[janiedough]

Just wondering if anyone has had iron deficiency (with or without anemia). Mine is without anemia as of 2 months ago, though 3 or 4 months ago I was probably borderline anemic (I couldn't give blood because my hemoglobin was too low). I could be anemic now and not know, though probably only borderline, given the fluctuation I have seen.

I suspect that it is going to take a long time to get my levels back up to normal and, hopefully, recover from this constant fatigue. Does anyone have a success story they would like to share? I want to get back in shape and have been trying to work out at the gym lately (last time I practically fell asleep while using one of the exercise machines, but I still got my 30 minutes in!).

Also, anyone know how long it takes for iron levels to be depleted as told by a doctor? I'm just curious so that I can determine for myself how long my iron levels have been low for (thus, possibly figuring out when it all started and understanding the cause). The research I have done is too confusing and all over the place and I don't have the energy to figure it out.

Peace (I feel pretty lackadaisical right now, haha)

[-jimi-]

I had an iron injection because I had no iron storage at all and severe anemia. Took two months until I was OK but then it started to get worse after not long at all. I simply cannot keep my levels up. I'm not as bad as I was though. I assume you take iron supplement?

[JustJenny]

Do you know why you are low on iron?

I was diagnosed with iron deficiency microcytic anemia about two years ago with very very low iron. The reason was excessive monthly blood loss that lasted many years (I am a female, so I guess you know what I mean...). My symptoms were very apparent when doing sports: I could hardly run and cycling up a steep hill was a nightmare. My heart rate would go crazy and I could hardly breathe. At work I was frequently very sleepy, but I didn't see it as a symptom back then. And I was pretty pale, but I didn't see that either.

I had a course of iron injections and then a course of oral iron supplements. I still take iron supplements now once in a while because my iron levels are still not optimal.

I think I started feeling better about 2-3 weeks after the first injection. I cycle to work on daily basis so it was easy to monitor. It took me some months (3-4 maybe) until I could feel more or less fit again.

[TerryL]

Have you looked into cooking with cast iron? My friend also needed iron injections. She had had a kidney transplant so that might have contributed to her condition.

[janiedough]

Jimi:
Yeah, I am taking a supplement now that I know that my iron is low. I don't really know if it is working yet.

JustJenny:
I don't know for sure, but monthly blood loss is also suspected in my case. I can't run either right now. I've always been sleepy for as long as I can remember, but have for sure been fatigued for the past 2 years.

What was considered "very very low" for you? My saturation was lower than 10% but the other values were in the twenties [mg/dl] which I think were still in the "okay" range but on the low side. Hemoglobin was okay at the time too, though it was taken literally 2 days before that time of the month.

TerryL:
I have not looked into cooking with cast iron. How does it work(i.e. with iron absorption)?
Everything was pretty normal with testing other than low iron. My doc even said that my liver and kidneys were super healthy.

[-jimi-]

My hemoglobin was quite low. Me serum iron was low. My serum ferritin was extemely low.

I cook in cast iron. Also i try to combo food with iron with vit c and avoid combo iron foods with milk. No great success. I also take antacid. They inhibit iron.

[TerryL]

Originally Posted by janiedough

Jimi:
TerryL:
I have not looked into cooking with cast iron. How does it work(i.e. with iron absorption)?
Everything was pretty normal with testing other than low iron. My doc even said that my liver and kidneys were super healthy.

I have never cooked with cast iron myself but I used to have to take iron supplements because I was so anemic (from the monthly blood loss) but I was always concerned if the supplements might have some kind of negative effect on my system. There is so much info online. Here is some warning info about cast iron but still it is something to consider--and maybe discuss with your doctor.

