So very tired.

[siriusblackcat]

I had bloods done a few months ago due to a very long and heavy period.
Came back as "borderline" haemoglobin 118.0 so just a bit low and Ferritin level was 7 which docs said was to be expected and prescribed iron tablets for 3 months.
I have a very busy job and I'm just exhausted. I ache everywhere, I have no energy to go to the gym or even a walk which I used to do some form of exercise everyday.
I feel like I'm running through treacle, I've got brain fog etc etc.

Is it just a case of waiting for the iron tablets to kick in properly? I just want to feel better!

How old are you?
Did they check B12 and thyroid too?
Are you on ferrous Fumarate, and are you eating foods high in iron too?

I'm 46. B12 and thyroid were fine. Yes on Ferrous Fumarate.

I'm vegan but do eat lots of high iron foods such as lentils, pulses, veg etc.

Lentils and pulses are not high in iron

You need to eat some meat.

Did you know that a LOT of people cannot absorb the iron from iron tablets. You really need bioavailable iron from red meat.

Yeah, won't be eating meat. I know plenty of anemic meat eaters.

Would you be able to eat fortified breakfast cereal? Rice Krispies and Readybrek are full of iron. If you pack in a bunch of those was well as our iron tablets, that might help.

You can use readybrek as flour and make biscuts, which can be very nice if you puts something nice like apple and ginger in. I think if you packed away 250g of those a day for a week or so you might feel a good deal perkier.

A vegan diet is very restrictive,Perhaps you should consider adding dairy to your diet and eggs and maybe fish if you don't want to eat meat.

Have you tried Floradix? It's vegan and really helps me. Liquid supplement available in health food shops

Also worth taking vitamin D. I've just found out I'm deficient and have been feeling tired for ages.

Stick with the ferritin. Mine took around 6 months to fully kick in and stop all the weird anxiety, palpitations and other stuff and mine wasn't as low as yours. I take mine at night. Follow all the guidance such as not having tea or coffee within several hours, also ibuprofen depletes iron. Dairy too, but you're vegan so not an issue for you! I would also advise you ask for the actual numbers for your vitamin b and d and compare with the guidelines as at my surgery even if they are 1point into normal range they stamp the results as normal and the dr doesn't even look at them, mine were really low but still in the range. Taking a b vitamin alongside the iron has really helped.

I genuinely cannot believe how unwell I felt when I was low on ferritin, I genuinely thought I was dying of some horrible disease.

So at 46 I’d be looking at peri menopause, and a lot of your symptoms fit

What was your vitamin B12?

With a ferritin of 7 you will feel pretty rough.

I was told you were supposed to take vitamin C (I think) with iron etc to help with absorption

B12 was 205 so not overly low according to the results?

I have porridge for breakfast usually using plain oats. Would ready brek be better? I'm also have lots of oranges and fruit juices with my lunch.

Looked in the mirror today and I look horrendous, like I've been dug up!

Mine was higher and GP described it as not a ‘fair and deal’ and told me to get the highest level of vitamin b12 tablets from
holland and barret (sp?).

That ferritin is very low!

as others have said, pay attention to how you take the iron tablets: either vitamin C, definitely NOT at the same time or similar time to caffeine, dairy.

it will take months unfortunately

would you consider going private and getting an iron infusion? This changed my life