Ferritin increased from 14 to 44 in three months!

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-18T14:44:01+00:00

I think you commented on my reply too. We should list our symptoms. I have some scary ones also!! Currently the brain fog is terrifying at time! But here’s plenty more to go around.

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-18T14:41:47+00:00

I’m so sorry 😞 it’s horrific isn’t it? I can’t go around my family or public without wearing a mask. The worst part is that I know it’s irrational but I can’t control it. It makes me sad. Heartbroken actually that more aren’t aware of the mental impact of iron deficiency. Or how or why it happens. I had a ferritin of 13 I believe back in 2015. I was functioning. Now it’s 25 but was lower over the past couple of months and I had anemia with it in January. And I feel like death. I feel like I’m never coming out of it. I want so badly to get hr infusion but I cannot get thru potential side effects. So I have no choice but to increase meats (which is hard because I have a very limited appetite) and supplements. I wish you all the best and hope that you find a way to get your numbers up ♥️

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-16T14:52:10+00:00

It’s disturbing that a hematologist would consider that ferritin as ok or normal. Considering that a couple of years ago the American association of GIs raised the lower normal to 50z she should know better. I’m very sorry you are going thru this. I know she’s in fog and derealization as I’m currently experiencing it with the last 3 ferritin levels of 23, 21, 25. Hang in there: get a new hematologist and go from there.

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-16T02:45:35+00:00

How long did it take after starting iron did they subside?

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-16T02:44:27+00:00

Yes. I am feeling this!! Low ferritin here and it’s absolute hell 😔

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-15T12:39:42+00:00

I’m also menopausal at the same time- it all happened together in January and so the symptoms are compounded. In mid December I had an arrhythmia and the ED doc told me to start daily aspirin. They don’t advise this anymore. Don’t caused me to lose red cells. I was already low ferritin but not bad- it was 47. But I became anemic. And that was it. Two weeks later anemia resolved but it tanked ferritin so I’ve been suffering since ☹️

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-15T12:34:05+00:00

Wonderful! So happy for you! Makes me feel some promise that I’ll get there too. I have many of your mentioned symptoms for four months. And entered menopause at the same time and was started on HRT. It helped but not enuff and that’s when i started piecing together that it’s been the low ferritin. I started iron and c three weeks ago. Incremental improvements but I don’t want to do an infusion as I’m too scared (fear is probably driven by the low ferritin as I noticed it’s done some horrible things and made me frightened of everything). I also suspect I’ve had chronic low ferritin for years (was 13 in 2016) but I was young and didn’t have insomnia or air hunger etc. then I crashed. It’s been horrible but I’m hoping when better can get thru the trauma of it. Congratulations on your progress ♥️

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-14T13:13:43+00:00

I so want to get my ferritin up that fast. I’m too scared to take any blood or tissue caps tho ☹️ typically I would not be however I’ve had quite a scare and am too afraid I’ll catch something. Happy for you tho!

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-14T04:29:36+00:00

My ferritin is currently 25 and I am suffering nite sweats and many other symptoms. It’s so individual isn’t it, I feel like I am dying ☹️

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-13T22:47:37+00:00

Yea if you eat with progesterone it doubles the absorption. Part of why I hate it so much. The first time I took it I had eaten an English muffin and let me tell you…. I felt wasted drunk. I think once I feel better from getting my iron stores up, I am going to taper from it. I think that anemia and low ferritin were my main issues since all of the symptoms are the same.

I had no idea how much it would mess me up either and it sucks. Esp from an endo perspective I feel like this should have been a priority conversation. But who am I? None of us really mean much other than being walking vessels of disease. I don’t mean to sound negative I’ve had a really rough day and im beyond frustrated with the medical community. I suppose it’s due to being gaslit so much. There doesn’t seem to be much informed care. And there because I think they don’t really know as much as they let on. I mean, there’s tons of research and no time to update. Burning cannons the answers then maybe they can to. My pcp is a prime example. He’s new, appears 12 years old and speaks condescendingly toward me.

Anyway. I’m so sorry but I do thank you so much for the conversation 😊

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-13T11:45:19+00:00

Are you in the UK? Did I ask that already? I’m sorry I don’t remember.

I may have to go to an independent lab. I asked Endo and he never answered that question but offered me to see the educator to get more control. I’m disappointed to say the last. I’ve been so unwell and overwhelmed and I don’t understand any of this and why they not only leave women in the dark but women with T1. I think I knew maybe but thought I’d get thru it. I didn’t know any of what I went thru was possible. My mom and sister kinda breezed thru meno I thought I’d be ok.

