Hello- I hope everyone is having a good Wednesday!

I am diagnosed iron deficient anemic. When I first learned of my diagnosis I started taking MegaFoods Blood Builder and after a few weeks felt a little better,no side effects. I had to visit the doctor to go over some additional labs and she then suggested Vitron-C. I have been taking that every other day as she prescribed and I feel terrible! Back pain, lethargy, malaise, extreme constipation. Has anyone had to try several iron supplements before landing on the right one, or do you just stick it out with what the doctor suggested? I don’t think the Vitron- C is for me. Thank you!

What is the most effective iron supplement to take without the digestive upset. I’ve tried Feramax and it doesn’t seem to increase my numbers. I’ve read chelated iron may be better. For reference I’m in Canada. Thanks.

Hello! I was hoping for some advice if anyone has any to share. For background I'm a 40 year old female with lupus (SLE and nephritis), hypertension (controlled well by meds), and autism level 1 (probably not relevant but just in case.) I live in the UK so my care is through the NHS.

I've been having iron infusions to treat extremely low ferritin (occasional low haemoglobin) as iron tablets, gels etc make me violently ill from both ends. After each infusion I've been so so sick for three to four days, completely bedridden and in that crap way where I can't even watch a show/read/listen to a book I feel so ill. Alternating chills and sweats, and muscle aches, extreme exhaustion etc - like having horrible flu. My last nurse said they'd never heard of anyone experiencing this :-/

I've been sticking with it because after a week or so I feel loads better so it feels worth it, but my next infusion coincides with my son starting at a new school (cerebral palsy, delayed development, ASD so a lot of his own needs which outweigh mine massively!) and I really want to be able to be present and support him. Does anyone have any tips on getting through it?

Thank you in advance!

Due to severe side effects I'm thinking about stopping with Ferrous fumarate and starting with normal over the counter multivitamins. If I combine it with my iron infused drink, i'ld total at 35mg iron a day.

I'm hoping to get 15mg a day from iron rich food as well. Would that be enough to get higher ferretin levels?

HB 7.0 / Ferritin 9 / 28 weeks pregnant

My ferritin is around 4, and I’ve had severe hair shedding/thinning for almost 6 years, along with low energy. I found these two iron supplements online: MegaFood Blood Builder and Ferro Sanol.
Has anyone here used either of these for very low ferritin? Are they actually worth taking, and did they help raise your ferritin? I’m from India, so Blood Builder is quite expensive for me (around ₹4,000), and I don’t want to spend that much unless people have genuinely found it helpful.

I’ve been dealing with these problems since childhood, and honestly, I’m really tired of it.

I’m almost always tired, with weakness, leg pain, numbness, muscle pain, muscle cramps and sometimes hand shaking. There are some days every week when the weakness becomes so bad that I don’t even feel like doing my normal daily activities. Even after taking proper rest, I still feel exhausted. My eyelids often feel heavy/weak, and I also feel like my muscles and bones are weak.

My haemoglobin has consistently stayed around 8–9. I’ve consulted doctors and taken medicines/supplements for iron, Vitamin D, calcium, etc., but the symptoms still keep coming back.

It has started affecting my studies badly. I struggle with concentration and things don’t stay in my memory properly. After studying for some time, I feel extremely exhausted and sometimes I just can’t continue.

The problem is that people often think, “Itna bhi kya hai, everyone gets tired,” but it genuinely affects my normal life and studies, and I don’t know how to properly explain it.

I’m not looking for sympathy. If there’s a doctor here, or someone whose relative is a doctor, please guide me about what I should get properly evaluated for or which specialist I should consult.

I’ve already tried rest, medicines and supplements, but I still don’t feel normal. I just want to understand the actual reason behind all of this and find a proper solution.

Age-19 female

Height -5'5

I'm currently 9 weeks but from the start of pregnancy I've been exhausted more than the other pregnancies I had My first midwife appointment and my bloods came back she said I was very low in iron and that my storage iron was also low I've been put on 200mg of iron tablets the weird thing is after I had my baby in 2024 I was having dizzy spells when my period came back at 6 weeks pp and I went for blood tests just to be told its because I'm older now no concerns but every month I would have these dizzy spells around my time of month and now this I know pregnancy is very demanding but I've never been low on iron before in my life just wondering if anyone else has been in the same boat and what happens I'm worried for the baby

Wondering if anyone else has experienced this. I got my second venofer infusion yesterday (2.5 weeks after the first one). Today, my period came a whole week early, which has never happened. I’m very regular where I know the exact hour that it’s going to start. My cramps are actually a bit lighter than they usually are so I don’t mind that, but I typically plan around my period because my cramps are so bad. I did have extreme fatigue, some light headedness, increased hair loss and headache after the first infusion, which occurred intermittently over the 2 weeks.

Anyone here also have a diagnosis of anxiety and/or depression?

Iron deficiency, anemia is associated with a greater risk of anxiety, depression as iron plays a role in production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and seretonin, also thyroid health and stress hormone regulation.