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.c...ast-iron-pans/

[janiedough]

So, I feel like the supplement was maybe helping a little, but I was also controlling my food intake on a daily bases. Does anyone know if reactive hypoglycemia be a result of iron deficiency as well? God, today was awful because I wasn't able to eat my snacks throughout the day... and I think it may have caused me to be hypoglycemic? I was really cold and barely able to keep my eyes open without shaking and twitching and now I feel like I may lose my job due to poor performance. I really hope my coworkers are understanding, but I am really afraid of more long meetings. I really can't do them well - after 2 hours I can no longer function without food or a quick nap. Anyone have helpful suggestions? I feel really anxious about this because I was so happy at work and now I feel like I have failed.. I really wish I had a dedicated doctor that I could see for longer than 15 minutes to just talk about everything.

[janiedough]

Originally Posted by janiedough

So, I feel like the supplement was maybe helping a little, but I was also controlling my food intake on a daily bases. Does anyone know if reactive hypoglycemia be a result of iron deficiency as well? God, today was awful because I wasn't able to eat my snacks throughout the day... and I think it may have caused me to be hypoglycemic? I was really cold and barely able to keep my eyes open without shaking and twitching and now I feel like I may lose my job due to poor performance. I really hope my coworkers are understanding, but I am really afraid of more long meetings. I really can't do them well - after 2 hours I can no longer function without food or a quick nap. Anyone have helpful suggestions? I feel really anxious about this because I was so happy at work and now I feel like I have failed.. I really wish I had a dedicated doctor that I could see for longer than 15 minutes to just talk about everything.

I had another "crying" fit today when I got home too. Thank god that I am living alone now so nobody yelled at me for it. The crying made me feel so much better. I wish I had a soundproof room to cry in so my neighbors don't get upset with me. Hopefully they didn't hear me and don't judge me for it. I think that feeling of needing a good cry has something to do with the dizziness and exhaustion that I had today. I wonder how the crying episode affects the body's system and the survival reasons for it. I know it has to be a survival instinct of some sort. I feel like I am crying for help every time (subconsciously?). I wish I understood this better... maybe it is a normal emotion that everyone has but is better at hiding? Though, my family has rejected me for this behavior and their reaction to me crying has made me go into hysterics in the past. I shouldn't need to worry about that anymore, though, as I have made the decision to slowly cut them out of my life. (I am slowly discovering that they are all narcissists, which explains some things).

[htoun]

I'm taking a liquid iron I found in the health food store. I have managed to get my iron out of the danger zone. But I think you should get a full blood work done. Sugars as well as your vitamin levels and your thyroid. If your low in vitamins then it is harder to absorb iron. Any of those things can cause exhaustion, feeling cold and like your walking through a river up hill! It's a horrible feeling.
I have a thyroid problem which is playing havoc with my life. I have run out of patience with my drs too. The canadian system isn't better just different.

[JustJenny]

Originally Posted by janiedough

What was considered "very very low" for you? My saturation was lower than 10% but the other values were in the twenties [mg/dl] which I think were still in the "okay" range but on the low side. Hemoglobin was okay at the time too, though it was taken literally 2 days before that time of the month.

I don't remember exactly, but it was far below the normal range. Other values were also very low and the red blood cells shrunk in size (=microcytic anemia).

Are you taking any iron supplements?

I remember times when I would become hypoglycemic at some point of the day, usually after I had some bread for breakfast (the alternative is cereals). I would experience a sudden onset of fatigue and vertigo after around 2 hours after breakfast and I had to eat something immediately. Now I don't experience it as much anymore. Maybe it was related to anemia, hmmm.

[janiedough]

Originally Posted by htoun

I'm taking a liquid iron I found in the health food store. I have managed to get my iron out of the danger zone. But I think you should get a full blood work done. Sugars as well as your vitamin levels and your thyroid. If your low in vitamins then it is harder to absorb iron. Any of those things can cause exhaustion, feeling cold and like your walking through a river up hill! It's a horrible feeling.
I have a thyroid problem which is playing havoc with my life. I have run out of patience with my drs too. The canadian system isn't better just different.

