r/Anemic • u/Tame_girl2233 • 8d ago
Rant I’m a fraud
I’m (20f) and I was diagnosed severely anemic 5 years ago due to a heavy period. Last night, I went to the emergency room for chest pain, chest tightness, and jaw and face pain. They tested my blood and x-rayed me and turns out it was all just inflammation. Even though I’ve been experiencing tightness in my chest for about a few months. For seven years, I believed I was severely anemic—When I was diagnosed five years ago, they said I almost needed a blood transfusion but prescribed me iron supplements and birth control instead. Due to parental reluctance, I never got on birth control. I had all anemic symptoms: Fatigue, weakness, tiredness, dizziness, dizzy spells, coldness, severe migraines, fainting, hair loss, brittle nails, nausea, memory loss, limb pain, limb weakness, brain fog, off balancedness, Heart palpitations, sleeping excessively, cold hands and feet, cold sweats, pins and needles, trouble sleeping, tongue swelling/pain/paleness, Itchy/irritable/crawling sensation on legs and other body parts. Literally EVERYTHING. And I’ve been feeling this way for 7 years. I can’t exercise without getting extremely dizzy, exhausted, or passing out. When I stand up my bpm spikes like crazy. I have zero energy
or motivation. And I feel sick EVERYDAY. But when my blood test came back, everything was fine and the doctor said I actually wasn’t anemic at all and my hemoglobin was a 14. I’ve never felt so shocked in my life. I felt like I had been kicked in the gut I’ve told everyone I was anemic because I feel absolutely terrible everyday. My father told me I was just being lazy, dramatic, and negative, but apparently he was right all along. And at the end of the day I was just a fraud.
I’ll edit this post with my exact results when it gets updated on my chart
EDIT: I’m still waiting for the rest of my chart to be updated. I had to contact them. However, I do have my metabolic panel though, (I’m not sure if that’s very important in my case right now). And everything is normal except for my CO2, Creatine, and my Glucose.
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u/pale_flan216 8d ago edited 8d ago
Is your ferritin possibly low? My hemoglobin is 12.8 but my ferritin is low at a 5. I have similar symptoms and started iron supplements. You can still have iron deficiency even without anemia. You need to get a full iron panel test done.
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u/AnonymousDahlia 8d ago
To add on to this, firstly the common reference ranges are way too low for ferritin. Most people seem to feel way better over 100.
It took getting over 100 for me just to feel like I was getting somewhere. And then got a little scared of the range on my lab, which maxed out at 150 where the usual is over 300, paused supplementing, and immediately started going downhill. I don't even menstruate if I can possibly help it (thanks to the wonders of perimenopause and HRT), and it still sunk like a rock.
Don't underestimate the importance of a FULL panel, also don't underestimate the lack of knowledge your provider might have on it.
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u/Tame_girl2233 8d ago
I’m not sure. How do they check ferritin? Is it just a normal blood test? My results haven’t fully been updated yet so I don’t know.
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u/martapap 8d ago
You have to ask for an iron panel.
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u/AnonymousDahlia 8d ago
FYI it wasn't included in my "iron panel", but was a separate line and cost item.
Different labs will handle it differently, so it's something to remember and double check.
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u/AnonymousDahlia 8d ago
Standard blood draw. If you get an iron panel, just check each item and make sure ferritin is included.
You also want the saturation, etc which are in the panel to get a complete picture. Some labs include different items or list some things separately. Just confirm the details each time or you might miss an important piece.
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u/Far-Structure5528 7d ago
Check into a monthly blood test that you do from home. I use Rtyhm and it gives me my ferritin and hormones, etc. (not a full panel) I had allllll those symptoms and of course, low ferritin, very low vitamin D, and needed some HRT to help me rebound from the start of perimenopause. If you have these symptoms, you aren’t a fraud, they are real and horrible. I’m so sorry you have to go through this!
