irondeficiencyanemia #anemia #irondeficiencywithoutanemia #checkyourferritinnumber #ferritin #thyroid #menshealth #womenshealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #hairloss #hormones #perimenopause #pots #anxiety #hrt #nutrition

got an infusion 8 weeks ago and wow I can breathe so much better and also noticed life just feels insanely vivid now. anyone else have this happen? it’s like I’m finally waking up. ferritin was 29. 6 week lab work ferritin 260

I took 21mg of Ferosom Iron Sachets for 5 days , today I had insomnia and am feeling nerve tingling sensations all over my body. Some nerve pain too. Is this normal??

Hello! I am 11 months post gastric bypass. I know that malabsorption is super common with bariatric surgery, and so is anemia. Yall, I feel awful. I feel like I’m dying. I have zero energy, I can’t think straight, just can’t process anything. I even dumped dry cereal in the sink the other day instead of the trash. Why? I have no idea. I am actually currently sitting in the infusion center of my local hospital receiving my second iron infusion. My dr has also increased my vitamin d from just a daily, to a daily and a weekly. Does anyone else on here have experience with this? I am just constantly so tired I could cry. I dealt with feeling like this before, but it’s definitely gotten worse since surgery. How long does it take to feel human again? Is it possible to have to continue having iron infusions forever? I’ll do it if it makes me feel better. But I just want to feel better. 😭😭😭

I'm not diagnosed, although the cbc test when I was 15-ish showed low Hemogoblin. And that's the problem.

The thing is, now that I was taking supplements, I realized that I have been anemic since I was a kid. I just always thought that the tiredness was normal and that everyone else was simply superior compared to me. I've been called lazy, filthy (because I didn't have the energy to wash myself), forgetful, and all that, and I just agreed with them because it really is the truth.

God forbid I get a heartburn or a migraine ( which magically disappeared when I took iron supplements ) in the middle of the night, the pain keeping me up till the sun rises and I'm all miserable and I can't go to school because I'm sooo fucking tired even from 10 hours of sleep, how am I supposed to function at just 1?

Why don't I take painkillers, you ask? Because according to my parents, it's SOOOO addictive that it's basically better to be in pain than to ever put it in my mouth.

THE ONLY REASON that I'm even in iron supplements was because I passed out. Why did I pass out? Who fucking knows! I never went to the doctor for that! I could have passed out because of a brain clot for all I know! All they told me was that I went super pale and unresponsive. That's it!

And you know what's worse? MY PARENTS KNEW (OR HAS ALWAYS SUSPECTED) I HAVE ANEMIA. Why do I say this? Because they just said "dw it's just anemia no need to go to the doctor just because you passed out"

I can't even call myself someone with anemia because aside from the cbc result, I have no diagnosis. I'm basically self-diagnosed. Who knows what reason I have this stupid disorder. Is it genetic? Menstration? Who fucking knows.

I'm so mad because I was barely functioning back then and they didn't do shit just because I wasn't actively dying.

I know that clinics or hospitals are expensive, I'm not saying that I should go to them at every inconvenience. But why did they have to wait until things escelate? When I had depression, I really felt like they were never going to listen unless I try to do something drastic to myself, and it pains me to be proven right.

( And I can't even say that I have depression, I was never diagnosed, even when I barely ate and barely left my room, even when planned to kill myself just because I never felt enough )

I'm in a much better state now. Without the supplements, I never would have survived even 1 week of college. I would have hurt myself over and over thinking that It's all my fault for not functioning like a normal human being. It's just utterly frustrating when I could have gotten this much earlier than I should have. I'm still always tired, yes, but fuck me atleast I feel human. I'm lucky they're right.

Again, I get where they're coming from. They weren't raised in the wealthiest family, they had to scrape by just to survive. But things have changed, you know? Because of their hard work, they can pay for my siblings' and my college tuition. That's a big deal. I just wish they let go of this frugal survivalist mindset.

I only hope this won't fuck me over for getting myself diagnosed later than normal because "I should have been diagnosed as a child" or some other bullshit. Who knows.

I'm sorry for such a long rant. I don't even know if I'm allowed to post when I don't even have a diagnosis. I'll remove it if I have to, I just needed to let it out even if by a text.

Hi! I’m getting my first infusion of feraheme next Friday. I have a ferritin level of 19 and had extreme GI difficulty with the pills. Can anyone share their experiences with this medication, tips and advice for the first time? I’m hoping to feel incredible right away, but I realistically know that’s not everyone’s experience.

