Ice Chewers Bulletin Board - All about Chewing Ice

I can't believe there is actually a website that I am posting to about ice-chewing, but here it goes. I have the WORST case of ice chewing and craving. When my 21 year old son was on the way, I started chewing ice. . . about 24 hours after delivery, I quit. Then my 18 year old daughter was on the way. I once again started chewing away, after l about 24 hours after she was delivered, then I quit again. During this pregnancy, I loved the smell of styrofoam. . . I actually got a hold of some (the kind that is put in pillows) and chewed it until it would begin to crumble in my mouth. 2 1/2 years later, my 16 year old daughter was on the way . . you know the routine . . after she was delivered I stopped . . . that was until our 6 year old daughter was on the way. . . here came the craving again. However, after this pregnancy, I had a tubal ligation (tubes tied). I however, didn't quit chewing ice. I am still chewing ice. . . I have actually purchased a SCOTSMAN MDT2C12 TOUCHFREE CUBELET ICE MAKER/DISPENSER!! (Found on e-bay, paid $2250 for the thing) This is THEE machine that makes SONIC ice. I swear I have this down to a science . . . . If I take out about a pitcher's worth of ice ( and give it to my plants so I'm not "wasting water") then the machine kicks in and starts making that amazing ice that sticks to your teeth . . the really fresh cool stuff. I will literally chew ice until I am shivering, and sometimes I will go to bed with a front toothache that radiates up past my nose and into my forehead. I've actually wrapped in a heating blanket, chewing ice, as I'm watching tv, using the computer, etc. I chew ice when I'm folding laundry, cleaning the windows, polishing the floor, driving, taking a bath . . . it's out of control I know!!! I have 2 chipped molars due to chewing, but my dentist has never lectured me. I know for a fact that I chew over 10 lbs a day because of the amount the ice machine can produce.
Ok, the confession is out. . . I do have fibroids (3), am 44 years old now and every other month has a cycle from H E _ _ !!
Does any of this relate to anyone??

Still Chewin in CO

I am the same way.. I only chew when I am pregant and that is how I found out this time, we are expecting. Once my baby is born I quit. I have to have ice from certain places... Once Mcdonalds here in my town has "better" ice than another and I have to go through the drive through or it isn't right!!! Weird I know

Wow, a kindred spirit! When I was pregnant with my first, I worked at Jewel Foods and on my breaks I would go back in the produce department with my cup and take a hugh scoop out of the machine that makes the crushed ice that they used to pour over some of the produce. That was the only craving I had while pregnant! Same with kid #2. I lost the craving for years, but now it's back. (and no....I'm not pregnant!) I know I have anemia and I'm thinking it has something to do with menopause too. I also chew until I'm blue and shivering. My neighbors think I'm crazy when I sit on my sunny front porch when it's 95 degrees! In the winter...forget it, I'm NEVER warm. Why do we do this to ourselves? I don't chew near as much as most of the people on this site, I just don't have the time to carry and crunch all day. Good thing! I do have a habit of checking out the ice in the places that I eat and have recently found Sweet Tomatoes ice to be the best. Does anyone think that ice actually has a taste? We must, because we keep saying it tastes delicious. I believe it isn't the taste as much as the texture. One positive.....you can do it all day it won't add a single calorie to your diet! Munch on!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, I can so relate! We all have it pretty bad, but I've just started on iron suplements and am waiting to see how it goes. I used to take them while I was pregs, but they gave me night terrors and chomping on the ice seemed the better soulution. But recently I was in the hospital and they let me have ALL the ice I wanted, it was so cool (No pun intended.) When I got out I wanted nothing but cracked ice or chipped ice thereafter. When we went out one of out waitresses gave me a cup of ice from the bar, and it was more like a snow cone! I could have made slush balls out of it, but it ended up being SOOOO GOOOOOD! Yup, I must be strange.

I can totally relate. I would love to have the ice machine that makes the sonic ice. I am with envy. Still, I have my ice sticks. I guess my ice chewing started when I a little girl around 5 years old. I had tonsilitis, (I still get it every year), and they gave me crushed ice to eat instead of ice cream. I was a fat child, so I guess they wanted me to lose weight. The joke is on them, I still eat ice and now I am going to be 30 in August. (That is it, I am not aging any more. I will be 30 and holding for the rest of my life.) I am very anemic and have extremely heavy periods. I hate iron pills because of the constipation factor. I guess i would miss ice if I did not have it, not to mention gain a bunch of weight. The only downside to the ice is the fact ypu have to pee soooooooooooo much. It sucks!!!!!!!!!![color=#FF00FF][/color]

Well, I'm back, and I have to say that the iron supplement didn't do too much for me in the long run. However I am now taking a B complex supplement and things are lessening. At least I don't have to make special trips to the fast food lanes to get a cup of ice while I am on the road! I can hold out for meal-times and wait until I get home where ith ice is free.

I have not been here in a while.... I've been craving for years, I know I am anemic... always tired, always out of breath, extremely heavy periods, also had a tubal ligation 20 years ago, which make my cycle worse... had blood work done back in 2000 and the doctor told me my iron was so low he wanted me to have a transfusion, I told him I would get it up with supplements, which I did for a while, but it's a battle between constipation from the supplements and the craving for ice.... I am so tired of being a slave to the ice, people don't understand. I just started taking Solgar, gentle iron, 2 a day until I feel better, after a couple days I was able to take a deep breath, it's only been 5 days since I started, still craving.. I think last time it took about 3 weeks before I was totally off ice? I also started taking the herb yarrow, which is suppose to reduce heavy bleeding.... well see.

I'm not an ice chewing freak, but some ice is good once in a while. I only usually have it if it is really hot out, but sometimes I just crave it for no reason at all. Is there something wrong with me?

Hi, I also started this ice addiction while pregnant. I knew all the quick marts in the area and who had the "best" ice- not too hard, not too big and they would let me in with my empty Big Gulp cups to fill up. I had no shame. At first I started out with one cup but quickly graduated to two or more. My hemoglobin was low with that delivery and someone in the hospital actually brought me in cups of ice when they came to visit , my ice chewing was so well known.

Now I have come to realize that my Ferritin level is a big part of why I chew ice. I just had it tested and it is a dismal 3. My hemoglobin is in the normal range. So I am 'iron deficient' but not quite iron deficient anemic yet. It is the start of that process. Researching low ferritin levels on the internet I see now it can induce- "pagophagia" --- ice chewing. Think I will go get a cup now from the freezer.