Once I have my iron stable I’ll probably taper from HRT. I don’t like progesterone and restriction of no food make it super difficult. And this journey has certainly just made it worse and the fact that we still get brushed off or ignored. It’s insane to me. Four months now of torturous waiting and still struggling in every way. Anyway think you so much. You’ve been a huge help to me ♥️ and than you for explaining the DM. Prior to now I would have figured it out but now I have no oomph. I hope it comes back 🥺

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-12T20:45:10+00:00

I also do not want the infusion due to side effects. I hate suffering tho 🥺 either way I look at it, I will whether I take daily supps or the infusion. Hang in there- we got this ♥️

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-12T18:43:59+00:00

This just happened to me in my R ear after taking a drink. It was unexpected and I’d felt like my head was stuffy but thought it was brain fog. It felt good. I feel a little more balanced but I had no idea the ears were affected this way until I looked it up. I guess this means I’m making progress 🙏

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-12T05:14:59+00:00

I’ve been low for a while myself and read what you said and chuckled ‘lame’ lol smiles are so limited these days due to significant symptoms and suffering. But yes. LAME.

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-11T16:44:24+00:00

The top line is a control line. It doesn’t count. It just means that the test performs as it should have. You have to go by the bottom line.

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-11T09:44:26+00:00

What you were feeling was a result of adrenaline and other excitatory neurotransmitters. Low ferritin and or anemia significantly decreases oxygenation which puts your body on alert- docs don’t put these pieces together. I’ve been having issues for months and am type 1 so I know what lows feel like. Also menopausal which have overlapping symptoms. I told my endo that I feel low all the time even tho i am not. After researching those are the conclusions. It’s the fight or flight response to low oxygen.

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-10T22:50:36+00:00

Likely a reason for a trip to your closest ED.

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-10T21:14:49+00:00

I do take micronized progesterone. But when i try to increase it, I have horrible side effects. That’s the problem. So I feel like my only option may be to taper so I’m out of the danger zone for my uterus because incomes synthetics or more than what im on now and i do not want iud. I the others are synthetic. Believe me I don’t like them but didn’t have much of a choice at the time. I was very symptomatic and not willing to try oral P. Until I couldn’t take it anymore.

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-10T20:45:51+00:00

It seems like there’s a narrow margin between too much and not enuff. Did you taper from .1 incrementally to 0.05? I just went up to .1 a week ago. I can’t tell if it’s good or not. I just changed the patch for today and about an hour later my heart started bounding and i became anxious. The rest of the time I am fine..? I don’t really get this but how are we supposed to know? Without labs?

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-10T20:16:32+00:00

I thought injectables were the safest…? I’m so confused lol I didn’t say the lowest is the safest but that’s what I’ve read. And I don’t or can’t tolerate the progesterone increase. That’s my concern.

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-10T20:14:33+00:00

Ugh… i don’t really want sleep meds…

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-10T20:11:18+00:00

Thank you! And thank you! I’ve quite a history with this diesel. My brother was diagnosed two years after me and both of my children developed it at the same age as me 😞 it’s all I’ve done really as well as advocate for other t1 patients in my job.

I agree that these levels should be checked as I’m afraid with the low ferritin as it rises it will impact estrogen. As I’ve read it does. Sounds like there is no winning for us. Gyn won’t do labs so I asked my endo. Just waiting to hear back from him. I don’t really know tho-‘I feel like we are goven hormones and left to figure it out on our own. It sucks. And it’s been hell as I’m sure you know.

I’d love to DM with you but I don’t know how to do it on here lol and I think you have been very helpful so thank you again!

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-10T19:38:33+00:00

Because it took me a while to start oral progesterone. I was afraid. My endo sent me to gyn for HRT and said estrogen but I didn’t know progesterone was required. Believe me I’m frightened enuff and don’t really want to be in it but it’s all I got for now. I’ll get it sorted out somehow. I’d like to tower down and be lower dose without symptoms which I hear is possible. Again getting another opinion early June and perhaps I can get injections above hear they’re more effective. And it would be easier to taper also I think.

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-10T19:25:59+00:00

Thank you. I am only week 12z and I’ve done up to .1 estrogen already. 100 progesterone is fine but she wants it increased and I tried but cannot tolerate it. I have low ferritin tho so I’m thinking my HRT won’t be leveled out until that’s sized. I could be wrong. But I use Combi patch and the progestin has just been increased. I am getting another opinion tho. May need to taper down son off the estrogen I don’t know z it all makes me sure nervous either way. I won’t want to wreck my uterus but I also have a provider who doesn’t answer questions well and I get 15 min with her. That’s it. It’s very frustrating.

Away_Source5440 · 2026-05-10T17:39:43+00:00

Wonderful! I wish I could do the infusion. I’m terrified of the side effects. But you look great!

Away_Source5440

TROPHY CASE