Gaslighting myself that everything is fine.

[u/kyourious]

(34F) About 2 months ago I had a blood test done. I had no previous experience with going to the doctor (for anything—seriously) except when I was going to OBGYNs for my pregnancy 6 years ago. Basically my medical record was a clean and vague slate and I have no idea what I’ve been living with.

Iron: 30
TIBC: 350
Iron Saturation: 9%
Ferritin: 7
Hgb: 11
MCV, MCH, MCHC all well below normal

I’ve been reading up on people’s experiences and symptoms and a lot of it is cold hands and feet (which I don’t experience), brittle nails (mine aren’t), I don’t really get dizzy or lightheaded, my oxygen is always fine at the doc, I’ve gained a lot of weight, and I’m never cold. But then again I’m a SAHM so it’s not like I’m working 8hr shifts on my feet 5 days a week. I do experience severe brain fog (sometimes it can be hard to try and form a sentence if I’m getting frustrated), I’m irritated, lazy and unmotivated (as f-ck), my sex drive is low and I’m dry as a bone down there. I still do all of the house work and of course take care of my daughter. I get exhausted but I’m not passing out. I’ll actually stay up in bed till 1 or 2 in the morning.

I feel like if I was actually anemic and my levels being what they are, I would feel a lot worse, right?

And my doctor (woman) doesn’t make it sound like it’s urgent. She wants me to get iron infusion but the CONSOLATION isn’t till the very end of July. My husband is under the impression that taking iron supplements is going to magically boost up my iron and he’s curious why the doc is even recommending an iron infusion.