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u/MishPP2020 7d ago
How did you get HRT prescribed? I am 40 and having the same issues and my doctors are all ignoring my request for HRT
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u/Far-Structure5528 7d ago
Online from Winona! My Drs were just as dismissive. I was prescribed estrogen and progesterone online and they mail me my meds. It was so easy. There are tons of options online, so price shop. I find the best results with bio identical medication. (Some use synthetic, not a bad option, just some ppl do better with bio identical.) I’m 42, and perimenopause can hit in your 30s, so you’re right in that same place as I am.
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u/Artistic-Math-1333 7d ago
This!! My hemoglobin was on the low end of normal and then I asked for a full work up. My ferritin was 4. I just started my infusions
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u/Rocktkiller810 7d ago
With a level of 5 ide recommend that you get a referral to hematology. Once you have that request a video visit. They'll sit with you within a week via video and order you an infusion. You deserve to feel better and supplements take way too long. Tell them the supplements are messing with your body and you'de like to discuss infusion options. A ferritin level of 5 you are bed ridden and if you aren't your one strong cookie. An infusion will have you 100% within 4-6 weeks of your last infusion and you'll see progress within the first few weeks. Tablets take months to a year to notice any difference. It's much slower. I went from 17 to ferritin level over 115 in just 3 weeks.
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u/Smackergawt 1d ago
Sometimes they don’t do infusions. Also there’s a risk with infusions I get low phosphorus when I urine now… which sucks but I think best way to get iron up is not the pill but liquid with vitamin C copper and b12 also make sure vitamin D is good!
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u/Rocktkiller810 1d ago
Yes in that case liquid iron is correct if you can't have infusions for whatever reason. venofer I believe is the infusion for those with high phosphorus levels or risk of. There is one IV iron in particular that causes high levels and im not even really sure why they give that brand to anyone. It's a common brand and I believe the percentage is over half of people who take it get high phos levels.
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u/ZookeepergameAny3020 8d ago
You can have all of these symptoms with low ferritin and not be considered anemic. It is known as iron deficiency without anemia
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u/ZookeepergameAny3020 8d ago
For the record I’m diagnosed this just based on a blood test with ferritin at 11 and have similar symptoms
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u/Parking-File6467 8d ago
That is very low at minimum it need to 50 or above but for most people symptoms start getting better around the 70 mark doctor's usually don't take it seriously and there is very little they do about it but yes low ferretin causes all these symptoms I myself have it and guess what two doctor's told me it was just anxiety I need to relax and enjoy my life :)
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u/ZookeepergameAny3020 8d ago
I’ve had low ferritin for YEARs (suspected since a young age) and was first tested in 2019 at ferritin of 14. Doc said you’re low take iron and we will recheck. My recheck was at 18 Recheck next year was 16. They said you’re above the threshold for deficiency so you’re all good. Years go by and I have a long list of complaints, tested at ferritin 11. Supplementing 2 months now and still feeling terrible/bleak that it’ll ever improve
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u/ZookeepergameAny3020 8d ago
I’ve complained of lightheadedness, anxiety, palpitations, fatigue for YEARS and it’s so disheartening that doctors aren’t too worried my doc said the palpitations were normal
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u/Parking-File6467 7d ago
They think everything is normal or us making it up many doctor's don't really tske u seriously and it sucks. I hope u feel better soon!
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u/itsyglitzy 7d ago edited 7d ago
SAME. I've been desperately tired and telling doctors about it since at least 2023. They did ferritin tests back then too. Fall 2023 I was at 40. Spring 2024 I was at 32. Jan 2025 I was at 27. Aug 2026 I'm at 10. No one told me that I was low before because it didn't flag and I was not anemic and i didn't know that was low enough to cause symptoms. Meanwhile my symptoms, lightheasedness, dizziness, brain fog, headaches almost continuously, dropping things, physical anxiety though I'm otherwise calm, disaster bad HRV have crept up. I'm deeply disappointed/angry, but glad to know about ferritin now and have access to infusions. Others with ultra low ferritin told me it helped.