I think the doctor did a full lipid panel as well and checked my thyroid levels in addition to a lot of other vitamins and a CBC (complete blood count). The only things that were off were iron, vitamin D, and my blood sugar was on the high end of normal, but my A1C was normal, so it didn't concern the doctor much I think. Idk if they got all the tests they wanted for sure because they weren't able to draw enough blood (it stopped flowing into the tubes). From the CBC, I wasn't anemic at the time of getting blood drawn.

I have taken an iron supplement for the past month, but since my last period, I have felt completely exhausted. I don't even know if the times that I feel drained are from anemia, need for sleep, or some deficiency. If only I knew. I want to fix it, lol.

I'm wondering if my vitamin B12 could be low again (I don't know for sure if it was in the past, but supplements made me feel better at the time). I feel like I should have another check for vitamins before self supplementing. I think it has been a little over 2 months since my last check. Hopefully it isn't too soon.

[janiedough]

Originally Posted by JustJenny

I don't remember exactly, but it was far below the normal range. Other values were also very low and the red blood cells shrunk in size (=microcytic anemia).

Are you taking any iron supplements?

I remember times when I would become hypoglycemic at some point of the day, usually after I had some bread for breakfast (the alternative is cereals). I would experience a sudden onset of fatigue and vertigo after around 2 hours after breakfast and I had to eat something immediately. Now I don't experience it as much anymore. Maybe it was related to anemia, hmmm.

Do you happen to be a coffee drinker? I have noticed that I can prevent the onset of the extreme fatigue (I don't think I get vertigo, though) if I time my coffee and snack intake just right. I remember recently I didn't drink my coffee early enough to prevent the morning fatigue (I can't drink it too early or I will crash) and I couldn't get out of the fatigue for the rest of the day no matter how much food I ate.

[JustJenny]

I am a coffee drinker and I take it with milk and sugar, it's a snack calorie-wise. I would drink it all day long but if I take too much I get a headache

[htoun]

Originally Posted by janiedough

I think the doctor did a full lipid panel as well and checked my thyroid levels in addition to a lot of other vitamins and a CBC (complete blood count). The only things that were off were iron, vitamin D, and my blood sugar was on the high end of normal, but my A1C was normal, so it didn't concern the doctor much I think. Idk if they got all the tests they wanted for sure because they weren't able to draw enough blood (it stopped flowing into the tubes). From the CBC, I wasn't anemic at the time of getting blood drawn.

I have taken an iron supplement for the past month, but since my last period, I have felt completely exhausted. I don't even know if the times that I feel drained are from anemia, need for sleep, or some deficiency. If only I knew. I want to fix it, lol.

I'm wondering if my vitamin B12 could be low again (I don't know for sure if it was in the past, but supplements made me feel better at the time). I feel like I should have another check for vitamins before self supplementing. I think it has been a little over 2 months since my last check. Hopefully it isn't too soon.

Yeah being low in B12 could do it too. If you have had problems with B I would look at that first

Did the dr check your thyroid levels or your TSH. If it was just a TSH test you still could be having thyroid problems. The TSH is actually the chemical your pituitary gland sends to your thyroid to tell it to make thyroxan. Your thyroid actually makes 5 chemicals. T3 and T4 seem to be the most important from my research. Your thyroid makes both but you can also convert T4 to T3 unless you are having any number of problems like low minerals, gut problems even some meds can effect it. I'm still trying to get a handle on it and I have been on thyroid meds for almost 20 years and complaining there was something wrong for 20 before that. Anyway TSH has been considered the gold standard test for a long time but there is a movement to doing the free T3 and T4. Took me a while to get my dr to do it then to get him to disregard the TSH. The free T3 and T4 is a better test for thyroid as it is actually the stuff your thyroid makes. Sorry that was so long but it's a pet peeve I have felt horrid for years and they would say your thyroid is fine the TSH is in normal and then to find they lied So if you still feel like blah keep checking and going back. Ok will jump off the now.