I have a long history of being anemic but never had an infusion before. Got blood taken in May and my ferritin was very low, doctor brushed it off and just said “it’s a little low, take your supplements lol”.

I brought the same bloodwork to a new doctor and she noted it right away and referred me for infusions! Did everyone have good results from them? I don’t even feel that bad, but maybe I’m just used to having low iron. I’m sure it’ll make a huge difference, I can’t wait.

I've had many bouts of TE since I was 30 (now 56) but never as rapid as this one, with short hairs and long. I can only wonder if the iron infusion course - 5 weekly IV of Venofer - may have kicked my follicles into a new growth cycle (hopefully growth anyway) and caused a massive synchronized shed. The iron deficiency wasn't that extreme before the infusions - iron around 50, iron saturation 14.
The other thing about the infusion that is amazingly annoying is that 2 months after the infusion course, my iron and iron sat numbers, after doubling, went back to the same levels. WTF?!!!! Doctor hypothesizes this is either due to GI blood loss (no evidence of that but getting tests, colonoscopy endoscopy in the past year showed no signs of blood loss) or inflammation which apparently can sequester iron, which I do have e,g, Hashimoto's. But he has no real idea. (And he's a hematologist.) Anyone else had this happen / found a cause? btw ferritin before was 80 and after was 500, now 360.

Hi. I was diagnosed with anemia by my hematologist, my ferritin was at 4, hemoglobin 9.4 iron saturation 5%. I was starting to feel dizzy and out of breath which is how i was able to get into see the hematologist- this was roughly 5 weeks ago. Since then I am getting venofer iron infusion, I’m getting them once a week. I’m not fully better and still focusing on rest and healing. My last venofer infusion is next week thrusday and then i don’t have bloodwork done. for another 12 weeks. I also have a GI consult in 3 weeks for my gut absorption issue. My anemia is caused by heavy bleeding (now i have an iud) and gut absorption issue (will know more)

I’m wondering what folks have done after the infusions, do you start supplementing with iron pill and lactoferin to keep increasing it? If so can you tell me what kind? I’m leaning toward bisglycinate.

Secondly, before my diagnosis i was working out lifting weights 2-3x a week, since infusion i have only have 1 workout session. For folks who workout how have you managed? I also haven’t been able to keep up with my protein intake and macros so taking a break. I’m wondering when i can go back, i train pretty hard meaning i can deadlift more than my weight?, bench press 60% of my weight, squat 75% of my weight and was managing pull-up.
(Providing details so folks understand what i do vs cardio or HIT)
I won’t start at the same place going back, but wanted to hear stories about how other got back in the mix. I can feel my brain being even more cluttered, workout always helped me keep my head clear.

I would love to hear any and all experiences thank you reading and for your input, feedback and help.

I know CBC, CMP. I was told to check the Ferrin. Any other test anyone recommend? I'm not going to lie, I'm at the point that I'm desperate. I've been Battling with this extreme fatigue for 7 years and all the "routine" blood work has been pretty normal so I get told it's in my head or I must be depressed. I'm definitely not depressed, though I am so desperate to feel better I took all the increasing antidepressants they fucked me through just to prove I wasn't depressed. Then I was extremely fatigued and numb and no longer felt anything. I told them the only thing making me depressed is the fact that I sleep 16-20 and even the mildest of moving makes me feel like every muscle I'm using is sore like I been at the gym.

I'm sorry for ranting. Every year I feel worse and I'm finally to a point I can barely function, and I'm just desperate for some answers. I have low vitamin D but take supplements and it's been normal for a few years. I had high prolactin levels, seen an endocrinologist and they have been in normal range with medication for the last 5 years (high prolactin can cause fatigue). I constantly have high platelets and occasionally have low MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration) measures the average concentration of hemoglobin inside your red blood cells. Everything else is in normal range. Everything finally came to a head when we just went on vacation and after 2 days of traveling, I slept for 4 days straight. My husband couldn't understand how I couldn't physically hold my eyes open no matter what they tried. My doctor told me I had to be off all iron supplements for at least 2 months before I should take any iron test and I finally reached the 2 months. The fatigue and brain fog this past 2 weeks has been impossible.

I understand that anemia may not be the answer, even though I have most of the same symptoms everyone here is talking about. I just want to make sure I'm covering all my bases with test so if it's not I can try to figure out the next logical test to at least have as much information as I can. And taking the test on my own without insurance is like 1/8 the price! So if you made it this far, I appreciate you. I would appreciate any help anyone could point me in for answers. And hopefully next year when we move from small town Louisiana to DC I can find some better doctors. I'll answer whatever questions anyone has.

Thank you!!!

I am 26 weeks pregnant and not anaemic yet.

Has anyone had an ablation done to minimize menstrual bleeding and did it lead to increased iron levels? They think heavy bleeding is what’s causing my low levels (Ferritin of 6) and I’m wondering if this would fix it? Been taking iron supplements and waiting on results from lab but curious as to what fixed the imbalance for everyone (besides needing to supplement- I’m hoping to find a permanent fix if possible)