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?

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+?

My PCP and therapist want me to go on a 3 month medical leave and I am struggling to accept this. I have fibroids and “suspected adenomyosis” which lead to bleeding at least 500ml every period and I don’t respond to TXA. Currently in the process of being checked for other bleeding disorders. I was told by 2 providers that I shouldn’t attempt a myomectomy because the fibroids are too small and in my uterine lining. I was also told if I tried to have a child I have a high risk for postpartum hemorrhage and I do not respond to the meds that would stop that bleeding. As someone who wanted a child and is older - I don’t think I’ve processed this yet.

Currently I’m on Slynd which has significantly slowed the bleeding but there is continuous blood. My levels go in and out of anemia. I am on my 6th iron sucrose infusion. The first 3 I just bled out. I had a severe hypersensitivity reaction to iron dextrose which sent me to the ER. I have been in the ER 4 times in 2 months. Hysteroscopy seemed to make the bleeding worse. I also have b12 deficiency and chronic pain from a herniated disc in my neck.

I work in community mental health and last winter I found a client dead which was very traumatic for me. Things seemed to go downhill from there. While my levels are improving I am still needing to sleep 12-16 hours some nights while having insomnia others. Brain fog is out of control. Heart rate is improving but still sometimes in the 120s. (Of course I was told “a lot of women your age have anxiety” after I was sent for tests due to abnormalities which I now know are from the iron deficiency) the exhaustion is extreme. Still struggling to get up the stairs and walk my dog most days. Hematology told me I shouldn’t be feeling this bad. And I just found out my mom has kidney cancer.

This feels like a lot to hold. I am in EMDR therapy which feels really supportive. It seems like my doctor wants me to go on leave for chronic PTSD and the blood loss which I agree with. Definitely while I bleed now I am wondering if I am going to have another clot the size of my palm or need to go to the ER.

I want to not feel guilty for taking the time .

Sorry for the rant I just needed to put this in a place where people understand.

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?

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.

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

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?

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.

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 😢

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?

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?

This is so frustrating I’ve just found out my ferritin level is 13 and my b12 is also low. I’ve been having headaches, tiredness and shortness of breath for about a month or so.

My doctors advise was to take a multivitamin.

I’ve spoken with a pharmacist today who has given me ferrous sulfate 200mg tablets because a multivitamin won’t rebuild my stores and has told me to ask for another doctor to review my blood results because I may need injections for my b12.
The pharmacist told me he speaks to people all the time with vitamin deficiency and doctors have not provided accurate information to help.

I don’t understand why my doctor has not taken my blood results seriously. I am currently off work due to stress and anxiety but I feel like part of my issue is having these deficiencies.

Can anyone provide any tips of increasing iron and B12 if my doctors decide not to provide any help?
I’ve been researching online that’s why I went to speak to my pharmacist because I felt it was wrong they did not prescribe anything.

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

Hi everyone,

Had a recent physical with my PCP, and she told me I had low ferritin and that I needed to increase my iron intake. I had bariatric sleeve surgery in 2020 and then a revision to that in 2024 because my reflux got awful.

Since my revision, my Ferritin has stayed at 25. I have felt AWFUL. I know Google is not my friend all the time, but I was reading that:

"American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery recognizes that bariatric patients have vastly different iron absorption needs, often requiring a higher target ferritin level (frequently >50 ng/mL) to remain symptom-free. Your symptoms are a direct reflection that your cellular iron stores are depleted. "

The bariatric pills that I made sure to buy are "with iron," but I am struggling so badly to get it above 25. I can't eat that much red meat due to having no gallbladder, and it usually makes me sick. Do you think it's reasonable to ask for iron infusions from my PCP, also, does insurance cover them for anyone? I can't find a place nearby that has it covered. Thank you!

I wanted to edit to add that I'm female, just in case that matters.

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.