[-jimi-]

I'm so tired of deficiencies. I can't sleep, I hurt all over. When I do fall asleep I wake up without no energy at all and ice cold inside.

I need a new checkup but doctors here behave like you are bothering them.

[janiedough]

Originally Posted by htoun

Yeah being low in B12 could do it too. If you have had problems with B I would look at that first

Did the dr check your thyroid levels or your TSH. If it was just a TSH test you still could be having thyroid problems. The TSH is actually the chemical your pituitary gland sends to your thyroid to tell it to make thyroxan. Your thyroid actually makes 5 chemicals. T3 and T4 seem to be the most important from my research. Your thyroid makes both but you can also convert T4 to T3 unless you are having any number of problems like low minerals, gut problems even some meds can effect it. I'm still trying to get a handle on it and I have been on thyroid meds for almost 20 years and complaining there was something wrong for 20 before that. Anyway TSH has been considered the gold standard test for a long time but there is a movement to doing the free T3 and T4. Took me a while to get my dr to do it then to get him to disregard the TSH. The free T3 and T4 is a better test for thyroid as it is actually the stuff your thyroid makes. Sorry that was so long but it's a pet peeve I have felt horrid for years and they would say your thyroid is fine the TSH is in normal and then to find they lied So if you still feel like blah keep checking and going back. Ok will jump off the now.

Sorry, my response is a bit long.

Thanks for the information. It sucks that you had to go through all that with the thyroid stuff. Hopefully it doesn't take 20 years to figure out my problem; It's been 2 years for mine so far and I'm still in my twenties, so it's kind of difficult to get people to take me seriously (I've been told that I act like an old grandma by some who know me better). (I think there is a delicate balance of passiveness, assertiveness, and how much concern you show when talking to doctors; I initially tried attacking this problem passively with doctors and got told I had an "anxiety" disorder and the doctor wouldn't do any blood tests other than A1C... So, this time, I am being more assertive and laid back in my approach, as in I am only mentioning a few symptoms at a time that I have prioritized along with using logical arguments to rationalize testing to be done, and it's working out better. Yay!)

I just checked and it looks like tests for "T4, FREE" and "TSH" were done. My B12 was checked at the same time, and it was almost 1000 pg/ml which is pretty good I think. I had been self supplementing with B12 for about 2 months up until 1 week before the test was done. It has been roughly almost 3 months since the blood was taken for those tests. I also take a daily multivitamin that has B12 (I have been taking a daily multivitamin for the past 5 or 6 months). So, given that, I cannot be certain about whether I have actually had a problem with B vitamins or not. Ideally, I would just get those checked to compare with last time. I don't want to start self supplementing before getting a blood test again out of fear that if I do, I will never know if low B12 is really part of the problem. It is tempting though! I will be patient.

[janiedough]

Originally Posted by -jimi-

I'm so tired of deficiencies. I can't sleep, I hurt all over. When I do fall asleep I wake up without no energy at all and ice cold inside.

I need a new checkup but doctors here behave like you are bothering them.

That sounds awful. I sometimes wake with low energy, but it usually replenishes about 2 hours after I wake up now that I have control over the temperature where I live. I may have had a similar feeling when staying with my relative who wouldn't let me control the temperature inside the house (They kept it either too hot in the summer +78 F or too cold in winter ~68-70 F and I could never sleep well). I need a temperature between 72 F and ~76 F to sleep comfortably. Do you have control over the temperature where you live? I know it's not a solution, but could be a little helpful at least.

About the doctors: I know how you feel. I felt the same way with the doctors in Japan when all this first started. I felt like they didn't care and just wanted to get rid of me as soon as they could while still being "polite." I'm thankful that the doctors where I am at right now (not all) are a little more caring.

