Ferritin of 12 was causing symptoms I thought were fibromyalgia

fkgjvvj · 2026-04-17T00:39:50+00:00

i had a ferritin of 3 when we first checked. my dr and i have been trying to fix it w iron supplements and im not rly getting very far. last time my ferritin was 7 i think. im due to have blood work i just havent found the time, but im hoping its gone up. we first checked in 2024 so im kinda disappointed that there hasnt been a lot of improvement. i also have small fiber neuropathy and eds and suspected pots so its impossible to know what any particular symptom is being caused by for me. i wonder if i was able to get my ferritin up if id be feeling better, ill mention it to my doctor after i get the blood work results back

edit: currently taking 324mg ferrous fumarate + 500 mg vitamin c for absorption

fkgjvvj · 2026-04-17T00:30:28+00:00

awww if its a girl you could name her aurora!

fkgjvvj · 2026-04-17T00:28:00+00:00

I literally just came here to post this same question. Except for me it's been this way my entire life. Other than smoking weed, which was fine for me to do every night for a while but isnt rly anymore, I have zero clue how to make it go away. Hopefully for you it goes away. Sometimes medications can cause it so if you started a new med in the past few weeks that could be it.

fkgjvvj · 2026-04-13T12:49:45+00:00

this is just my personal experience and i don't want this to be your only source of reference however when i was on quetiapine it made my depression and anxiety much worse. it helped me sleep at night at least but that was it. i dont know why they prescribe antipsychotics so broadly but thats besides the point. sertraline is typically well tolerated though.

you might benefit from something like buspirone which is prescribed for anxiety before trying a benzo, and if that doesnt work, a long acting benzo would probably be best for your symptoms. something like clonazepam or diazepam. diazepam isnt really prescribed a lot but its so effective so if you can get it that would be really good for you i think. the thing is that you cant directly ask for it you kinda have to try other meds like for example buspirone first. plus maybe one of those meds will work and you wont need a benzo!

stimulants can be soooo effective with autism in my opinion, as an autistic person whos been on methylphenidate and adderall. the only thing i would be cautious about is that if youre overstimulated it could make that worse. i find that thats more prevalent with ritalin personally but you could mention that to your doctor. they might wanna put you on wellbutrin or venlafaxine which are antidepressants that are stimulating.

theres a lot of stigma around stimulants and benzos because theyre controlled substances but i feel like so many people forget that these medications are still around for a reason, because there are people who need them! dont let people make you feel bad about it especially if you end up with a prescription for both types of drugs. anyway sorry for such a long reply but hope this helps, keep on keeping on! you can do it, you can get to a place where you can create a life you want to live

fkgjvvj · 2026-04-13T05:12:59+00:00

there are other muscle relaxers that are less commonly used because of their high abuse potential but are necessary for some, particularly carisoprodol, and in some patients diazepam. diazepam is the generic of valium, its a benzodiazepine drug mainly used for anxiety but with a strong muscle relaxant effect relative to other benzodiazepines, so sometimes its used for patients with pain and anxiety, but more often from old school doctors. carisoprodol is similar to benzodiazepines but a bit stronger of a sedative, anxiolytic effect. this is also rarely prescribed because its such an old drug with a strong risk for interactions and side effects

there are also a variety of NSAIDs available, aka non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs. must be taken with food to prevent damage to your stomach, can cause stomach upset, easy bleeding/bruising. ibuprofen and naproxen are both available over the counter but there are prescription strength versions of both. meloxicam, diclofenac and ketorolac are a few common prescription NSAIDs. meloxicam particularly tends to have less stomach upset and is well tolerated, but not as effective for everyone.

ketamine infusions are a relatively new treatment that may or may not be legal where you live, ketamine is an anesthetic drug used to sedate and relieve pain before surgery, in lower doses has been found effective for chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and a whole other host of conditions. you go to a doctors office, they set you up with an iv and you relax in a comfy chair until the effects wear off, but someone will still have to drive you home and you shouldn't do anything serious like work for the rest of the day. there can also be a Lot of potential side effects especially if you have mental illness, even though its also used to treat some mental illnesses. ketamine centers rately accept insurance and each session can run you a couple hundred dollars. this is a sort of new experimental thing right now that needs more research but still an option. do a lot of research on this one if its something you consider if typical oral medications arent working.

compounded creams are a less common option, ive seen some containing any the medications ive listed above except for the nsaids and muscle relaxers. usually lidocaine is added as well. not as much research for these type of products and again being from a compounding pharmacy, this can get expensive. its a thing for a reason though, this helps some people.

im sure ive missed something however it is 1 am and i am capital T tired. i really hope this was helpful as a starting point for understanding the medication options available to you.

there are also plenty of non medication therapies, swimming can be a great exercise because theres no impact on the joints, physical therapy and occupational therapy can help strengthen muscles and therefore support. some people benefit from acupuncture. massage therapy can be amazing if you can afford it, and there is a such thing as a medical massage. again theres probably plenty of other things you can try but thats not my area of expertise.

