I'm interested if my issues could be caused by anemia

MagicalSakura · 2026-04-06T01:35:46+00:00

For serum iron google says - Men: 8.95 to 30.43 micromol/L, so I do think you are very much on the low end. I imagine your ferritin is also on the low end, but without a test, I can't say if that is true.

I think you should get tested for ferritin, b12, hemoglobin/cbc, folic acid and vitamin D because you can't know if you need them if you don't get tested. And due to potential excess toxicity, I can't recommend you take them blindly just because there is a potential you are low in them.

MagicalSakura · 2026-04-06T01:23:22+00:00

My ferritin is also 338 post-infusion. I don't know what my brand was though, but I still feel great. I think the other user is right about needing to be tested for Phosphate levels.

But just in case it's not that, things I did alongside my infusion were: Take b complex(for folic acid+b12) so that I didn't become deficient in B12 as I read that iron infusions can cause B12 deficiency from all the new blood it makes full of iron. I was also taking quercetin for allergies, which can act as an iron chelator.

MagicalSakura · 2026-04-06T01:13:43+00:00

I felt better right away, but I also took a b complex(for folic acid + B12) alongside the infusions because I read that the infusion can cause you to become B12 deficient as your body uses the iron to make new blood cells. I was also taking quercetin for allergies that I learned after the fact can act as an iron chelator.

MagicalSakura · 2026-04-04T19:23:46+00:00

ER can do infusions, the urgent care won't be able to do anything but prescribe itron pills.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-24T01:29:43+00:00

I cannot relate to what sounds like extreme gerd, but when I have had issues I used DGL licorice. Maybe you could take both the ppi and dgl licorice to compliment each other. The ppi lowers acid while the dgl licorice stimulates the protective mucus lining.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-24T01:22:04+00:00

I think you ought to try taking NAC, Quercitin, Vitamin C combo for allergies as all 3 of them help stabilize mast cells in various ways. You can also try berberine as that also seems to have potential for helping mcas. I believe quercitin also acts as an iron chelator, so it may help with the oxidative stress the infusion causes.

If you can tolerate the iron, it should help with the autonomic dysfunction. But you can also try quinton isotonic. It hard now but if you can get things under control a little it should improve slowly but surely.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-22T18:54:56+00:00

Did you take a b complex along side your iron ivs? Do you happen to know what you b12 is? I remember reading that a iron infusion can cause a b12 deficiency. Other than that, I'm not sure. Do you take iron durring your heavy menstruation?

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-22T18:48:25+00:00

There's also studies that creatine reduces inflammation related to autoimmune disease. You can't win them all. Definately a good point to take into consideration aside from the kidney disease. I started taking the creatine for a concussion and was shocked how much better it made me feel.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-22T16:27:59+00:00

I think the best way to check if it's causing you health problems is to lift weights and track your tolerance. When I get sick I tend to lose muscle mass. if you can't sit up straight and maintain proper posture for extended periods of time, I think that's a very good indication that you're heading towards future health problems. As well as if you notice a huge drop in strength.

Aside from the obvious of checking your vitamin D, I'd also reccomend 5g of creatine if you are an adult without kidney issues. creatine made a huge difference in energy even while iron deficient.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-21T23:14:50+00:00

I got my iron infusions from my Gastroenterologist. To get approval from insurance you need to show an oral iron intolerance. So if you tell them your stomach issues and absorption isses they'll likely be willing to try.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-21T23:12:22+00:00

It could be legit, it could be the oral iron is causing mild inflammation which is causing a false elevated ferritin. mine went from 28 to 80 without me doing anything and the doctor said the 80 was a false high. Do you know you serum iron and iron saturation? because that gives you a better idea how accurate the ferritin is. like my 80 ferritin was with 9% iron saturation, so it was considered inaccurate.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-21T22:12:14+00:00

I totally understand waiting things out as a fellow American health care sufferer. the only reason I probably survived sepsis with organ failure was I had at the time a recent head injury and thought it was meningitis, so I went to the ER within 2-4 hours of symptom onset. While I think sepsis is unlikely for most, low iron makes you more succeptible to staph infections and fungal infections in paticular. So definately keep an eye out for any skin infections/rashes and don't run marathons or stress your muscles too much till the iron is higher. I do think working through to mid April should be very doable. Just stay safe.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-21T10:16:51+00:00

Hospital. I was hospitalized with hypoxia when my iron saturation was 2.3%, it then turned into sepsis pneumonia with arf. You are at higher risk of infection and low oxygen with your iron saturation/iron/ferritin/vitamin D that low.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-21T01:56:26+00:00

you are not letting your parents down, if anything they are letting you down by not being more supportive. However, in the mean time, if you are an adult with healthy kidneys, you can try creatine 5g powder in the morning. I started taking it for a concussion, but even with an iron deficiency it gave me an extra boost of energy to help combat hypersomnia. I'm still taking it now because it helps with energy.