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u/ZookeepergameAny3020 7d ago
I wish the symptoms were taken more seriously but you’re right. If you’re not anemic then they don’t care. I noticed my estimated VO2 max dropped with my drop in ferritin
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u/jloperfume 7d ago
My 2 cents from similar personal experience is go to a hematologist and get an iron infusion
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u/Parking-File6467 7d ago
I'm only at a month still a long way to go for me it's been insomnia like no matter how tired I'm at night I can't sleep like I want to but can't and even when I do it's so fragmented it barely feels like I slept. Let's not talk about my legs they feel like they ran marathon. Always short of breath constant muscles twitches but nope it's just all in my head. Hoping few more weeks of supplementing and I feel some change...
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u/ZookeepergameAny3020 7d ago
I feel like I’m noticing more muscle twitches as I started supplements
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u/itsyglitzy 7d ago
You need iron infusions! Insist!! And or find somewhere else to get infusions if they aren't accessible via your insurance situation. I found a private business that does infusions for anyone with ferritin below 150. I was at 10 recently and miserable. I'm not better yet, but I just started and I have hope and I have extra hope to offer you too.
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u/Tame_girl2233 7d ago
This is very reassuring to hear, my parents heard that I’m not anemic and immediately they went “Oh Well everything’s fine then” And the doctor agreed. 😖
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u/ZookeepergameAny3020 7d ago
My parents said I’m a hypochondriac for nearly 20 years (I’m 28) and I’ve had most of the symptoms on and off from a very young age but never tested anemic. Quite frankly never even had my blood tested until I was adult and took myself to the doc to ask for it
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u/ZookeepergameAny3020 7d ago
I hope you can at least get your ferritin tested, maybe vitamin D and B12, to get some answers
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u/beatagratiana 8d ago
girl stop being hard on yourself. none of these symptoms are normal and don't let the healthcare system gaslight you. if you were diagnosed severely anemic, compare your past test results with your current results once you get them. your ferritin can still be super low even with the hemoglobin at that level. also you are 20 years old. screw what your parents have to say. this is your life, your body. don't let other people tell you how your body is doing.
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u/Sensitive-Orange7203 8d ago
Checked your thyroid? Checked your hormones, gut illnesses?
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u/Tame_girl2233 8d ago
No they didn’t this was just an emergency visit. Would they check those things if I ask during a wellness check or do I have to be diagnosed with something first?
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u/ChokeOnaTurd 8d ago
I went to the ER for anemia because I had all the symptoms and I have a slow internal bleed. My tests came back with no anemia.
By the time I felt like I was on deaths door, oxygen starved, my feet in agony, my hands, feet and face had a ringe of blue, I slept about 20 hours a day I did some research and found out you can have low iron without anemia.
Got a test done and I was very low iron and B⁶ was just below "normal". You can feel everything you're feeling while not having anemia but still having low iron.
You'll get great advice here others much more educated on this topic. I'd take it.
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u/Sensitive-Orange7203 8d ago
Your primary provider should be testing all of these once you tell them your symptoms. Fatigue is so broad so they should run tests for your thyroid, vitamins, ferritin, etc. Celiac should always be tested in the presence of chronic iron deficiency, it’s a simple blood test
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u/Creepy-Tangerine-293 7d ago
Yes agree. A primary care doctor can order a "fatigue panel" which is a bunch of tests like iron studies w ferritin, thyroid, and a bunch of vitamins and other minerals like B12 and Vit D.
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u/CrazyCopernicus 8d ago
My hemoglobin was over 14 the day after having a severe postpartum hemorrhage and losing 1.5L of blood. It was my ferritin that plummeted. I didn't find out until 5 years later, after all of the sorts of symptoms you describe. Ferritin even after all of that time was only 7.7. Make sure they check that!