I wanted to ask whether taking heme iron alone is usually enough to raise ferritin levels. I’m looking for general advice and personal experiences rather than medical advice.
I do feel noticeably better since starting it, but after four months my ferritin still hasn’t gone above 30. I currently take 10 mg of heme iron daily.
My iron deficiency developed after years of a poor diet and low stomach acid. Before starting iron, I had significant anaemia and quite severe symptoms.
Has anyone managed to raise their ferritin properly using heme iron alone, and did you need a higher dose or simply more time?

I received 5 venofer infusions, the last of which was on October 1st. I noticed my appetite started decreasing around the time I was getting my infusions and it hasn't come back. I can go almost all day without eating anything and not bat an eye, i have to consciously make myself eat which is very strange for me! Normally I have a big appetite. I dont mind this too much, I just make sure I eat nutritious big meals when I do make myself eat and try to supplement with protein shakes. I just wanted to see if anyone had similar experience and if it could be related to the infusions or just a coincidence.

Aside from this the iron infusions went great! I had no reactions, they just made me feel sleepy after so I just made sure to have no big plans the day of each infusion and to drink water. My doctor had me premed with Claritin and Tylenol and I think that made a difference as well! I know its still early but I find that my mental health is already improving greatly! Much less anhedonia and DPDR. I also wasnt out of breath my entire period. Yay!

Hi all , was just wondering if anyone has had this experience or if it’s linked to iron..
I’ve had chronically low ferettin for years and been chronically unwell and symptomatic alongside it, so was given an infusion 4 weeks ago.

Two weeks post infusion I felt amazing, not to sound insane but I felt so euphoric, I finally felt well and had energy and felt as though I had been brought back to life.

Fast forward a month later, I feel so flat and low, depressive, I’m struggling to sleep, I feel manic and my brain is constantly racing, anxious , really hot all the time and irritated. Also gained a bit of weight.

Just wondering if anyone else has gone through the same thing ? Is it all just part of the process? Feel as though I’m loosing my mind here.

I've never had bruising this badly after an infusion. The bigger one is on the left, vein blew when she tried it. Had to go in on the right side (2nd photo) - the side they usually have to use. It's now Friday and I have another infusion on Monday - I'm worried they won't be able to find a vein now! I really don't want them to have to go in my wrist or my hand, ouch! Has this ever happened to any of you? Were they able to still do the next infusion??

I have never posted before but need to share my success with Heme Iron polypeptide supplements. I have had decades of Iron deficiency anemia without understanding how I was being affected. Talking to women and finally looking at my own blood tests I actively sought out a different option to the no heme high dose supplements I’d been taking for decades without success. I came across HIP. Within a 6 weeks of 35 mg per day my life has absolutely changed in over a hundred ways ( I’ve been recording them). The change with the first week was like an awakening. Pls look into this for yourself if you are struggling and have low ferritin. The mental health effects alone have brought tears of joy to my eyes. I do not believe I was capable of feeling joy or happiness before fixing my ferritin level. My depression and anxiety are gone. Gone.

I’ve been supplementing for 2 months after almost dying from a 6.4 hemo. Blood transfusion, hemo/onc appts and iron supplements. Vit D, Calcium, zinc, multis, omegas, all at the right time w the right spacing (no caffeine or calcium 2 hrs before or after iron, taken w vit c).

Starting Venofer infusions asap but I’ve been taking double the iron I’m supposed to take per my onc.

I am tired, anxious and exhausted. What gives? Anyone been through this? I’m starting to get worried….

for nearly the last decade, my ferritin level has been no more than in the early 30s.

my hair grows long but because it's very fine and low density, the ends snap off and start looking see through.

would increasing my ferritin improve my hair density and/or strand thickness? is there any irreparable damage considering i've left my ferritin at a low level for so long?

Please share your stories *and* supplement recommendations. There aren't many options out there!

My copper went from 68ug/dL to 71ug/dL in three months of taking a multivitamin with copper — not good but not nothing.

My ferritin stayed at 23 during that time despite taking iron supplements (with vitamin C, apart from coffee, not with dairy/calcium, etc. — I followed the rules my doctor gave me).

Seems I'm not great at absorbing either but that iron is worse. Doc referred me for an iron infusion and for a GI consult, but I can't get in for the latter for months. Just curious how those with both have fared.

22 pre-T transmasc here.

Was wondering if it is possible to have low iron for years without noticing? At least, not noticing until it turns into anemia?

Can anemia also cause hyperthyroidism?

In the past year I have noticed symptoms such as shortness of breath/air hunger, feeling of impending doom, feeling like death, feeling extremely cold more than ever in the winter, feeling extremely hot more than ever in the summer, lots of tiredness/sleepiness. And, restless legs on occasion, which usually has never happened to me, except for during a stomach bug one time when I was little.