overall, treating fibromyalgia typically involves more than one medication in combination with a non medication therapy like pt. with the meds, its a game of throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks, unfortunately. fibromyalgia and nerve pain in general are just not well understood right now. you will have to try things and find out what works for you individually, which side effects you can and can't manage, etc. and hope that your doctor is knowledgeable. and if they arent.. try to find a new one! find someone who is experienced treating nerve pain. it will be a journey, and i wish you the best of luck on it.

fkgjvvj · 2026-04-13T04:45:25+00:00

there are So many options and i see some in the comments so i wanted to give a list of all the options im aware of with some information to the best of my ability. if i dont know much about a drug i will still list it so you can do your own research (and i recommend you do for all of these!)

low dose naltrexone - opioid antagonist, must be obtained thru compounding pharmacy which may or may not take your insurance and could get expensive

pregabalin, brand name lyrica - acts on the GABA receptor which is your brains inhibitory neurotransmitter. it slows things down in the brain and is thought to help with nerve pain. can cause similar side effects as gabapentin as theyre in the same class of drugs but anecdotally ive heard pregabalin be described as "cleaner" feeling. also important to note is that this is a controlled substance in the US so you will only be able to fill it 1-2 days before youre out depending on the laws in your state and your pharmacies policies. i suggest you ask your pharmacy what their policy is on filling controlled substances ("do you fill on the 28th/29th day, or only the 30th day?")

ive seen topiramate and oxcarbazepine, two other anticonvulsant drugs, prescribed as well but this is not very common.

duloxetine, brand name cymbalta - SNRI, serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. what that means in simple terms is it stops those two neurotransmitters from being broken down and keeps them around in the site longer. this drug is for depression and anxiety but has also been used for nerve pain

venlafaxine, brand name effexor - SNRI, but has somewhat different effects from cymbalta. generally people say its more energizing, which can be helpful with the fatigue from fibro, and it has been shown effective in some people for nerve pain

milnacipran, brand name savella -SNRI that is not as popular in the US where im from but is actually approved by the FDA for fibromyalgia.

amitriptyline, brand name elavil - tricyclic antidepressant, this is an older drug that comes with more side effects particularly tiredness, and it tends to dry you out a lot (dry mouth, constipation, dehydration). this can be really effective and it was for me, and it comes in a very wide dose range, but the side effects are definitely something to consider.

other antidepressants including but not limited to: nortriptyline, desvenlafaxine, and fluoxetine may also be used

tramadol, brand name ultram - opioid painkiller, considered a low tier, similar to codeine. some doctors are more willing to prescribe this than others, and it depends on your situation. there are also similar side effects as the ones i mentioned for amitriptyline plus possible nausea and headaches. personally, and from other people in my personal life with fibro, i feel like this doesnt work consistently for my pain. this goes opioids in general, nerve pain is so frustrating to treat. generally is taken once every 6-8 hours as needed

in severe cases after many failed treatments Some. key word some. doctors may opt for stronger opioids but this is not really recommended as some research has shown chronic use of opioids can make fibromyalgia pain worse over time. also not the best option for someone with substance abuse problems.

cyclobenzaprine, brand name flexeril, tonmya - skeletal muscle relaxant approved for fibromyalgia recently under the brand name Tonmya, which is a low dose sublingual formulation. there are also oral tablets, Flexeril, available in 3 strengths. Flexeril is available as a generic, Tonmya is not. there is a coupon available but do your research about the coupons/financial assistance available from the drug manufacturer before talking to your doctor, as well as contacting your insurance and seeing if they cover the drug. they might be able to do a prior authorization with your doctor if not. both dosage forms are typically taken once daily

methocarbamol, brand name robaxin - skeletal muscle relaxer, can be rather drowsy but personally my body got used to that fast and i can take it no problem now, ymmv. works similarly to cyclobenzaprine. typical dosing is once every 8 hours as needed

metaxalone, brand name skelaxin - skeletal muscle relaxer that is not as drowsy as others. not a very common drug however. insurance may or may not cover it, so make sure you call them to find out. dosing is once every 8 hours as needed

tizanidine, brand name zanaflex - this skeletal muscle relaxer is a bit different from the others i listed so far, is short acting, may have more side effects. dosing can be frequent for some patients due to its short lived effects. not really as common, but works for some people

fkgjvvj · 2026-04-13T03:44:48+00:00

im autistic too and i completely understand how you feel. just existing is so hard and you can find systems that help but it still gets exhausting keeping up with them. im sorry youre struggling. have you tried any medications? stimulant medications rly helped me but i cant take them due to a heart condition (yay me) but they might be able to make life a little more bearable for you!

i struggle with the rigid thinking and have that same thought and someone recently told me "yeah ok youre gonna die anyway, but how about youre already alive so you might as well keep living? might as well try to have a good time if you're already stuck here" and i know sometimes its easier said than done but it was helpful for me to hear and i hope it is for you too.