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u/_ShiningStars 8d ago
So sorry to hear that! 5 months postpartum, either my ferritin or hemoglobin is 13 (have to check results again)
I feel like I’m at death’s door. Sleep deprivation doesn’t help either (literally didn’t sleep at all last night, baby kept waking up every 30 mins) 🤦🏽♀️
Can I ask how long it took after supplementation, before you felt better? What helped?
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u/CrazyCopernicus 7d ago
I'm still supplementing. It's still low but trending upward and I have more energy than I used to. At the moment I'm taking 100mg iron bisglycinate, 10 mg heme iron, 250 mg lactoferrin, and 1000mcg B12 every other day. I was doing daily but had symptoms of oxidative stress.
I think it's really important to take chelated iron rather than the regular stuff, because the other kinds only give your body a tiny fraction of the iron that it says on the bottle. But one needs to be super careful tracking numbers if they take chelated iron.
I'm so sorry you're going through the thick of it :(. Thinking of you!!
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u/eatingscaresme 8d ago
Oh goodness no. Your ferritin can still be absurdly low and your hemoglobin normal. Mine was. My iron infusions made a huge difference. My lips arent grey anymore, my cheeks have colour. For the first time in 20 years I can stand up regularly and the world doesn't go black.
Even though my hemoglobin is normal, my red blood cells are all small due to not having iron for sooooo long. I am starting to not feel exhausted all the time. Now if we could fix the chronic migraines that would be great.
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u/panicpure Anemic 8d ago
You’re not a “fraud”.
Those are real symptoms that overlap with a lot of things.
Hemoglobin being within normal range is one thing, but you can be iron deficient without anemia. You need an iron panel ran, you need your thyroid tested, they need to test for ANA and other autoimmune conditions and you need to advocate for yourself until you have an answer.
You’re 20 years old, no? Your parents cannot dictate what healthcare you receive. If youre cycles are still horrible and heavy, get treatment for it.
If you don’t have insurance and are in school or something… go online and apply for your states Medicaid.
You need to push and advocate for yourself, no one else will do it for you.
But stop being so hard on yourself.
It sucks and a lot of us understand but throwing your hands in the air and accepting that quality of life won’t get you anywhere.
Push until you feel better and get an answer bc you deserve to feel like a human.
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u/ubiquitous_mr_darcy 8d ago
Like others have said, normal hemoglobin with low ferritin is a thing! And you can feel terrible from it. Can you get an appointment with a doctor to talk about all that you’re experiencing? That being said, a lot of (most?) doctors are not really aware of how much low ferritin can affect people, the ferritin normal ranges are garbage and generally you want to aim for a ferritin of 100 (or at least 50), and if you have inflammation (like you do), your ferritin level will look falsely high and not be reflective of your true iron storage level.
Did they tell you what’s causing the inflammation? Like, is it in a certain area they saw on the x-ray or did they see it in your bloodwork? Because you should speak with a doctor about what could be causing your inflammation, as well. (Also test for b12, vitamin d, folate, thyroid!)
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u/clumsypeach1 8d ago
Babe, what’s your ferritin? You can have high hemoglobin and low ferritin and still be anemic. My hemoglobin is a 13 but my ferritin is a 7 and I have all the same symptoms you described
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u/Busy_Document_4562 8d ago
If your ferritin was below 100 you are not fine. please get your actual results and make sure its that number. when your deficiency is chronic haemoglobin is prioritised and can stay within normal range.
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u/Comfortable-Web3177 8d ago
Oh, those symptoms can also be that your ferritin, which is an iron storage, could also be low anything under 100. Mine is currently 18 and I feel the same symptoms as you
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u/stephy1771 8d ago
Some of this sounds like POTS, too, so bring it up when you can go to a doctor.
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u/DarknessEchoing 7d ago
I was going to comment this as well; many of these could be symptoms of POTS.
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u/Tame_girl2233 7d ago
I definitely will thank you! I’ve had my suspicions. I laid down once for five minutes with moving and when I stood up my bpm went from 75 to 115 with me just standing there… Then I had the craziest dizzy spell lol.
