYHOW GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE HERE...HOPE YOU ALL FIND YOUR RIGHT SOLUTION...I'M GOING TO THE DOCTOR AND TAKING A BLOOD TEST..I KNOW I'M ANEMIC, AND WAS TOLD SEVERAL YEARS AGO. TAKE CARE EVERYONE.
 

I've been anemic off and on for years and have been refused when I tried to give blood when the drop they put in just stayed afloat on the top of the test tube. I finally took it seriously and started taking the Slow FE (2 a day)at my doctor's insistence. I realized, after a few weeks, that my ice cravings had disappeared. I knew there had to be some link, so I looked up anemia and saw that "pica" was associated with iron deficiency. When I clicked on "pica" and saw ice chewing listed as one of the "odd eating behaviors" I almost fell off of my chair! I couldn't believe there was such a thing listed as an eating disorder. My husband was always yelling at me (at night before going to bed) to stop because he hated hearing that crunch, crunc crunch sound. I, too, wonder why dentists and medical doctors don't seem to have a clue about this. I finally fessed up to my dentist once the cravings left me. They really should be taught this in dental school don't you think?
 

I just turned 17 and I've been anemic on and off since I was about 4. About a year ago I started eating ice and now I eat it everyday. I was doing a search about ice eating to see the effects of it on teeth and I was suprised to find this. I never knew it correlated with being anemic. I've also had strange cravings for chalk, paper, and rocks over the years. I just switced doctors and I'm suprised my previous doctor never informed me on this.
 

Wow, it is so amazing that my ice cravings have been diagnosed! I was just for the heck of it checking because someone else said that women that eat alot of ice are Sexually frustrated and I just remembered and decided to search it out on Google. Thank God for this website, I guess I will start to take those prenatal Multi vitamins that I have on my shelf along with a visit to the DR. Thanks Ladies!! Very much appreciated!!
 

What a surprise to read all the stories about ice cravings!! I can identify with almost all of them, to include licking paper, having anemia, scoping places out for "good" ice, etc. I've even had cravings for starch, which I frequently saw my aunt eat in the 70s. However, my craving for ice outweighs them all. I finally purchased an ice shaver to save my teeth (just got out of braces), and now I'm really addicted. I can't wait to get home from work everyday and concoct some new creation from the ice shaver. I thought I was crazy too, but I hope to get this habit under control before I damage my $5000 smile. Your comments have shown me that I'm not in this alone.
 

I am glad to see that I am not the only one who east ice! I love the taste of it. I have been eating Ice for about 2 years now. However, in my case I am not anemic and I don't lack iron. Does anyone have any suggestins as to why I eat so much ice? I have yet to get nay answers.
 

Ice chewer for about 12 years, as long as i have had my cycle. I buy 5 bags of sonic ice per week, and finish every cube before the week is up. I was diagnosed anemic 11 years ago. I can't absorb iron. Before giving birth I have to have b12 and iron shots in my thigh every 3 days. My count goes below 10 when pregnant. I have heavy bleeding for 2 days, then it stops, and then comes back on day 5. Just noticed clots last month. Also, noticed one poster mentioned migraines. I have migraines twice a month since my cycle started. (12 years) Wondered if anyone else has migraines, if they are caused by my anemia, or possibly fibroids which i have never been tested for.
 

This is so odd. I started eating ice when I was 15, now 22. Consumption has definately increased with age. I have been turned down three times to donate blood. Then, I went to the WIC office to get WIC, and on one of their questionairres, it asked if you, or anyone in the household, eats chalk, starch, clay, paper, or large amounts of ice. I thought to myself... "Those other things are pretty far out, but what's wrong with my ice eating?" So I brushed it off, but mentioned it to my aunt after a discussion ensued about eating ice. She was messing around on her comp. and apparently was thinking of me and my mention of it apparently being out of the ordinary when she stumbled upon this page. She sent it to me, and WOW do I identify with most of you!!! I did have low iron when I visited the WIC office. After I delivered my second baby, they did send me home with iron pills, but they make me SO incredibly constipated. Take that and mix in the unmistakeable 'I've given birth' hemmorhoids, and NO... I'm NOT taking them. I used to buy a 7lb bag twice a week. Now I'm lucky if the 20lb bag lasts half of the week. (That doesn't include the ice I buy on the way to work, the ice I buy on lunch break, or the ice I stop to buy before I pick up the babies) Tonight I actually drove 15 minutes to a store that has the perfect crushed ice, even though I have half a bag left in my freezer. I, too, have incredibly heavy periods, but most of you only use super plus tampons with an overnight pad for the first 1 or 2 days, but I use them for at least 4. (Changing at least every 1-2 hours) I, too, have horrible migranes, and my eyes have gone absolutely insane. I get headaches in my eyes that cause such dizziness that I'm not able to function. I see many spots in my eyes, which they say is high blood pressure, but I definately don't have that. I'm tired ALL the time, but I figured that was because I have a 2 year old boy and a 5 month old baby boy. Makes sense, right? The last couple of days I've been having really bad pains in my ovary area, and my stomach has been bloated. Somebody also said they can't concentrate at work. That's me, too. I just chalked it up to be tiredness, though. I guess I am lucky that my husband isn't at all annoyed by my ice eating habit. My son likes to join in now and then, but never asks for it when I don't have some next to me. I've never been tested for fibroids, though. And why is it that we all seem to be females? Does this weird thing not plague men? Damn the luck. One more thing is that I live in Florida, and I always thought I was just eating more ice to cool myself off a bit from the unbearable heat. I guess that's probably not the case. My husband does always say, "You really are quite sexually frustrated, aren't you" which isn't the case at all, but tought it was funny to see the same thing here. We should start a support group, or at least all come back with results from testing. Do our own research! But I will definately be calling my doctor. I think I will print this page and take it with me as some kind of evidence that I'm not insane. Best wishes to all of you... may your cravings for ice MELT AWAY!!! LOL (Sorry... I couldn't resist)
 

I craved ice when I was pregnant 10 years ago but have started craving ice again a few weeks ago.I know I am not pregnant and like so many of you I have had very heavy periods with clots. I know I probably have fibroids but don't like to go to doctors. Guess I had better. I also crave WinterGreen lifesavers.
 