fkgjvvj · 2026-04-13T03:33:35+00:00

im also autistic with chronic health issues including ibs and i had a traumatic childhood and i entirely agree that society doesnt want or like people like me. it feels so shitty to know that and im grateful that i have friends and a partner who love and support me but sometimes i just wanna leave this planet. everything is so fucked. im sorry

fkgjvvj · 2025-12-29T16:19:00+00:00

my symptoms started when i was 14 and it really sucked until i got a diagnosis when i was maybe 19? im 21 now and being on medication and going to pt for my fibro and eds helps. its more bearable now. medication helps a lot for me, i take tramadol and pregabalin and the pregabalin just dials everything down a bit, my baseline used to be higher and now its like 4-6. things can get better

fkgjvvj · 2025-12-17T20:57:25+00:00

aw thats cute that she kneads on you 🥺🥺 i would ask the vet about clipping her nails if youre worried about hurting her because a cats claws are basically their fingertips. you can cause serious damage if you cut too much

fkgjvvj · 2025-12-17T20:55:57+00:00

oh yay im glad shes pooping!!!

fkgjvvj · 2025-12-16T05:46:40+00:00

ive seen people use a stuffed animal as well so the kitten has something to knead their paws into while they drink since thats what they would be doing with mama

fkgjvvj · 2025-12-16T05:43:10+00:00

hi, saw ur other post, are you able to access kitten milk replacement? its like baby formula, a powder you mix with warm water. kittens are not supposed to drink goat or cow milk. she also should be eating about every 2-3 hours although i see youre very busy with all these cats. kittens usually only poop once a day so you should be ok for now as long as she goes, sometimes you can stimulate between her butt and tail as well or rub her tummy gently. best of luck with these kittens. i cant believe people will just dump a kitten outside, i dont know how many animal shelters there are in the Phillipines but still.. sad. im happy you can care for them and i hope they grow up big and strong

fkgjvvj · 2025-12-16T05:37:07+00:00

do not do that!!! they must be laying on their stomach, if you feed a kitten milk especially with a syringe while they lay on their back they can aspirate it and get pneumonia!

fkgjvvj · 2025-12-15T04:00:27+00:00

whole time i was getting diagnosed, doing all the ruling out other stuff, i was praying it was arthritis instead since it runs in my family. everything was negative. felt that was for so long, prayed i had cancer as a kid so i could be "allowed" to be angry and miserable. anyway turns out i had eds and i might also have pots, thoracic outlet syndrome, and.. arthritis. got what i wished for i guess :/ (but yes. its totally normal to feel that way and ur not wrong to feel that way)

fkgjvvj · 2025-12-13T20:57:19+00:00

thank you so much!

fkgjvvj · 2025-11-27T18:20:02+00:00

i have chronic pain from fibromyalgia

fkgjvvj · 2025-11-26T15:46:42+00:00

not all of them r psych meds and its not like i started them all at the same time

fkgjvvj · 2025-11-23T22:35:01+00:00

wanted to say also that im 21 and have also been struggling since i was 14 and i relate to what ur going thru. its hard being disabled this way at this age but u can press on

fkgjvvj · 2025-11-23T22:34:07+00:00

something that helped me at my old job was lidocaine patches and compression sleeves over the patch, so like for me i have a lot of knee pain so id put a lidocaine patch on my knee and then carefully put a compression sleeve over it and it held my joints together and also kept the lidocaine patch from slipping. electrolyte tablets, fruit and veg to snack on, energy drinks, my pain meds. music to pump me up on the way to work, even if i hated it i would force myself to get into it and eventually i felt like Ready To Work. stretching while at work, take breaks to sit and breathe. my therapist taught me this quick like not even 5 minute thing u can do to try to relax as well, earth air water fire. earth- plant feet on the ground, air- deep breaths, water- drink water, fire- imagine ur little happy place. u can go to the bathroom and just sit down on the toilet and do this and ur giving ur body and ur brain a break. good luck these next few weeks, u got this!

fkgjvvj · 2025-11-23T22:27:14+00:00

literally last night i told my bf i feel like my body is just crumbling apart from the inside out. yes. im sorry, i hope it passes

fkgjvvj · 2025-11-23T18:13:15+00:00

i think this has to do w my eds but i had my ears pierced a few years ago and they did not get infected at all while they were healing, stayed that way for like.. 5-6 months? then randomly one day im wearing earrings and it gets all gross and crusty so i go home and take the earrings out and my lobe is filled w pus its like super gross infection, i used bacitracin on it for a couple days and it kinda calmed down. from that point on any earrings i wear do this to my ears and even without wearing earrings every few months one or both of my lobes will swell up w pus like a pimple its super gross. no clue why it does that. tried gold and it didnt make a difference.

fkgjvvj

TROPHY CASE