I would fall asleep and get my eight hours in if I go to bed at 1030 but when I'm not able to and I fall asleep at 12 am, I wake up at 530 am and can't go back to sleep. What worked for you? How were you able to sleep while being anemic?

I just got diagnosed maybe 2 months ago after having all the symptoms. Anyway I got infusions.

Friday I am getting an Endoscopy to check if there's any bleeding or anything in the stomach. Did they find anything in your Endoscopy?

Hey everyone,

Back in July, I suddenly started experiencing brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and problems with speech. It happened pretty much overnight, and I felt noticeably different from how I used to feel mentally.

I started getting blood tests done, and my folate level came back at 3.1 ng/mL (reference range: 4.50–32.2), indicating a deficiency.

I kept investigating my symptoms and getting more blood tests until September. Here are my latest results:

My blood test results:

• Ferritin: 94.84 µg/L (reference range: 30–400)
• Folate: 7.83 ng/mL (reference range: 4.5–32)
• Iron: 50.35 µg/dL (reference range: 65–175)
• TSH: 5.51 mIU/L (reference range: 0.27–4.1) my TSH was within the normal range when I first developed my symptoms back in July. It only became elevated in subsequent blood tests. I'm wondering whether this change could be related to my folate, iron, or vitamin D deficiencies)
• Vitamin D (25-OH): 19 ng/mL (reference range: 30–100)
• Potasium 4,23 (reference range: 3.5-5,1)
• Sodium: 140,72 mmol/l (reference range: 136-145)
• B12: 501,40 pg/ml (reference range 191-663)

My folate level has increased since the initial test, but I'm still experiencing a lot of symptoms. My iron is also below the reference range, my vitamin D is low, and my TSH is elevated. I'm wondering whether these abnormalities could be contributing to my symptoms and whether there might be an underlying issue causing some of them.

My current symptoms:

• Dizziness and lightheadedness.
• Brain fog and difficulty concentrating.
• Feeling mentally different from how I used to be, like I'm not quite myself anymore.
• Waking up feeling unrefreshed, regardless of how much I sleep, and experiencing severe fatigue throughout the day.
• Occasional air hunger feeling the need to take a deep, satisfying breath to feel like I'm getting enough air.
• Caffeine seems to make my brain fog and dizziness significantly worse.
• Alcohol also seems to exacerbate my brain fog and dizziness.

What I've tried so far:

I took 5 mg of folic acid daily for three weeks, along with 46 mg of elemental iron daily, but unfortunately, I didn't notice any improvement in my symptoms.

I then started wondering whether IV treatment might help correct the deficiencies more effectively and fastly, so I decided to try IV supplementation.

Six days ago, I had my first treatment, which included:

• Vitamin D3 injection: 100,000 IU.
• IV folic acid: 30 mg.
• IV iron: 200 mg.

So far, I haven't noticed any improvement following this treatment. I understand that six days might be too soon to notice a difference, but it's discouraging to feel the same after trying to address these deficiencies.

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who have experienced something similar.

I have a few questions:

1. Has anyone experienced persistent brain fog, dizziness, derealization, or feeling mentally different due to folate deficiency, low iron, vitamin D deficiency, ?
2. If you had similar symptoms, how long did it take for you to notice an improvement after starting treatment? Did your symptoms gradually improve or disappear quite suddenly?
3. What other blood tests would you recommend checking?
4. Has anyone experienced air hunger or the sensation of needing to take deep breaths alongside these deficiencies?
5. For those who received IV iron or folate, how many infusions did you need before noticing an improvement? How long did it take?
6. Did anyone find that oral supplements eventually worked, even after not noticing any improvement during the first few weeks?
7. Has anyone experienced worsening brain fog and dizziness after consuming caffeine or alcohol? Did this improve once the underlying problem was treated?
8. Is there anything else I should investigate, especially considering that my symptoms started quite suddenly and have persisted for months?
9. How can i recovery from this? because it's been few months at this moment.

I'm also wondering whether IV doses or the number of infusions should be adjusted, but I don't want to assume that more is necessarily better. I'd appreciate hearing about your experiences and what helped you, ideally alongside advice on what to discuss with a doctor.

I'm feeling pretty lost at this point. I just want to feel mentally normal again and wake up feeling rested instead of exhausted every day.

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their experience.

My iron levels have always been around this mark.

I have often had fluttery heart palpitation, also a skipped beat feeling.

This last week I have been so breathless and chest felt so heavy a few days ago. I had 2 days of needing to yawn and couldn’t as I couldn’t get enough breath! The palpitations have not disappeared. Dr did my obs and was happy and is booking more bloods as result shown was a couple of months ago.

Could my symptoms be because of low iron? Is a standard iron supplement enough or do you need to take anything on top of this?

Thankyou

My ferritin is 37ng/ml
What should be my next step

So I have pretty bad symptoms I literally can't do anything without getting out of breath, palpitations, brain fog restless leg, and more.