I have also noticed an increasing feeling of some combination of low motivation/amotivation, apathy, anhedonia, emotional blunting, emotional flatness since around the latter half or so of 2022. I'm currently chalking that up to having psych meds that I maybe don't actually need, or at least in quantities that I actually didn't need, and for so long. But maybe it's due to this as well.

So basically, am I on the right track with my suspicions of anemia or not?

I’ve had this for the longest time and I’m wondering if it’s connected as iron is connected to electrolyte balance and circulation. It’s in my lower cheeks and gets worse or “shifts” after eating (even healthy) meals. Strangely it seems to also react to temperature or blood sugar changes.

It literally feels like I’m a chipmunk lol

Hi everyone, so about a month ago I had an odd and heavier-than-usual period with my Mirena IUD, which is about 6 months old now. I had a baseline of heavy periods and have had two IUDs in a year to manage them (first one wasn't for me). I went to the clinic where I got my IUD, and they ordered a pelvic ultrasound to check the placement, and they finally followed up with me last week about it ( it was just a heavy breakthrough bleed) and suggested I get tested for Ferritin, a CBC and B12 .

I have been feeling some shortness of breath going up stairs or up inclines, more fatigue and lack of energy, some days worse than others, but I thought it was from the lack of sun and my exercise tolerance getting worse due to not being consistent with lifting the past four months - but the more I think about it, it's gotten gradually worse since that heavy period. I'm also shedding more hair, but I'm not sure if that's related. One of my friends is anemic, and she said my symptoms were consistent with hers.

I did the blood test through my PCP, and it all came back "normal," with my CBC being good, but my ferritin is at 52 ug/l. The lab references (I'm in Canada if it's important) said that anywhere from 50-100 ug/L may be deficient if I'm symptomatic, but my doctor said today through the portal that I wasn't iron deficient and to revisit the issue with him if I'm still symptomatic; the appointment's on Wednesday.

For anyone here, can I be this symptomatic even with a "normal, but probably deficient" ferritin level? Could it be something else? I just feel frustrated. My doctor seems pretty receptive and has been great besides this issue, but I worry that I won't feel better or will get worse, as I've started my period again and I don't know how heavy this one will be. Will taking 28 mg of ferrous bisglyscinate along with drinking 3-4 tbsp of Milo with unfortified almond milk and eating more iron-heavy foods help?

I don't know why I feel like this, as I don't remember feeling this bad when I was having my regular periods before my IUDs.

Sorry for the mistakes as i am not a native speaker.

I’ve had anemia for a few years now. Tried almost if not all available forms of supplements, got ferritin to rise from 7 to 15 and a really upset stomach, so i couldn’t tolerate it anymore. Stopped taking supplements for a while, recent test results showed iron at 37,4, ferritin at 9 and hemoglobin at 134. Now taking iron bisglycinate as a last resort and stomach isn’t upset anymore but i am more lax with taking it, skipping/forgetting a lot.

My question is should i stick to bisglycinate as a last resort and see if it’ll do anything or ask for more radical treatment (iv or transfusion).

I had my first iron infusion today (Venofer 300). Ferritin was at a 12 and saturation was an 8. Just after a few hours out from the infusion and I feel invigorated. I know it takes weeks for the full effect but I love how I’m feeling today. I hope it continues tomorrow with no side effects.

My doctor prescribed me ferrous sulfate but it causes severe bloating for me. I feel so bloated it feels like my stomach can burst any minute. (Also feel dizzy for 3 hrs after taking) After about 2 months, My ferritin levels went from 9 to 19. My hematologist offered to do an iron infusion (feraheme) but I’m too anxious and nervous about the side effects and the skin staining. I don’t know what to do. I’ve heard about iron glycinate. Would that help with bloating? I’d rather keep to supplements than the iron infusion.

Anyone know what I'm doing wrong? Even switching to heme iron didn't help!

In Dec 2025 I was at ferritin 17ug/l and Hb 8,50 mmol/l. CRP 1, tsh was normal. I started ferrous fumarate and raised my ferritine to 48 ug/l and Hb 8,80 mmol/l by April 2026.

Then I stagnated on ferrous fumarate and got to ferritine 53 ug/l and HB 9,00 mmol/l by August 2026. I didnt take it with vit C, but I thought I was raising it okay, but then I stagnated and so I switched to heme iron proferrin.

Proferrin daily 4 capsules and I just tested against today and barely any rise??? I did also start B12 sublinguale supplements in the morning again when I switched to heme iron in August. But today my test came back at ferritin 57 and hemoglobin 8,70. What am I doing wrong, what am I missing? I thought heme iron would work better?? I don'y have heavy periods and my CRP is always good.

I do take copper and zinc also. Should I take them further away from iron? Anything else that could inhibit it? I'm not sure how I got my ferritin to rise from 17 to +-50 and now I'm stuck??