AIBU to drop to four workdays due to ongoing iron deficiency fatigue?

[Ilovemycatalot]

Just a brief explanation. So I’m 46 and diagnosed iron deficiency anemia. Had iron infusion and on all the supplements liquid iron etc but still feel like absolute crap.
I work 30hrs a week in a school job so am in Monday to Friday.
Despite being classed as part time I am absolutely shattered and feel exhausted permanently.I am a single parent although my dd is 18 but I do everything at home. Weekends are wiped out by housework and sheer exhaustion and before I know it it’s Monday again.
So I guess my AIBU is would it be lazy to drop to four days instead of five? I get some universal credit as I private rent. Looking at it on paper it should be manageable but my anemia just makes me feel like everything is a struggle.
Looked into the cause but no obvious reason apart from slightly heavy periods.

You need to work out and get a proper plan in place for understanding the case of your deficiency because it’s debilitating
your 18 old should absolutely be doing stuff in the house - it’s inexcusable as they can see you’re in poor health
If you can afford to drop down a day even temporarily I would consider it but overall it leaves you more financially vulnerable especially as a lone parent

Yes my dd should do more but is stressed with A levels so I feel guilty asking her to do to much,

If you have had an iron infusion and still tired likely more going on for you? Dropping to 4 days might help with mental load

She can spare ten mins a day to do laundry or boil a pan of pasta
thats not too much

When did you have your iron infusion? It can take several weeks to have the full effect?

Have you had b12 and folate checked, and thyroid?

You have my sympathies, I had a feritin of 4, anemia too, plus low in b12 and folate and my thyroid was struggling too. I struggled to get out of bed, all I wanted to do was be left alone and sleep. I also felt very depressed, couldn’t feel there was a point to anything. It really was awful.

However, post infusion and after being on b12 injections, and medication for the rest of it I felt significantly better within 8/12w.

Maybe temporarily drop to 4 days, with a view to going back to 5 once your symptoms are under control.

They are currently investigating for chrome’s disease but as I don’t have any other symptoms I don’t believe it’s that. I try to eat healthy but my body just doesn’t absorb iron well. Am also folic acid deficient and am on high strength supplements for that.

Had infusion 3 months ago helped for a short while but didn’t last long.

It honestly boggles me that someone with so little money would consider losing 20% of their income.

will your school just be like “yeah cool come in 20% less we’ll sort it out” ??

not go downplay your fatigue but it boggles me that people can do this. I would massively struggle on 20% less salary (unless I moved house etc) and think most would.

i have massive sympathy as I had to work a year with CFS and it was all I could do. No life outside of work. I was much younger too, I dread to think of it now

Just for context my ferritin was 2.

Yes I would struggle but do you put money over your health? At the moment I can barely get out of bed.

For me this is different. Being too sick to work means being signed off, not going part time

you very much describe someone who isn’t capable of working right now

I had to completely give up work due to anaemia , I had a terrible allergic reaction to iron infusions too. I was subsequently also diagnosed with CFS and endometriosis and adenomyosis. I don’t think people realise that sometimes it’s not just the sort of tiredness you can push through after a boost with a coffee and some fresh air and motivation it’s literally that you can’t do things like lift a glass of water so you then get dehydrated, you can’t get out of bed as get palpitations and dizzy, it’s extreme and debilitating.

I assume they've tested you for coeliac disease but just in case they haven't, they absolutely need to if you're not absorbing iron well.

It sounds to me like you need to be signed off completely until the iron infusion properly takes effect.

Sorry typo error but yes testing for coeliac.

Ok that's good, as annoying as coeliac disease is, if that's the cause of your iron deficiency then its fixable, and a much better option than some other potential causes. Just remember to not cut out gluten until all the testing is complete. But ask for some sick leave now, and your DD needs to help out at home (not just to help you but preparing her for the adult world)

What other tests, other than bloods, have you had? Not to worry you, but have your blood tests also included cancer markers?

What's you ferritin now? Infusions usually push it up to the hundreds so I doubt that is the problem now. It's only anaemia if hb affected btw.

If you can afford to drop hours obviously do it but at your age I'd guess it's more likely to be peri/meno related so google it and see what you can do to optimise health and sleep such as omit caffeine and booze etc which will help fatigue issues. Do you eat a good diet, drink lots to stay hydrated?

what is it and the rest of your results now though?
why do you think it's your iron deficiency that's the main problem now?

I have low iron and suffer from extreme fatigue, I also work in a school and often feel unable to do anything bar sit on the sofa after work. I was also checked for coeliac which was negative. I am now waiting for an appointment at the rheumatology department. I have some strange skin thickening on my back which looks like a type of lupus so am going to be assessed for that. A few of my other symptoms match with lupus too so will see what they say. Might be worth asking about if nothing improves for you.