If my bloods were normal why are iron tablets actually working?

[Meltinthemiddle]

Basically I've been exhausted, anxious, putting weight on, losing hair and having the worst achy legs. I've had blood tests for thyroid, iron and hormones etc. All have come back normal. Regardleas of the results I 've been started taking slow release iron tablets Ferroglobin, vitamin C and more recently vitamin d to see if it would help withmy achy legs. I've been taking the iron for 3 weeks and I already feel less tired, more motivated and not needing naps, sleeping better and just more alert. It's actually changing my life! So my question is if my bloods were normal why are these tablets having such a positive impact on my health and wellbeing?

Is it possible they were in the normal range but at the lower end?

What were your levels? NHS guidelines are lower than than an optimal level imo

I may see if I can find out. He just said all normal. When I wasn't working I was sleeping that's how tired I was. Now I can handle a full day until bedtime.

Did they test the full range of iron or just the basic one?

Sometimes normal can have a massive range so your 'normal' that keeps you going is different to someone else's.

I've been told I'm normal on something and when I've questioned further, normal is 9-18 and I'm 9.5!

"Normal" can go from 10-300 for iron. Massive difference there!

NHS ‘normal’ has a generous range and bends over backwards to be inclusive! If your result doesn’t tick an actual box saying you’re out of the normal range, above or below, it’s unlikely to be flagged that you’re teetering on the edge, ime!

Mine is 19 and I am symptomatic, I've read that 40 is normal, but my surgery won't treat you unless it's lower than 12. I buy iron tablets from an online pharmacy instead

Check what they tested. They often only look at Haemoglobin as an indicator of iron issues but you can have iron deficiency without anaemia. This causes restless legs, hair loss, tiredness, etc but for some reason there’s a mass let’s-ignore-this from the NHS.

It’s pretty confusing and I don’t pretend to be an expert but I’ve struggled with this for years so have some experience with it. Also, what I’ve been told is that some people feel symptoms quicker than others - I.e., some people will have low iron and barely any symptoms whereas another person will have low-ish but still “normal” range iron and they’ll be exhausted and feeling symptoms.

keep taking what you’re taking if it’s working - just make sure you get your bloods redone at some point (3/6 months maybe?) to check you’re not over doing it as too high iron is dangerous, although I think on a normal supplement toxic levels would take a long time to reach (not in any way a doctor though so don’t quote me on that)

Redoing bloods would also allow you to see how much difference it has made as you can compare last tests to new ones.

Sometimes “normal” is still too low for some people, and I expect they started you on the medications based on your symptoms and looking at previous blood tests.
When I was pregnant all of my levels were “normal” but I felt terrible and had the same achey feeling in my legs which improved significantly on taking medications. Have you repeat bloods booked?
I’m glad you’re feeling better than you were.

How do you know it’s the iron making a difference and not the vit c or vit d?

did the bloods measure vit c/d?

possible your iron is normal but you were low in a vitamin which is why you feel better…:

If you have the NHS app you can see you own results in the "your health" then "test results and imaging section"
My iron was low normal and i felt awful, iron tablets have twitched it up a bit and now feel much better. Still way lower than average though.