Copper coil, falling ferritin and feeling dreadful despite taking iron

[School200]

Feeling really low and at my wits end- I wake up every morning feeling like I’m walking through mud, blurry vision, dizzy, tearful, anxious, just all over the place.

I have had low ferritin but okish hb ever since my first pregnancy 8 years ago. It’s a cycle of taking iron tablets for a couple of months, ferritin improves and then gradually reduces then another course of tablets etc.

2 years ago I had enough and decided to take the tablets long term- on alternate days, on an empty stomach first thing in the morning with 1000mg Vitamin C. In these 2 years have had another baby and my ferritin levels were the highest they have ever been throughout the pregnancy which was wonderful for me.

After the baby was born I decided I wanted to try the copper coil because the non hormonal aspect of it appealed to me- I had it fitted late August and my periods have always been a bit heavy the first couple of days ever since I was a teen and to be honest my periods have not got considerably heavier with the coil, however the last couple of cycles they have gotten longer with days of spotting beforehand and red blood all the way through.

My ferritin levels have dropped from 60odd in August to 20 in March and I’m 99% sure they’ve dropped even further since then because I’m feeling absolutely terrible in the last couple of weeks. I am anxious, snappy, my body aches and I am so so tired both physically and mentally. This is despite me continuing to take the iron tablets.

I think I’m going to have to ask the GP to remove the coil- I should add 8 years ago I did try the Mirena coil, but developed a fever and felt faint etc so I got it removed within a week. I don’t know if I should give it another try?

Thanks for reading my essay!

I would also request a referral to a gynae about your heavy periods as this is something you should not have to put up with. If finances permit I would go private for an initial consultation with such a person.

The cause of the heavy bleeding needs to be determined, fibroids for example can cause heavy bleeding to arise. Have you also had your thyroid gland levels properly tested too?

@School200 Ask to get your iron levels properly checked!!

I had so many symptoms and didn't realise it was due to low iron: breathlessness, feeling "unfit" when walking up steps/hills, brain fog, swollen ankles, awful sleep etc. I had crazy low iron, and now I get iron transfusions at the hospital and they transformed my life! The cause is I am 50 and have been having massively heavy periods for a year. Hope you get it sorted

Thank you @AttilaTheMeerkat and @BrightNewLife sorry to hear you’ve been through similar and hope you’re feeling better now.

I’ve filled out the online GP form and waiting to hear back. I’m sure I’ve had a basic thyroid check during previous blood tests and that all came back ok. It’s usually a combo of low ferritin and folate that regularly pops up.

I dream of having an iron infusion so I can bypass the tablets and just start feeling better but I don’t think the GP will refer me that easily and can’t afford the £900 or so to have it done privately. However there is a chance DH may be able to get private insurance through his work soon so might be something to think about in the future.

Its the brain fog and the feeling that I’m not really here that is most disconcerting- I have no energy for anything and I thought the copper coil hasn’t dramatically changed my periods so everything must be ok but this month’s period has made me feel like I’m at rock bottom.