Low Ferritin? Feel horrendous!

[Emiliex1o]

Hi all,

Long story short, I’ve felt really quite unwell since I had my little girl 2.5 years ago.

Absolute pure exhaustion, aching joints, body feels so heavy, brain fog, dizziness, very low mood, hair constantly falls out and is in the worst condition I’ve ever known it to be, breathless on any exertion.

I have been to the doctor countless times over this period of time, not to be told I’m only ‘slightly anaemic’ and to take iron supplements, which to be honest, don’t make a blind bit of difference.

Anyway, I’ve had a proper look at my most recent bloods and my ferritin is at 15, which I’ve also read is pretty dire. My inflammation markers are way over what they should be, but my coeliac test was negative.

I explain how I feel to my husband as being like I’m dying a slow death - that probably sounds quite dramatic, but I feel like I’ve just slowly gotten worse and worse.

I have another appointment on Friday with my doctor and I’m worried he won’t take me seriously (yet again). AIBU to also ask to be signed off until I can get this somewhat sorted and feeling remotely normal? It’s at the point where it’s affecting my work because I’m so dizzy/spaced out and I’m terrified of driving because of the same reason.

Also, any advice for them to actually listen to you?!

I just read your question about being off work due to the lack of energy and brain fog. I have been off for a year now, had therapy etc because there were other issues leading up to it too (Lots of stress with the (mental) health of my DS) and only recently know about the ferritin issue. I have all my hopes on this because I long to go back to work and into the world. I definitely feel a difference in energy since taking iron but I'm not there yet. I think if at all possible you should take some time off to figure this out and recharge.

@OyWithThePoodlesAlready84 I did mention this to my doctor (reluctantly to be honest, I feel an overwhelming amount of guilt taking any time off as we’re so busy and about to lose my manager as she has secured a new role elsewhere), but he just shrugged and moved onto the next topic 😅

But I find work more and more difficult each day and I just don’t really know what to do - I find it incredibly stressful trying to balance home/work/parenting/being a partner along with constantly being knackered and having a fuzzy head, I genuinely feel like a shell of my former self and I’m constantly in an awful mood because I feel so crap!

I try to explain this to any doctor I see but maybe I need to be more dramatic?! 😂

It's crazy isn't it?

If I were you I would ask for an iron infusion, or religiously take iron bisglycinate every other day for a few months AND try something for the periods like the mirena coil or mini pill.
A friend of mine had an iron infusion and she cried afterwards about how much better she felt and the fact that she lost years bc of feeling so crappy. Unfortunately bc of heavy periods (she is late 40s) the effect wore off so she will probably do a Novasure procedure. It makes me so angry that we have to put up with this shit as women and that when we ask for help, we are not taken seriously.

If the c section niche causes inflammation this is also a constant energy drain on your body, and when you are iron deficient its also harder to deal with inflammation I would think.

If your doctor doesnt listen, find another one who will.

@OyWithThePoodlesAlready84 started taking the iron Bisglycinate last week so hoping that kicks in soon and definitely going to find someone else because it’s driving me insane!

I was similar to you - my levels were so low they tried to hospitalise me as they were afraid I'd so into heart failure. My hair ws falling out, losing weight, fainting left right and centre. I didn't want a blood transfusion or iron injection for personal reasons so I started the long process of lifting my levels with tablet. I took ferrous fumerate 3 times a day and this was for around a year but I felt much better in a couple of months. I'm now on 1 tablet a day still to maintain. You can buy 210mg tablets online - they're the same as the ones the chemist give.

Hey OP (@Emiliex1o), this is such an old thread and you may not use this site anymore. But your whole story is me to a tee! Even the bradycardia, I'm exactly the same. Really hoping you improved since your last post? And if so, any tips?!