[htoun]

Originally Posted by -jimi-

I'm so tired of deficiencies. I can't sleep, I hurt all over. When I do fall asleep I wake up without no energy at all and ice cold inside.

I need a new checkup but doctors here behave like you are bothering them.

I know I sound like a record but you really really really need to get your thyroid checked!!!!!!!!

Just before I found out mine was off I was so tired. To tired to go to bed. I wasn't sleeping through the night. Waking up tired. I was also cold so very cold and couldn't get warm no matter what I did. I think there were a good 8 inches of blankets comforters and duvets on my side of the bed. If I had moved any slower I would have been going backwards. My period was doing weird things and I couldn't think. I was feeling paranoid and just weird. My friend said go to the dr. I said why I will go in say I'm sick and tired of feeling sick and tired they will pat me on the head and send me home. So then she said that I had a week to phone her and tell her I had an appointment or she would make the 20 hour drive to my house and kick me all the way to the dr!! So I made the appointment cause she was really bugging me. My dr sent me for blood work took two people and them milking my arm to get the blood. My TSH was 203 it is suppose to be below 6. Dr wanted to know why I was still standing. She still bugs me but in a nice way and when she got sick I got to tell her that I would kick her if she didn't behave We are only 2 hours apart now

Any way drs can be pompas annoying know it alls but occasionally you find one who actually listens and tries. Besides it is their job to be bothered. I even found a way to fire one here in Canada had to phone the ministry to do but I got it done. I'm proud of that cause I was feeling very tired and blah so I was letting her just make up stuff. But then I went in and she didn't even look at why I was there and spent 15 minutes yelling at me about cholesterol and that was the last straw. It's really hard when you feel like that to make the effort to do anything but please try.

PS it is a very easy blood test and fast way to eliminate one possible problem. So many of them symptoms of tired, cold and blah

[htoun]

Originally Posted by janiedough

Sorry, my response is a bit long.

Thanks for the information. It sucks that you had to go through all that with the thyroid stuff. Hopefully it doesn't take 20 years to figure out my problem; It's been 2 years for mine so far and I'm still in my twenties, so it's kind of difficult to get people to take me seriously (I've been told that I act like an old grandma by some who know me better). (I think there is a delicate balance of passiveness, assertiveness, and how much concern you show when talking to doctors; I initially tried attacking this problem passively with doctors and got told I had an "anxiety" disorder and the doctor wouldn't do any blood tests other than A1C... So, this time, I am being more assertive and laid back in my approach, as in I am only mentioning a few symptoms at a time that I have prioritized along with using logical arguments to rationalize testing to be done, and it's working out better. Yay!)

I just checked and it looks like tests for "T4, FREE" and "TSH" were done. My B12 was checked at the same time, and it was almost 1000 pg/ml which is pretty good I think. I had been self supplementing with B12 for about 2 months up until 1 week before the test was done. It has been roughly almost 3 months since the blood was taken for those tests. I also take a daily multivitamin that has B12 (I have been taking a daily multivitamin for the past 5 or 6 months). So, given that, I cannot be certain about whether I have actually had a problem with B vitamins or not. Ideally, I would just get those checked to compare with last time. I don't want to start self supplementing before getting a blood test again out of fear that if I do, I will never know if low B12 is really part of the problem. It is tempting though! I will be patient.

Glad to hear that they ordered a free. Was your multi high in folic acid if so that can mask low B12. Found that one out the hard way. Are you taking iron now?

I have hashimoto so in truth there is nothing wrong with my thyroid it just been taken out in the cross fire. Which is why I'm still trying to get a balance. Some think that is impossible but I know a few who have so I keep going. I want to see my grandson graduate and he is only 2 so I can't let it win!!!

[janiedough]

Originally Posted by htoun

Glad to hear that they ordered a free. Was your multi high in folic acid if so that can mask low B12. Found that one out the hard way. Are you taking iron now?