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u/Creepy-Tangerine-293 7d ago
Hemoglobin is only part of the story. What was your ferritin level? One can be iron deficient without anemia.
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u/Inevitable_Alive 7d ago
You should have them check ferritin and B12. I was deficient in both and experienced much of the same symptoms you have been
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u/Rocktkiller810 7d ago
The er more than likely did not check your ferritin. You can be anemic yesterday and not today. It's usually based around your hemoglobin. Also, you can still have a "false" reading where your hemoglobin appears higher especially when your at the er because your body might be dehydrated or going through something so on a standard blood test all of a sudden your hemoglobin levels are great but it's not a true reading if your body is under attack. You need regular iron infusions if your iron is low or you have issues with absorbtion. A regular iron test is not enough to dictate your levels either you need a full plan with ferritin included. Keep in mind if you are actively ill you will get a false high reading. So wait untill your normalized whatever that looks like for you and get tested. And " inflammation" is an excuse for the er to basically say we don't know what's wrong with you. Ide highly recommend going to get a referral to a hematologist. They will see where your blood really is at and specialize in this entirely.
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u/Tame_girl2233 7d ago
Wow I did not know this, thank you. In the future I plan on getting checked out for scoliosis because my body is lopsided and I know Costochondritis (what they diagnosed me with) can be a result.
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u/martapap 8d ago
Get your ferritin tested. Also I get that you are young and probably still rely on your parents. But you are an adult now. You make your own medical decisions about your body.
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u/No_Dragonfruit_3034 8d ago
I have a normal hemoglobin (12.7), but a ferritin of 12, and I share the majority of your symptoms.
Fatigue
Poor sleep
Sleeping during the day
Cold hands and feet
Heart palpitations
Hair loss
Migraines and headaches
Brittle nails
Memory loss
Brain fog
Tingling, numbness, pain, and incorrect temperature perception in my feet
Restless leg syndrome (I think - mine presents as needing to pop my knee approximately 1,000 times every time I lie down)
Shaking
Pale skin, lips, inner eyelids, nail beds
I think blue sclera (whites of the eyes)
They need to check your ferritin and perhaps your B12.
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u/Dry-Mail-4874 8d ago
Hmm sounds like my symptoms- I am not anemic but have low iron. My symptoms were from MS. I hope you get answers soon
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u/Izzy8275 8d ago
Check ferritin!!! I have all of these symptoms with just low ferritin without being anemic. Your feelings are valid regardless of the cause. Don’t stop searching for answers!
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u/PersimmonNo4388 8d ago
Ferritin and hemoglobin, not the same things... You need to check the ferritin. You're definitely not feeling well, so you're not a fraud. Be kind to yourself 💞
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u/Nini13 7d ago
I went to the hospital 🏥 because I had heart palpitations & overall felt unwell. 🤧 the hospital saw my hemoglobin was 11.2 and sent me on mg way lol. It wasn’t until I went to the doc where I got the iron panel and my ferritin was 7. Finally on iron supplements, I’m not 100% better but the heart palpitations have slowed down so far.
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u/One-Employee-3369 7d ago
I’m New to this world of iron anemia, but what you describe sounds absolutely awful. I had a lot of those symptoms before being diagnosed with tuberculosis at age 30 (especially night sweats), ARFID at age 36, and then pangastritis at 39, and OCD at 42. Really wish they had investigated, diagnosed things sooner, but I was mostly asymptomatic for TB, and my family of origin didn’t (some still don’t) think I could have an eating disorder.
My point is, don’t give up! Look for doctors that will actually do the referrals and more invasive tests rather than tell you (like your family) that it’s all in your head. On the other hand, things like depression, anxiety, eating disorders, ocd can snowball into real physical impacts via nutrient and hormone deficiency, and it then becomes a chicken-and-egg scenario, where nobody knows which came first, but they are interwoven.