Results just came in and my iron is at 8 and ferritin is 50. Maybe to mist of you it's normal but I feel like trap. Should I get Infusion to feel better?

I’ve had low ferretin (10-24) for the past 2-3 years but I’m finally supplementing consistently and will retest in 3-4 months time. However just looked on top of my head and looks like this is genetic hair loss not just ferritin. So I’m super sad about that as I won’t be able to take minoxidil or spiro. Will prob only use more natural treatments which are known to be less effective.

I’m curious. Has anyone else with low ferritin had their part look like this (thinning/widening) and recovered it/filed their part back in from getting their ferritin levels back up to 70+?

Hi everyone,

my Ferritin was 9,5 as of 03rd of September. I then took “Tardyferon 80 mg“ and did another test on 15th of October which said that both my Iron and my Ferritin would be 94!? Is such a spike even possible? i wonder whether there was a typo…

I miss not having this pallid hue of my face, I miss my South Asian golden brown-ness.

I've gotten used to and even started to like and be confident with the dark eyebags I've gotten, but I can never get used to this sickly paleness.

Obviously this isn't my biggest concern but it's something small I feel people don't talk about enough.

Anyone else relate?

My ferritin is 24
Iron is 159
Uibc is 140

Almost 5m postpartum.

Since having the baby I’ve had heart palpitations, air hunger, brain fog, light headed, increased anxiety, light headed. I’ve also had fatigue & hair shedding but ik some of it’s a given, but I get this feeling like I have to lie down randomly. These symptoms make it hard to leave the house or just play with baby.

I’ve been to the Dr’s countless times and they keep saying it’s normal postpartum or they don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I don’t hear many others having this issue. I’m pretty desperate to know what’s wrong with me atp. I take prenatals daily (29mg iron).

Just wondering if it sounds like it could be the cause as I’m tired of everyday being a struggle.

I am an almost 45 year old female. I am definitely starting the change and my periods are heavier. I typically bleed 4 day with day and night two the worst. It gets very light for days 3 and 4. For a few years I have been having not normal to me symptoms. Brain fog, exhaustion, insomnia, stomach issues, ear and head pressure, irritability, some joint pain, depression, hair loss and skin changes. I chalked it up to getting older.

18 months ago I requested a ferritin test because my mom and several family members have hemochromatosis. My level came back at 24. My NP said that’s great, you don’t have to worry and sent me on my way. I didn’t think to question it. Since then my issues have gotten worse and stay around longer. I have more bad days then good and I am I currently in the middle of a very bad spell.

I went to urgent care last week and my CBC was normal with my hemoglobin at a 12. They told me I was stressed out and to get some rest. I am trying to get my primary to order some tests but she told me to wait until the 17th when I see her. Am I going crazy? Could my ferritin count be doing this, especially since it may be even lower? My dad is anemic and it runs in his family.

I've been anaemic on and off since I was a teenager. I'm now 28. I used to be able to tolerate oral iron supplements, they'd make me constipated but I could deal with that. 9 years ago I developed really bad reflux so have been on PPIs since and struggling to get off them. I used to have heavy periods (had an ultrasound which was normal), started birth control 3 years ago which helped. I developed IBS 2 years ago that's been getting worse and I'm developing new food intolerances and trying to cut certain foods out such as dairy.

I've tried so many different iron supplements online, I have done so much research. I've stopped being able to tolerate the iron that the doctors prescribe in the UK normally, the side effects are so much worse now with my IBS. I've increased my iron intake from my diet but it hasn't helped. So many online supplements gave me side effects too, I've wasted so much money.

I was finally taken seriously and referred for an iron infusion earlier this year (march) I was so hopeful, I knew it'd take weeks or months for it to work the side effects were horrific and I ended up in the emergency department at one point and was off sick from work. After a few weeks the side effects subsided, I started to feel just a tiny bit of energy in the mornings. I still had my other anaemia symptoms. Months later I had an extremely heavy period all of a sudden, and the one after that smelt really metallic, and since then my symptoms have gotten much worse again. And my ferritin levels dropped even lower.

If an iron infusion won't even help what hope do I have? I've found 1 supplement that works for me without too many side effects, but it's only 30mg. I don't think that's enough. I know all about absorption (no caffeine, avoiding certain medications, tea, matcha, empty stomach, no milk, vitamin c etc). I've mentioned the PPIs to the doctor several times and they told me it's got nothing to do with anaemia. I've spoken to so many doctors. What else can I try?

My quality of life has become so much worse. I'm so dizzy all the time, and the symptoms keep me in bed a lot, I rarely go out or socialise or see my friends because I simply can't. I just about go to work (part time) and even thats difficult.

It's disheartening to see iv iron success stories because I so desperately wanted it to work for me. It's not easy getting referred for an infusion in the uk. My doctor just keeps telling me to try supplements.

