Doctors didn’t tell me I could be anemic have suffered for years

[Movingfoolishly]

In 2020 and 2021 I had some blood tests for tiredness and other problems was told I was low in vitamin d but that my iron was normal. I’ve managed to be able to see my old test results on the nhs app. My iron levels where 23 and then at my last test 17 the rand is 15-200 I just got told I had nothing to worry about they re tested me for vitamin d and b12 and they where back to normal but they never re checked my iron. I mentioned I was still having issues but they claimed it was probably other existing conditions causing all these symptoms. Had I known they were on the lower end of the scale I would have maybe taken some iron vitamin or upped it in my diet. I’m now pregnant and dizzy and faint when I get up I’ve been sent for a blood test as I’ve been told it’s very likely iron deficiency. I’ve been exhausted restless legs headaches hairloss and feeling a bit week in General. I’m excited at the prospect of feeling better once the tablets kick in but also really annoyed that I’ve been feeling so run down the last few years over possibly something so easy to fix.

Mine are exact same level. Will be going on a high dose iron tablet? I think this week. I'm tired constantly. Very pale and 22 weeks pregnant. I think I've been like this since my last pregnancy and just not realised. Do you get breathless too?

I had this too - was told “normal” iron and case closed. A year later i downloaded the nhs app and saw my test results - iron 13, normal range 12-150. So not actually fucking normal, aye. I’ve bought some ferrous sulphate and am taking every day. It’s been a month and i’m definitely feeling a bit better.

Yes I get breathless I’ve also been fighting for years to just feel better so hopefully this will work.

If the "normal" range is 15+ & you're 23, then you're "normal".

Sympathy op, I hope you feel better soon.

I only found out during my second pregnancy that my really bad, crippling PPD after my first was probably due to anemia. I had constant thoughts of death, hypervigilance, ptsd flashbacks. After my second birth I had much higher iron levels and...was completely fine.

I took 200mg ferrous sulphate every other day and went from low iron to higher than average (but normal) iron levels in less than two months. I hope it works for you too. I had to be disciplined with avoiding caffeine a few hours either side of taking it. Good luck xxx

Not if the range was 15-200. You're going to feel pretty dreadful at 23. That's only 'normal' by some random computer algorithm not a living human being's 'normal'. I know, I'm going through the same thing atm.

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Ps several midwives and consultants told me (afterwards) that depression is not uncommonly due to anemia. At the time they never suggested this and I got mucked about with useless talking therapy that asked me intrusive questions about my dh and my childhood. I'd lost over 3 pints of blood, my body thought I was dying! Why you fucking about asking me about my dad instead of just giving me a blood transfusion ffs?!

So, I know how you feel about feeling let down.

it's really nice that OP has found such an easy fix for her health issues, now, though.
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Although you were towards the lower end of the range you were still within it.

It’s really common in pregnancy for iron levels to fall hence why they test iron levels so much in pregnancy. Given you were towards the lower end of the range anyway it makes sense you’re now out of the healthy range.