Low Iron Symptoms?

[Sickandtiredofbeingsick]

A couple of years ago I started getting a lot of headaches (all day, everyday) for a period of 4 months, aswell as massive hair loss. Saw GP as I suspected low iron and my ferritin level was 26 (lowest range was 23). However, because I was in range my GP said my symptoms couldn’t be connected to my iron level 🙄 Anyway, because I have a skin condition, at that time I was seeing a dermatologist so I asked her about my hair and when she looked at my bloods, said ferritin levels ideally need to be 70 or above for good hair growth and advised me to start taking ferrous sulphate. I did this and 2 weeks later the headaches went and my hair started regrowing.

Fast forward to a year later and I develop gastric issues, so I stop taking the iron tablets incase it was caused by them and I start on omeprazole. Another year later brings me to the present time so I have now been on omeprazole for a year, GP suspects IBD and I’m waiting to see the gastro department at my local hospital. I also take metformin for PCOS so I know I am on 2 medications that can reduce iron absorption, as well as being vegetarian (and I don’t eat much fortified bread or cereals either).

For a while now my hair has been getting thinner and thinner, it regularly clogs up the shower drain and recently I’ve been getting muscle twitches and aches, tingling in my hands and arms (I do have carpal tunnel but this feels different), my nails are splitting and this week I’ve started to feel itchy all over my body, as well as a small patch of petechiae has developed on chest. My skin actually feels almost sore at times but I don’t have any rashes. I’ve also had 3 UTI's in the last year (2 in the past 4 months), none of which were down to sex and I’m always very fastidious about doing everything I can to prevent them as before this I couldn’t tell you the last time I’d had one (I know low iron can make you more susceptible to infection). My tongue has felt ‘weird’, almost dry/sore, I suffer with anxiety and already get palpitations, although I’ve not noticed an increase in these. Did anyone have any of these symptoms with iron deficiency? As I know most of them aren’t really typical symptoms associated with low iron but Dr. Google says they can be… 😕

Yes me.
Just been told
Ferritin level is 7. Insomnia, eyebrows falling out, and aching bones and join ya and muscles the predominant symptoms. Oh and dizziness, swimming vision and heavy face sweats with weakness. hth.

If you can afford one get an iron infusion privately - it will sort you out.

I paid for a private iron infusion 2 months ago after a ferritin level of 3 and GP refusal to refer me for one on the NHS.

My ferritin is now 53 which I know is still pretty low, but in the scheme of things for me personally, I feel so much better. My energy levels are up, I'm sleeping better and I'm not bone tired even after a 9 hour sleep anymore.

Would definitely recommend it if you can afford it.

Have you been tested for diabetes?

Try some iron bisglycinate - I taken 100mg of this a day and it doesn’t upset my stomach at all. It’s known to be gentler on the stomach than other types of iron.

I had the itchy skin, but as I have eczema I always am itchy so didn't really think anything of it. When I had a blood test after seeing my gp about migraines and found out my ferritin was 4 and that was sorted out did the itching go. It's not a common side affect, but have a look at the nhs site for anaemia and the list of side affects

Have you had b12 tested?

Yes definitely. Get an iron infusion...worked wonders and I had all that you describe.

Low iron can be a sign of Coeliac disease, as can hair loss, joint pains, gastric issues and skin rashes.

This really does sound like Coeliac disease, especially the eyelashes falling out.

You don’t have to have gastric symptoms with Coeliac disease. My son’s birthday as being investigated for arthritis as he had low iron and joint pains. Once his low iron was found they did a blood test for Coeliac disease which came back sky high. He had no bowel problems.
Coeliac disease is a whole body autoimmune disease- anywhere can be affected.

www.coeliac.org.uk/information-and-support/coeliac-disease/about-coeliac-disease/what-are-coeliac-disease-symptoms/

My mum has regular iron infusions. Her symptoms were tiredness, confusion, chest pains, unable yo walking distances without getting out of breath. But she's a lot older than you!
The infusions make her into a changed woman. They really give her an oomph. Definitely look into them.

However, as an aside, my sister has the exact symptoms as you. (Not only did her hair go thinner, but it stopped growing on one side of her head.) She went through a battery of tests and scans through her private insurance and there was zippo wrong with her and they diagnosed it as anxiety. Just thought that was interesting as you suffer from anxiety too. She took extra iron and d3 but it never made any difference to her symptoms so I hope iron deficiency is the cause for you because at least it can be sorted.