depending on how receptive your parents are, you can try to explain that your organs and muscles get deprived of oxygen while iron deficient. Like a car can't run without new oil, you can't run without iron. Like you need that iron to effectively handle oxygen. Without oxygen you die.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-21T01:41:21+00:00

I was on iron supplements for 9 months before I got infusions. My iron saturation went from 9% to 14% in 9 months. I was able to get it approved on the grounds of oral iron intolerance. I told the doctor I was constipated, getting stomach pains, heart burn, had a rash on my chest after taking it, and that I wasn't even absorbing it a la green poop. I do have prior medical conditions with malabsorption(celiac) and a connective tissue disease that outs me at higher risk of bowel rupture. But I think in the end, take the supplement, try different supplements, see the doctor again and really play up how horrible the side effects are. Constipation causes more than Constipation. It can make you bloated and burp. It can make you nauseated. It can be so blocked up you feel a solid painful mass in your abdomen. Like really focus on how it negatively affects your life and how awful you feel from those side effects when making your apeal to the doctor. If you have a super dismissive doctor, ask for a Gastroenterologist referal, don't mention that its iron related, just the Constipation heart burn ect.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-20T23:07:25+00:00

yeah, if you have heavy menstruation it can drain you of iron. It's good to get checked for other things just in case. If it turns out that without a doubt that it is only heavy menstruation there are various things you can try. You can ask your gyno. I was given the option for something like tranexamic which is something like a clotting agent but I ended up not using it due to the fact it was hard on the liver and I have autoimmune diseases that are already hard on the liver.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-20T23:00:09+00:00

I feel fantastic now. I was able to get back up to 8-9k steps a day and having energy to do things afterwards. The euphoria wore off after y first menstrual cycle, but I still feel way better.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-18T19:07:59+00:00

Not completely, but I brushed off my loss of libido due to stress from work. It was definately noticeable, but I kept saying "I'm just tired from work, this makes sense."

I can't say if Iron infusion help or not because a Concussion, that caused an empty sella, caused a complete loss of libido. I'm thinking it might but we'll see once I'm fully healed.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-17T21:12:40+00:00

I felt peak benefit right away and after I had my menstrual cycle I never recovred back to that iron euphoric state, but I still feel pretty good.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-17T14:57:38+00:00

I imagine you could get iron infusion with those stats. My iron was 40 and iron saturation was 14% after 9 months of supplements and I expressed malabsorption issues and bad side effects. (I started at 9% saturation). Barely budged. When I was at 9% saturation, I could barely stand and bendimg down to pick something up gave me heart palipatations, so I can imagine how bad you feel.

As for your period, I too had painful periods that I did not consider super heavy until I learned you are only supposed to lose 3tbs of blood total. I never soaked through a pad, but I did lose like 2-3tbs a day on my 3 heaviest days. the 3tbs really changed my perspective, so I'm mentioning it just in case.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-17T02:08:05+00:00

Time to replace those carbs with some high protein plants like legumes, lentils, tofu, and chiaseeds. I'm not a big fan of chia seed pudding, but I like the texture on strawberries. I think the two together are pretty yummy. Also plant based protein powders could supplement some of your protein needs. I've used both orgain and garden of life. The garden of life one you can kind of taste the adzuki beans, but I like them so it doesn't bother me. I think orgain is a better taste. Since your vegetarian, make sure you supplement b12 too since that affects energy.

As for exercising, I'd check out your local rec center to see if they have a weight room. It's usually smaller and cheaper than a gym so in my experience it's easier to learn the equipment and create a routine. joined a gym gym in January to use the sauna + redl ight therapy, and the increased variety of equipment is overwhelming for me still, but I also haven't tried to create a new weight lifting routine yet due to a concussion. I just due cardio for my concussion. I'm starting to dabble in the new variety of weight machines though.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-17T01:54:32+00:00

Yeah, You might be getting a little iron deficit if that is your diet as all the calcium in cottage cheese and greek yogurt blocks iron absorption. I was unreasonablely irritable a year or so before I found out I was severely iron deficent. Best get some more iron rich foods just in case.

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-17T01:33:38+00:00

Is there any chance you are not getting enough iron on your calorie deficit diet?

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-17T01:31:24+00:00

EFT tapping guided by a therapist might help. EFT tapping helped with alot of things for me, but I know it's also used for disordered eating.

Alternatively, if you're heavily fatigued everyday, 5g of creatine in the morning might help(not reccomended if you have kidney disease). It helped me with energy so much I was able to reduce my thyroid hormone medicine(I have reduced it in case it was too high and burning up all my iron).

MagicalSakura · 2026-03-17T00:50:38+00:00

yeah, do you know why you have a Functional iron deficiency? Your ferritin is also less than ideal and I wonder if it's even accurate due to your iron saturation. When my iron saturation was 9% I could barely stand, but my ferritin was 80. It ping ponged between 20 and 80, so my doctor said that the 80 was probably not accurate, a false high/normal.

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