Low Vitamin D and Iron 😔

[Honeysucklelane]

Hi,
Has anyone else experienced this and has a rough time frame for how long it takes to feel better on supplements?

My symptoms have been palpitations, feeling lightheaded, feeling short of breath, aches in chest, heavy feeling across top of chest like a weight is on it, a feeling of congestion in my chest without any cold symptoms.

I don’t outwardly look poorly and I have no visible symptoms. I’ve still been doing a lot of stuff - impossible not to in the run up to Christmas, but everything feels like it’s taking me so much longer to achieve.

When we’re doing jobs around the house I’ll have to stop and sit down, or out on walks I have to ask the rest of the family to pause so I can catch up / catch my breath. Feeling like no one else is treating it like I have something wrong as it’s invisable to them.

Taking 2000 Vitamin D, 210mg Ferate Fumous and a daily multivitamin. Anything else I can do? 🙏🏻

Depends on your levels, do you know what they are? I was having really bad symptoms so went down the iron infusion route and have to take a high dose vit d. Took about 2/3 weeks to feel a bit of a change. 2 months to see a significant improvement.

Oh just seen your ferritin is 26. That is low! It’s so annoying how gps just accept this as being ok. It’s really not. I’m not in the uk anymore and my doctor here said for my ferritin to get up to 150.

Can take a long time to build back stores, months and months. No caffeine 2 hours either side of taking ferrous fumerate and swig down with a glass of orange juice.

Agree, my ferritin was 5, felt absolutely shocking. Private iron infusion and then a blood transfusion in the end.

There’s an oral spray called BetterYou available on Amazon which I found makes a lot of difference in a very short amount of time. 4 sprays under the tongue daily, it seems to have improved my hair and skin a great deal.

Morning!

I was like this from age 45. Improved with HRT. I remember making the beds and sitting down half way through the task which isn’t like me as I’m very fit and active. I used to feel my joints ache too and felt as though I was walking through treacle at times as moving was so effortful. I also take a multi vitamin now along with the HRT.

I’m so much more spritely these days, dog walking and working a stressful job as well as keeping the house. Good luck. You may beed to see a different GP.

I've just been diagnosed as being low in iron as well, and I've started taking supplements. My main symptoms have been breathlessness, anxiety and insomnia. I've also noticed a horrible taste in my mouth, which I can't get rid of. Has anyone else experienced this? According to Google it can be a symptom of iron deficiency, but it doesn't seem to be one that's commonly mentioned.

Which is the iron tablet that is softer on the stomach?

Iron biglycinate is supposed to be gentle on the stomach. I've been taking them for a couple of weeks, and no problems so far!

It was my dentist who advised me to get a blood test because he noticed something with my tounge

Please ask for a coeliac test as well to rule that out as a possible reason for malabsorption of iron and vit d. 1 in 100 people are silent coeliacs with no actual symptoms of coeliac disease but it causes flattened villi in your digestive tract so you don’t absorb stuff as well.

https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/iron-rich-foods-iron-deficiency.html?_gl=11ujd7np_upMQ.._gaOTk5MTYwNzUxLjE3NjY4MjAxOTY._ga_7W0H5VXNW9*czE3NjY4MjAxOTUkbzEkZzAkdDE3NjY4MjAxOTUkajYwJGwwJGgw

Also worth trying to get more iron in your diet.

The ferritin range is between 30 and 250. Good NHS doctors, who understand that the wide range is to account for age and lifestyle differences, will and do point out when ferritin is too low. Unfortunately, there are still some drs who take a cookie cutter approach and don’t take into account lifestyle.

@Honeysucklelanethe body is not designed to store iron, so it needs to be consumed daily and in the right way. For the body to absorb iron it must be consumed with food rich in vitamin C. In addition to taking oral iron supplements, it’s worth looking at your diet and seeing where you can make changes to increase your iron and vitamin C intake. At the same time it’s worth noting when and how much tea you drink daily. Avoid drinking tea an hour before or after eating as it seriously impedes the body’s ability to absorb iron.

Crikey you must have felt terrible!

I’ve just looked back at the results. My haemaglobin level is 127g/L

My GP has prescribed 20000iu Vit D for me. Take 3 a day for 5 days then 2 a month.

I was on HRT patches last year but they irritated my skin. I’ve been given some gel
and tablets now - although I don’t feel like I have any particularly strong menopause symptoms that need medicating.

I’m thrilled to hear you’ve become more sprightly! I’m 47 and honestly feel like I’m working at half my capacity. I’m pleased that this might not be ‘it’ forever and I can gain some energy and mojo back.

@Honeysucklelane can I ask how you're feeling now? The symptoms you mention in your post are similar to mine