[-jimi-]

My body loves producing deficiencies, and this time the anemia came out to be plain iron deficiency.

Thing is I have some symptoms I can't really find in the literature.

Yes, I'm exercise intolerant, if I try to use my body one bit, my heart rate quickly goes up to at least 160 and I feel totally out of breath. That is normal for low iron.

I also have some RLS and leg cramps, and I never know this was connected but it is. Because I don't always have it. But what more is I got something that almost feels like RLS but isn't, a very strong and squirmy mental state as I try to fall asleep. It is part mental, part physical. Never had it on normal iron levels.

I'm not just tired, I'm SLEEPY all the time. I can easily sleep 13 hours and some days I sleep all day long. I haven't find this being a symptom.

Cold hands and feet, yes, but I also have this cold, shivering feeling all over my body, like you can feel when you're starting to develop a fever (although i don't have a fever).

When I lie in bed it happens my heard don't slow down but I also get chest pains.

Sedatives hit me much harder. My memory is worse. Can I blame this on anemia?

I don't feel dizzy unless I look up in the sky, then I lose my balance. Woa! LOL.

Also I want to EAT! Even if I have eaten my meals, before bed I get cravings to eat, usually things like aged cheese and stuff. I'm normally NOT a snacker.

I've also got a lot more dysphoric. I can still smile and laugh, but it isn't as real as it has been.

My finger nails are very ridged.

Also, I tend not to get sick in other ways (although it is said to lower your immune system), but when I have gotten treated, THEN I get "everything"...

Am I nuts and imagine strange symptoms?

Anyone here with recurring iron anemia that has any input?

[healingme4me]

I don't know. Some sounds like the low iron, even dizziness. Yet could overlap other things, even the dizziness.

[-jimi-]

Luckily I haven't had much of leg cramps lately, that and RLS isn't much fun. At least I want to be able to relax...

Was tested for my other common deficiencies but came out OK, somewhat low in vitamin D which is sort of impossible since it is summer and we have sun almost all the time. But yes, I manage strange things.

[coyotee]

It's interesting that you're snack of choice is cheese, which will give you calcium - but that you're low on Vitamin D - which you need to absorb the calcium.

Vitamin D caplets in low to moderate doses are pretty safe and it should help a lot with your energy level too.

I have been trying to get my low vitamin D levels up to normal for a few years now, so I have done some reading on it. I mostly just get more confused about what to do. I have learned, though, that the form of vitamin D we get from sunlight and from food and supplements has to be converted, first by the liver and then by the kidneys, into the form that's usable by the body. Enzymes are involved.

That leaves a lot of places for things to go wrong.

from Wikipedia: Vitamin D refers to a group of fat-soluble secosteroids responsible for enhancing intestinal absorption of calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphate and zinc.

I read things that say that vitamin D supplements must be taken with magnesium, must include vitamin K - it's just very confusing!

I have tried supplements to get my levels up to normal, because low levels are associated with depression and autoimmune problems, but my level doesn't go up much. I'm not sure that my depression or autoimmune problems would improve if I did get my vitamin D levels up to normal. As far as I know, the autoimmune problems may be causing the low vitamin D level.

[-jimi-]

I take vitamin D. I get deficient even in summer! Even if I am out and we have daylight 18 hours a day! And yes, autoimmune illness will really consume vitamins, minerals, everything.