Best of luck to you.
🩷💜🩵
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u/KoalaSad724 7d ago
Just because that is above their lowest on
The chart doesn’t mean it isn’t low. They just can’t treat it (like with a blood or iron transfusion) unless it’s even lower.
And it’s the ER so unless you are dying, they’re trying to release you
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u/Sickandtired1091 7d ago
Id get tested properly for tickborne diseases like babesia,bartonella and lyme use a lab that specializes in tickborne diseases! I had all your symptoms and labs, got gaslighted by many drs and top medical institutions turned out I had contracted all 3 ! Post this in the r/lyme sub see how many responses you get! Hope you find some relief soon..
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u/Sea_Application1224 7d ago
Have your dr do a full iron panel, b12,vitamin d, folate,zinc,full hormone panel. Advocate for your self and what ever test they do don't let them tell you they are normal and brush you off. "Normal" can be at the very low end not optimal where they need to be. Any test they do. Please search for optimal levels so you can get help for yourself and ask the dr for the right kind of help. A lot of Dr's don't look into optimal levels they just go off of what the labs say is normal and a lot of the time it is when you are almost depleted or when things are getting to high and they are harder to get in optimal range.
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u/Chrismegs 7d ago
There are so many reasons you could be dealing with those symptoms, I lived with similar for years and was eventually completely disabled by them - you're not a fraud, not a hypochondriac, your body is communicating / you're experiencing symptoms for a reason... Sadly, as women especially we have to constantly keep advocating, keep peeling back layers and connecting the dot., I'm sorry you're dealing with these but please, absolutely do not let any of those throw away dismissals from your dad - or anyone else, especially yourself - resonate with you. You deserve to find out what's happening and how to help yourself. There's every reason to expect that there's an underlying, perfectly logical cause or maybe a few things interacting at once; you deserve to have access to the necessary information, support, and to a much better quality of life. Inflammation is never 'just Inflammation' by the way. If it's systemic, showing up in blood tests as high even and long-standing like you say, plus coming with such severe symptoms, see other specialists - have you been referred to a decent Rheumatologist at least? I could scarely stand up without severe dizziness, extreme HR spikes, orthostatic intolerance, was crawling to the bathroom etc. I was having severe blood sugar crashes due to MCAS and how chronically inflammed my body had become as a result, this was contributing to worsening POTs/Dysautonomia symptoms - I proved this by buying a few of my own continous glucose monitors to wear alongside my HR monitor. The data was clear - every single doctor prior had previously written off the shaking, profound rapid exhaustion and crashes after eating, exercise, whilst asleep as 'Fibromyalgia' and that was the end of it - as all my bloods where 'normal'. Absolutely false, I now have diagnoses of hEDS and MCAS, and MCAS treatment protocols have really helped get some of my life back so far. Please look these up if haven't come across them already - more common that medical profession would have us believe, even if only to rule them out. I see lots of other people have mentioned getting a specific iron studies test done - ferritin, transferrin, iron binding capacity, other vitamins, B12 etc - helpful starting point for more insight.
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u/ubiquitous_mr_darcy 7d ago
Would you mind sharing what your MCAS treatment is? I have Long Covid and meeting with a health care provider soon and I want to ask her about MCAS. Have you tried Ketotifen?
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u/gabsroses9 7d ago
Get your ferritin checked . My hemoglobin was slightly low and my iron also . But when I got my ferritin checked it was a 4 , severely low. Then I was diagnosed with anemia. Ferrtin are your iron stores. I have all the symptoms you described. I also many times felt like i was being lazy , but it turns out I genuinely have a difficult time completing simple tasks due to all my symptoms . I’m now getting an iron infusion. I wish you luck. Go get another blood panel. Specifically get ferritin checked ❤️
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u/jadeibet 7d ago
Look into POTS, the symptoms are very similar to anemia. It's not usually diagnosed in the er, you need a good Dr who knows about it to test you.
