Q&A

Question:

Can I tell if I’m anaemic from these levels? 27F

Hi, I’m 27F. Symptoms include extremely cold fingers and toes, pins and needles, waking up from falling asleep, joint inflammation, rickety/creaky knees and elbows, and bruising. Also had migraines, sometimes lasting as long as 72 hours over the summer.

This is my Blood work from two months ago for you to review. Nothing was flagged as low, but some things are on the lower end of normal. I wanted to see if anyone has had similar levels/symptoms. Just trying to figure out if anaemia is possible with these results. ty

Iron: 58 ug/dL [normal scale 27-159]

Hemoglobin: 12.6 g/dL [normal scale 11.1-15.9]

RBC: 4.04 [normal scale “3.77-5.28x10E6/uL”]

Hematrocit: 38.4 [normal range 34.0-46.6%]

Answer:

You need to get your ferritin levels checked. Ferritin is key. These numbers alone can not tell if you are iron deficient. Your Iron is normally low.

Ferritin info: 30–300 ng/mL, with a mean of 49 ng/mL

I was anaemic when my iron was 40; ferritin 2 haemoglobin was normally low at 11. I’m iron deficient now. Initially, my iron reached 170, but my ferritin was 15. I still had cold feet, hands with tingling numbness, and migraines for a while. I aim to get my ferritin to 70, which is optimal. Iron deficiency can cause a lot of symptoms without you being anaemic. Symptoms of iron deficiency are like warnings. Because going by iron alone is not helpful, demand your ferritin be checked. Be well 🙂

Question:

Do iron infusions help long-term, short-term, or mask the problem? Asking for my wife, who is scheduled to get her first iron infusion soon.

Hi all, my wife has had anaemia for many years. It just took a big turn where she is completely out of energy (especially around times of the period, it gets extremely worse).

I’ve never seen her like this; she can barely walk. It isn’t very good.

She used to be very fit, running marathons and always eating healthy. Now, she can barely walk, let alone exercise.

I don’t know why it’s gotten worse; I’m guessing age (early 40s).

She is scheduled to get an iron infusion. Based on what she’s read or heard about it, she believes it will make her feel better.

Do iron infusions help long term?

She is on some iron supplements and generally eats healthy, although she is not big into red meat (although she did mention feeling a little better after eating it).

Feel free to let me know if anyone has any other tips or advice on how she can feel better. I’d love to see my happy, healthy, energetic wife back. We have little ones, too, and they love a fun, happy, healthy mama! I hope she gets better as soon as possible.

Answer:

I felt this way in the spring. I was lethargic and couldn’t even complete my basic household tasks. I’ve been chronically deficient, but doctors didn’t do anything. I became very anaemic after digestive issues and heavy periods. The infusion will correct the anaemia and deficiency, which is super important, and she’ll feel so much better!

It’s not masking the anaemia; it will correct it by providing the iron she needs to build red blood cells and replenish her ferritin- but it is important to rule out any internal bleeding, gynaecological issues, gastrointestinal problems, or blood disorders as the cause. She should make sure her B12, folate, and vitamin D levels are all in the upper half range of normal (low normal can still cause symptoms and make it hard for the body to use iron to build blood). Use high-quality supplements (head over to the supplement subreddit if you need advice, or I can share what I like to use).

Positive Personal Experience with Iron Infusion

I had an infusion in April, and it was life-changing for me! I didn’t even know it was possible for me to feel so good and to have so much energy. My IV infusion went well with no side effects. I was very scared, but it was easy and relaxing. I listened to an audiobook and sipped mint tea. Tell her to be well-hydrated the week before, the day off and the week after.  I didn’t notice a change until about 2 weeks later. All my symptoms resolved by 6 weeks.

I will probably need another this December, as my levels have been slowly falling. I’m working with my naturopath on balancing my hormones to try to lighten my periods and improve my digestion, but it takes time to sort all that out. I hope her infusion goes well and she can begin to heal and get stronger!

Question:

I’m exhausted, and it feels like my life is passing me.

(f18) i need to vent on here. I’ve been feeling like absolute shit; I’m so exhausted and dizzy that I can’t even go anywhere without experiencing some discomfort and anxiety. I took a year off to focus on myself, like learning how to drive and getting a job, except I haven’t been able to do that because all these health problems got in the way. Today we were going to look at cars for me, but I didn’t go because I felt so tired and awful, and my parents think I’m lazy and uninterested. They keep saying things like “This is your future you are messing with”, “Just work more”, “Stop being in your room all day and do something useful” They act like I’m purposefully trying to be sick.

I WANT to go outside and do things people my age do so badly and be like my old self again. I’ve been taking 200 mg of iron medication every day for almost 3 months with no change in my symptoms. Last week, I tried to be healthy by eating clean, working out before bed, sitting outside for an hour, and staying hydrated. I felt a little better until we went to this hiking trail, and it immediately started getting worse again.

Health Updates and Frustration with Lack of Progress

The last time I got bloodwork done, my ferritin was 6.4, haemoglobin 12.8, and vitamin D 19 was in August.

Even when taking iron supplements daily and caring for myself the best I can, I should at least feel better. And I can’t even get iron infusions if I wanted to because the doctor said my haemoglobin is normal, but I feel like absolute shit all the time to the point where I don’t want to live anymore because this doesn’t feel like a life worth living. I’ve been having health problems and health anxiety since 7th grade, and it’s only been getting worse. And the worst part is I can’t even tell if it’s just anxiety or if there’s genuinely something wrong with me or both, but nothing I’ve tried has helped.

Answer:

Hey, I’m sorry you’re feeling this way :(. It sucks when you feel like you can’t do what you want. And especially to not be heard by family members. But I would suggest taking it easy because it’s not in your head; it’s your body. I would also continue supplementing iron and vitamin D as they are both very low. Also, consider a different doctor or infusion place. Healing from deficiencies takes time, and you may have ups and downs. Prioritise healing now so you can do things and feel good doing them. Hang in there 🌼🌼You are not alone.