I have hashimoto so in truth there is nothing wrong with my thyroid it just been taken out in the cross fire. Which is why I'm still trying to get a balance. Some think that is impossible but I know a few who have so I keep going. I want to see my grandson graduate and he is only 2 so I can't let it win!!!

I like your motivation. I don't have any kids yet myself, but would like to some day when I know for sure that I am healthy enough to take care of them properly.

My folate was actually pretty high and surprised the doctor even, but the doctor didn't say it was a problem... Oh, just realized you were talking about the vitamin, lol.. Umm, it looks like my old daily multivitamin had 100% daily value of folate and 300% B12 (cyanocobalamin). I just switched to a multivitamin with iron (this one has 100% dv iron as opposed to the 250% that I was taking for the past month), and have been trying to eat more meat, fish, and veggies with iron as well. Funny thing too is that my multivitamin had 200% vitamin D and that was still borderline low.

[htoun]

Originally Posted by janiedough

I like your motivation. I don't have any kids yet myself, but would like to some day when I know for sure that I am healthy enough to take care of them properly.

My folate was actually pretty high and surprised the doctor even, but the doctor didn't say it was a problem... Oh, just realized you were talking about the vitamin, lol.. Umm, it looks like my old daily multivitamin had 100% daily value of folate and 300% B12 (cyanocobalamin). I just switched to a multivitamin with iron (this one has 100% dv iron as opposed to the 250% that I was taking for the past month), and have been trying to eat more meat, fish, and veggies with iron as well. Funny thing too is that my multivitamin had 200% vitamin D and that was still borderline low.

Thanks he very cute but one heck of a lot of work. He keeps trying to out think everyone around him.

From what I have understood of the stuff I have been reading if your blood work is showing high folate it can mask low B12. I couldn't find a multi that had what I wanted. Even the ones at the health food store for thyroid were bad for hashimotos. So I'm trying to figure out taking everything individually what a pain!! I may end up trying to see a naturalpath as there is so very much info and sometimes it seems to contradict every other. Like the iodine controversy found out by accident that it is not good for hashimotos but almost every thing on it says it's great for thyroid problems. It's hard finding credible sources and wading through all the ones that want to sell you the amazing new find for just 35.95 plus shipping and handling

So keep smiling try to eat better and all the healthy stuff. Take the new vitamins and see how you feel on them. Everyone absorbs differently. If you have been having brain fog write yourself a note about how you feel and when you started your vitamins. That said I of course forgot to do that when I added CoQ10 to my line up of vitamins but my muscles don't hurt as much. Huhrra!

[The_little_didgee]

I never had anemia but I do struggle with low ferritin levels. My lowest result was 7. At that time I was pale and dizzy a lot. Somehow my hemoglobin was normal during that time. The only irregularity I had was a lot of big and immature RBCs. The last time I had my ferritin checked my level was 33. I've been trying to increase it by eating liver a few times a month especially during my period and eating vitamin C foods with non-heme iron foods such as spinach and pasta. I also try to avoid caffeine and antacids since they interfere with the absorption of non-heme iron. I wish there was a way to increase my levels without taking iron pills.

I've noticed folate affects my iron levels. When I don't eat a lot of foods with folate I tend to feel lethargic and pale. It seems to maintain my ferritin level.

Skipping meals makes one more susceptible to iron deficiency anemia and low ferritin.

[-jimi-]

Originally Posted by htoun

I know I sound like a record but you really really really need to get your thyroid checked!!!!!!!!

Maybe if you didn't use so many exclamation marks I would be less bothered. What is this? Drama?

Maybe ask first what I know about my thyroid before assuming? I get my thyroid checked already and I am treated for Hashi.

[janiedough]

Funny update: I randomly got a fever with no sinus issues a few days ago (first time in forever!). I can finally tolerate the cold winter weather. 68 F is now the golden temp. My temperature is still running a little higher than normal, but I feel better than when it was consistently low. Now I have more energy. I even skipped a bit today.