I have never done this before - made comments on the internet! but I can't resist now knowing that I among many who crave ice! I have craved ice for who knows how long - I have lost count - at least 10 years+. In the last three years I was diagnosed with anemia and hypothyroidism. The doctor prescribed iron pills until my iron level returned to normal and I am on synthyroid. My ice cravings haven't changed maybe increased. I eat ice every chance I get. Use to be I would eat ice cubes (I have 2 broken teeth but my daughter bought me an ice shaving machine and I will never go back to cubes! I'm hooked on shaved ice! It is the best! You cubers don't know what you are missing! I had always heard ice cravings was associated with anemia but after reading the comments maybe has to do with the low thyroid too!
 

I was just eating a cup of ice just like i do everyday allday and as i was eating the ice I wondered why do i want i ice every minute cup after cup my menstrual cycle has recently began to be very heavy and I called the doctor just yesterday and it is quite amazing because i then got on the internet and looked it up and this what i found there are more people like me although this is a very serious condition
 

I feel like I have found Ice Eaters Anonymous! I'm a female in my mid-40's. The ice maker on my freezer can't keep up with me. Sometimes I have to supplement with ice trays. When I go out I always stop by fast food restaurants and get a cup of water (which is free), then I drain the water and eat the ice. I don't leave home without a cup of ice in my hand. There are cups all over my house from wherever I finished the last cup of ice.
I guess tomorrow I'll be out buying some iron.
Has anyone heard of any bad side effects from eating ice, besides an occasional broken tooth? I wonder if it does harm freezing my insides!
 

wow, am I glad I finally decided to research this! I have been eating ice non stop since this past summer and it's now mid October. I ate ice in
the past, but never like this! I can't stop! I am actually worried about my teeth...any comments or advice about ice ruining teeth? I read all the posts on anemia, thyroid problemes, diabetes, endometriosis, heavy periods, etc.
But what if a person doesn't have low iron counts?
If the ice eating starts from a physical reason, does anyone think that this could lead to just compulsive ice eating behavior out of habit, or oral fixation or something? I have always had an addictive personality and i eat ice by the huge cupfuls all the time now. Does anyone have this 'problem' without any other physical concerns?
the last time i got my iron checked they said i was anemic, but i had recently given blood that week and it was most likely because of that....because when i give blood, it's almost always fine.
I do have a hormone imbalance, however, with too much testosterone (polycystic ovarian syndrome). Normal periods now, bc of the pill,
but very very heavy when i first started so many years ago.

It is nice, however, to see ALL of these other people that do the same wierd thing i do!
 

I have been an ice chewer for years. It has always come and gone with different levels of intensity. I am 43 yrs old, and this past 6-9 months has been by far the worse. I hate to mention that I am also a dental hygienist. And Yes, ice chewing is hard on your teeth, especially if you have a lot of large, older silver fillings in your mouth. I will go get a physical soon, get my iron checked etc. I do however know that I have problems with my esophogus (ulcerations and it narrows at the opening in to the stomach), I have fibromyalgia and I am very tired lately. More so than usual. Thank you everyone for sharing your craziness with the rest of us, I would like to hear a few success stories as to what others have done that has helped. sincerley, Ice Chewing Dental Hygienist.
 

Thank God!!!! I was beginning to think that I was losing my mind. I am eating ice so much that I've found myself not only banging the ice holder against the counter to get the tiny crushed ice from the bottom, but I'm eating several large cups of ice a day. I get so upset if I go to the freezer and there's no ice that I snatch the trays out, fill them and go to the nearest McDonald's for just a large cup of ice! This started several months ago and just recently I started gaining weight so i took a pregnancy test this morning to make sure I didn't have a "little one" hiding out inside of me. When I finally opened my eyes and saw the words "not pregnant" in front of me I was somewhat relieved, but I jumped on the computer to find out if there was anybody in the world experiencing my symptoms. Not only have I notice some chest discomfort, but my periods are so heavy that there are days that I have to call off work because a super-plus tampon and a pad [almost the size of a diaper] only hold for about 15 minutes max. I am going to try some of the suggestions here and hopefully I will be able to login soon and give you all some good news. Thanks so much for all the information!
biggurl68@hotmail.com
 

I had heard about this ice craving many years ago but until recently never had it myself or knew of anyone that had had it assoc. w/anemia. I had a bleeding ovarian cyst that had been seeping. It wasn't until it had ruptured completely and I was taken to the hospital that this crazy craving for potato chips and ice was revealed. So concerned with the fact that I was pregnant it had never crossed my mind that the heart palpitations, weakness, chills, irritability and headaches were all stemed from this hidden anemia. It's amazing how are bodies try to communicate with us and how dumb we feel knowing we didn't listen to it??? Now I know the "urban legend" isn't so urban after all. Thanks for the posting!