Ferritin deficiency
Posted , 3 users are following.
hi guys,
just wondering if anyone else can relate to these symptoms.
pathology is normal, aside from ferritin 7 ug/L then 3 months later 17 ug/L.
i am a female who has had 3 births too.
i have struggled for over 12 months with debilitating symptoms, so severe i had to stop nursing.
persistent light headedness,
dizziness,
palpitations,
off balance feeling,
shaking,
weakness,
extreme fatigue,
legs feel like theyre shaking on the inside when i stand,
significant hairloss.
can these all really be related to low iron?
i have been on supplements for 6 weeks so far and not really noticing a significant change.
any personal stories much appreciated . 😃
0 likes, 5 replies
elizabeth59585 shan23723
Posted
yes! i just found out yesterday my ferritin reading is a 4! i have been on iron supplements since end of December due to low hemoglobin (7.4 up to 9.2 now). i have no clue what my ferritin was prior. if it's come up or gone down since taking the iron pills. i can only take the iron pills a couple times a week tho or i get very bad stomach cramping. am trying iron water now. do you have any stomach issues from the iron? but yes, dizziness, tiredness, anxiety, hair loss (tho nails and hair seem better since taking iron last cpl months), ...everything seems to be better since taking the iron except the dizziness/anxiety. i was using a light box lamp the last couple weeks and have stopped as thought might be related to that.
what is your age if you don't mind sharing. i am about to turn 52 and wonder if this will all get significantly better once i am through menopause. still having regular heavy periods currently.
shan23723 elizabeth59585
Posted
sorry to hear you have also been struggling. it is so hard to feel like crap constantly. i am 28 and had to stop nursing because my symptoms were so severe!! 😦
amy48937 shan23723
Posted
Yes I can relate. I found out in late January that my ferritin was 8. Everything else was normal for the most part--hemoglobin was 12.5. I am having terrible symptoms, sometimes debilitating: headaches, insomnia, anxiety, depression, light-headedness, shortness of breath. I've been on supplements for one month. Occasionally I have a day where I feel better, but it never lasts. And sometimes I feel like my sleep is improving--like I'll have a couple nights of good sleep--but then it always gets worse again. I'm getting bloodwork tomorrow so we'll see if the ferritin levels have improved. Clearly they haven't improved enough to make me feel better. It is so helpful to hear from other people on this forum. I feel like I'm in a medical black hole--doctors don't really know what to do with this, and I can't get a clear answer on how long it's supposed to take on supplements. And it's also very hard to explain to friends and family.
shan23723 amy48937
Posted
i understand completely. my symptoms have been so bad that i had to take a break from nursing. i too feel like i have good days --- as in, bearable symptoms, but it never lasts either. my ferritin is now at 28 but i am still symptomatic. are you able to work? i also get very short of breath, the smallest exertion and i feel like i have just stopped running!
amy48937 shan23723
Posted
I am able to work, but not at my usual pace--I'm lucky to have a very flexible job, and still doing a lot of work from home because of COVID. If this were normal times with everything in person I am not sure I would be able to keep it up. Somehow it's easier to participate in a zoom meeting than f2f. Hang in there. I came across this image in a Facebook group that I joined, and I think it's really helpful. (Not sure if it's going to come through or not, but I tried attaching it).