Low Iron, a cold and lack of understanding from DP

[Honeysucklelane]

I’ve been suffering from low iron since November, with a Ferratin level of 26 which although isn’t super low, has given me lots of symptoms. I have had chest aching / pain, breathlessness, dizzy spells, palpitations, fatigue and lack of motivation.

Despite all this I have carried on functioning as much as I usually do, but end up having to sit down for a rest after a long walk or some physical jobs like housework or standing up doing dinner. DP keeps making snide remarks about this, even though I’ve explained how I’m feeling and what iron does for your body.

Now I’ve come down with a cold too, which I’ve been dreading happening as I was worried I’d struggle even more with a cold.

I haven’t looked ill on the outside, so it’s hard for him to see I’m feeling rough. I’ve been taking 210mg of iron and eating a better diet, desperately trying to feel better. He hasn’t done anything supportive and I feel like he is completely oblivious or resents me feeling crappy.

Has anyone else with low iron experienced a lack of understanding and empathy from their partner / family?

Low iron is awful. I was anaemic with ferritin of 3 at its lowest and was only fixed by a hysterectomy as it was due to heavy periods due to fibroids and polyps. Took a few infusions and a blood transfusion over two years to feel slightly human, though because I was still bleeding it kept going right back down again.
I sounded like I had climbed a mountain just going upstairs, even walking up our road which is by no means steep and having to take a break on a ten minute walk to the shop. I couldn't sleep, and had super itchy skin.
My dh was very supportive and very worried about me, and I am so sorry yours is being this way. Is he usually like this when you are ill?
Do the Drs know why this is happening to you?

I’m surprised they class 26 as low (I’ve always been told under 13 is low - I’m currently surviving on 6) but every one is different. I do think my dh doesn’t realise how bad I actually feel - I also don’t help myself (sat in bed on mn at 11.39pm). I recently dreamed I had a hysterectomy. Is that a bit mad?

Mine was 11 last year and now at 12, very symptomatic also deficient in hemoglobin, folate, b12 and vitamin d. My husband has been great and picking up the slack alot. I'm so sorry yours isn't, that is really shit. I'd make him read online how it actually affects you. The iron protocol page on fb is helpful, if you aren't on it. Alot of men don't seem to take womens health issues seriously at all.

TeenLifeMum, optimal for a menstruating woman should be over 100. Alot of people get symptoms under 70 but the lab range says normal is 13 to 250. I think most people would have symptoms at 13 it's ridiculously low. Lab ranges were made because they took people who they felt were healthy and tested them and came up with the ranges, mental really.

Gosh 3 is so low! You must have felt awful. My blood test results show the ‘normal’ range starting from 30, so mine technically isn’t that low, but 100 is the optimum level.

He’s not great when I’m ill. He doesn’t get ill so he can’t comprehend it.

The normal range starts from 30. I went to my GP thinking I might have heart issues due to pain across the top of my chest, palpitations, shortness of breath and dizziness. Everything was fine except low iron and vitamin D.

I’ve been anaemic a couple of times before and had an ablation to stop heavy periods. That was life changing and I’ve been fine for years since then, not sure why my iron is low now.

I think to him if you’re not in bed ill you’re not ill ill. He sees me doing all the usual stuff so doesn’t understand why I then might slope off to the sofa to sit because I’ve stood up too long.

I had exactly the same deficiencies as you! Apart from B12 because my mum jabs me every now and again.
The difference in raising my iron was huge. People don't realise how debilitating it is.

A happy side effect is that my nails now grow and my hair is thick and shiny.

Hope uou feel better soon op x

What is your Hb? Ferritin are your iron stores and its more likely that its your low Hb causing the symptoms. My Hb was 9 and ferritin only2. I felt dreadful. Shortness of breath, knackered, constant uti's and nearly fainted several times. It takes 3mths for red blood cells to replicate, so taking oral supplements and improving your diet isn't a quick fix. Depending on your Hb, and iron transfusion is a quicker option.