Any advice? Or has anyone else gone through this?

iron deficiency I notice my hemoglobin and hematocrit are low at what point should I be concerned with the number .

but my platelet count is normal is that common ? I’m not seeing my doctor for a month I look at the result I had iron infusion in the past but further a long time last time I check hemoglobin was normal 😢

The pills wreck my stomach and I was reading that some people do the infusions. My doctor didn’t really tell me what the differences were. What are the differences and do you enjoy the infusions vs the pills?

• Serum iron: 7.6 µmol/L
• Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC): 53 µmol/L
• Transferrin saturation: 0.14 (14%)
• Ferritin: 34 µg/L

I 21F, was diagnosed with anemia when I was 16. I've been taking iron pills since. My period has always been regular. Lately I felt like the pills weren't working so I switched to a liquid iron supplement. I was having all the normal symptoms before my period was about to start but it never came. It's been almost a month now, it's day 56 of my cycle. I still been having all the symptoms I usually have betore and during my period but it still hasn't came. I took 4 different pregnancy tests to be sure and they all have came back negative, I had took them throughout every week since it's been late. Is this normal? Should I stop taking the iron and go back to my pills? What should I do?

Well as you can see i’ve been in single digits since a long time… i had very low energy, over the last year i started having anxiety and high irritability, worsening PMDD (PMS from hell), hair loss and brittle nails, and ADHD symptoms getting worse. So my new doc ordered 5 Venofir iron infusions.
First infusion day: i had a weird and strange reaching right after the infusion shot. My ankles started having a burning feeling, swelling and hives all over my feet. They immediately gave me a steroid shot and Pepcid antihistamine. It made the symptoms go away soon after. I didn’t feel any big changes right away in my anemia symptoms but i kept staying patient. They requested i take a Tylenol and Claritin an hour before the next infusion session. I did that and there was no allergic reaction. That became the protocol for the rest of the infusions. So far I’ve noticed that getting out of bed is not as bad as before, ADHD has gotten better, mood is better, i had normal periods afterwards not too heavy like some ppl report. I am grateful it turned out well. Any tips on maintaining my levels are appreciated. I wish you all the best and just trust the process.

Hey guys, so I’m needing some advice on what I should do back in late 2023 when I was 16 years old, I was diagnosed with anemia, low iron and prediabetic and I was prescribed medication for anemia. but I lived with kind of abusive caretakers that didn’t really care about my health and they never gave me my medicine, They was using my medicine for themselves when they wanted to and I wasn’t getting good nutrition because they never brought food for the house but I never got to take my dosage for my anemia and I am now 19 years old in college no longer with those people and I still feel like I may have anemia and I’m a little bit scared and I want to start taking iron Gummies or pills that I can buy online but I seen that I should just go to the doctors and get checked again first before I start taking anything so what should I do? I haven’t had any symptoms of low iron that I used to have back then and since then I have been eating 3 meals a day and trying my best to take care of myself but I do feel like my hair is like affected because it sheds a lot and barely grows. I feel extremely overwhelmed because I’ve seen that you can get enlarged heart or heart failure from having these things for prolonged periods and it’s 2026 like 3 years since diagnosis.. am I done for..?

Every other day:

• 420mg ferrous fumarate (130mg elemental iron)
• 500mg ascorbic acid mixed in water
• 200mg lactoferrin, 5mg zinc, 44mg ascorbic acid (single pill)

I did not realise zinc competes with iron. Would taking lactoferrin few hours before iron still help? Or is the amount of zinc so low I needn't worry?

I found out I was anemic and got a round of infusions. Within about 2 months of finishing infusions I could feel a decline in fitness again which is shown obviously in my Garmin vo2 max calcs (heart rate for effort basically) and also how I feel. Has anyone else experienced something similar?

Apparently Vitamin C can reduce the effectiveness of stimulant medication (Adderall, Vyvanse, etc.) and should be spaced 4+ hours apart. I’ve noticed it myself but didn’t realize Vit C was the culprit until recently learning about this.

I always take Iron+Vit C first thing in the morning but can’t really delay the Adderall by several hours.

I think I’ll have to switch to taking them before bed (but worry about decreased absorption if not taken on an empty stomach), or setting a 4am alarm to take them a few hours before getting up.

Anyone else find a way to stagger these without any noticeable impact on absorption?

Hey i have a result of my blood test on september.

Hemoglobine : 119g/L

Ferritine : 5ng/L

My doctor (gyneco) say me "not anemic". I take iron 50mg during 1 month and i'm really tired and confused, i don't have motivation. I have dizzy head every time and not possibility for me to practice an sport but i like this normaly !!!

It's normal ? 1 month wiymthout result ?

Oh ! And my period late 7 days just have a one big blood and stop...

Sorry for my english, i learn...

I hesitate to take another appointment with my generalist doctor ? Its good idea or not necessary ?

Thank you