Taking your iron pills with a VIt C rich meal/drink like peppers or orange juice helps to absorb them. Cut tannins in your diet because they decrease the absorption of iron.

Maybe have a few duvet days and let DH get on with things. I can guarantee if he had the same symptoms- he wouldnt be able to carry on as you have.

My HB level is 127 so it’s okay. I’ve been on 210mg iron tablets and 1000mg vitamin D for over a month now. I’m avoiding tea when taking the tablets and eating better food.

I'm vegetarian, but think I’ve got depleted due to being unhappy in my job, changing jobs, and all the additional work load of preparing for Christmas. I was exhausted in December.

Beginning to notice a small difference in how I feel.

one thing my gp said was please don’t become vegetarian; your body will really struggle to keep ferritin levels up even with iron tablets if you cut meat out. I would happily be vegetarian these days but I don’t think that would work for me sadly.

My ferritin is 3, and hb 9.8, that was my last bloods 2 weeks ago, taken because of a long heavy period. I was given the progesterone only pill and it stopped bleeding straight away, and now taking iron to try and up my levels.
I have never felt poorly though.

sorry your DP isn’t being very understanding, show him so information online about the effects the low iron etc can have on you.

I am the same as you. If I had a ferritin level of 26 then I’d feel amazing!

My ferritin is currently 3, roll on tomorrows iron infusion, the tablets make me vomit. I’m symptomatic and it’s awful and people really don’t get it. It’s caused a heart murmur now so I’ll be able to have scheduled infusions rather than waiting for the drop.

i had bloods taken at my GP recently because I felt awful. Had a message back to say they were borderline and to eat more iron rich foods as I can’t tolerate iron tablets.

When I checked the NHS app, my haemoglobin is okay but my ferritin is 5 and my serum iron under range.

Fortunately I have private healthcare via work and had an appointment with a haematologist yesterday who said I had non-anaemic severe iron deficiency and has referred me for an iron infusion next week. Apparently it would take two years to improve my levels with iron tablets and would be nigh on impossible to do with diet alone.

I don’t think people realise how dreadful low ferritin can make you feel.

That's absolutely shocking from your gp, ferritin of 3 is not borderline. One thing I've noticed is GPS really are pretty clueless on full blood counts and how deficiencies can make people feel so terrible. It's almost like they don't give a shit.

I wasn’t particularly surprised @Forty85 Many years ago I was told by one of the GPs at the surgery that low ferritin doesn’t cause any symptoms and I should take up running as my breathlessness was due to being unfit. They are spectacularly incompetent in many ways.

I’ve been vegetarian for over 35 years and have had a few spells of low iron.

Ha ha I wish I felt amazing at 26. 😂

I’m quite intuitive to changes in my body and knew I wasn’t feeling ‘right.’ I thought something was wrong with my heart, as I haven’t had iron issues since 2016 when my level was 3.6.

I’d forgotten how rough low iron can make you feel. I’d probably be even lower by now if I hadn’t gone to the GP when I did. Even then, he tried to fob me off with anxiety / stress.

I’m amazed you haven’t felt poorly. I found my blood test results from 2016 when my level was 3.6. I was really ill back then, had to lie down whenever I went upstairs.

I hope you start to feel better soon. It’s scary the NHS aren’t giving you any treatment at such a low level.

I hope it goes well and you start to notice a difference.

I’ve just found blood results from one of pregnancies in 2013 and my ferritin was 8, since then I’ve had twins and a slight haemorrhage at delivery so I think the levels have always been low, and I’ve somehow just become used to it?
Im going to stick with the iron now and then get a repeat test and see if the levels rise.

This is a relationship issue not a health one.

It’s a classic case of ‘he doesn’t need to understand, he just needs to believe you’.

If my last infusion is anything to go by, it takes about two weeks to start having an effect