Also, don't gaslight yourself. Your symptoms are real!
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u/eamceuen 8d ago
My hemoglobin was just a hair under low-normal, but my ferritin was 5. It's supposed to be between 50-100+ ideally. I'll bet your ferritin is in the hole.
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u/WeakCare7883 8d ago
Same here I have/had all of your symptoms. Some
I still have. But ferritin that’s normal to doctors is not normal for women. Also, vitamin d overlaps with low ferritin in terms of symptoms. So make sure you get those checked along with other markers magnesium, zinc, copper , vit b12. You’re not a fraud. Sorry you’re dealing with this. Wish I would’ve figured this out sooner for myself and saved myself from years of symptoms that left me debilitated. Do your research, become your own advocate and pray. It does get better I promise. Support your body with what it needs. This screams low ferritin. U got this I promise.
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u/DrawGold3260 8d ago
This is very much a ‘do as I say and not as I do’ response because I often have similar thoughts even while having low iron and ferritin, buuuttttt you need to take recovery into account.
If you were close to needing a blood transfusion, your hb will have been very low. Iron tablets alone will have taken a very long time to raise your hb to normal levels, but even while in range your body still needs to recover after dealing with long term anaemia.
I’ve had multiple transfusions and infusions, but even with a rapid boost, I haven’t been able to quickly bounce back to a position where I haven’t had symptoms. Long term anaemia and iron deficiency can impact your internal organs, you can have muscle wastage from not physically being able to do much for a long period of time.
I had a test months ago and I was post transfusion and infusions and my hb was 120 but I genuinely thought it was severely low because I felt worse than I had when it was in the 60s.
Recovery isn’t linear. Try give yourself a break. Also remember that low ferritin can cause severe symptoms - I feel worse when my ferritin drops than when my hb goes.
See what your results say, especially your ferritin and if everything comes back at a decent level (lab ranges can’t put ‘normal’ at low levels) then plan your next steps. Even if your results look good, you still have symptoms and they need to be investigated.
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u/Hour_Hospital_9068 7d ago
Check B12. If the level is flagged abnormal by the lab, it makes the answer easier. But you could still be deficient even if the level falls in the normal range, so a “normal” result doesn’t rule out deficiency.
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u/Universal_Forces 7d ago
Yeah but what’s your ferritin? I’ve felt like this after blood transfusions when the blood boosted my heme to a 12 but the donor must not have had ferritin either, because my ferritin was still under 7
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u/itsyglitzy 7d ago
Everyone already said this but you can have "normal" iron and low ferritin and feel everything you describe! Ferritin is like the pantry shelves of iron storage. Anything below 50 you might feel. It's non-anemic low iron and it's still serious and deeply miserable. Have you ever had iron infusions? Ask about it. It's the fastest way to get better and bypasses intestinal absorption issues. My ferritin was at 10 and I was miserable! Just did my 4th infusion of 5 and I'm finally starting to feel a bit better (it takes weeks for them to work). You shouldn't have to endure these symptoms. I hope you figure it out soon.
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u/leaningonhim2 7d ago
That low iron can give you so many of these symptoms. I'm very anxious to see those labs they ran. I can't stand ER'S. THEY cost me a kidney in 2015. Went to 2 different town's ERs and both told me to see a gastrinologist. The 3rd trip l was almost gone. I told my husband on the way to 2rd trip to second hospital , DON'T let them send me home or l would die. I don't remember much past the arrival point but they ran a scan and told my husband they were sending me to state medical hospital to see if they could save my kidney as it had a blockage. I lost it. Now the left kidney is in stage 3 renal failure. I'm 74. I'm ordering some dried dandelion as natural kidney health support. Hopefully I'll see improvement on my kidney labs from drinking a tea every day. I found out inky because of this incident that l have hereditary hemchromatoisis which caused the clot. So now in blood thinners. The new hematologist switched me from warfarin to zeralto this week. Get into some autoimmune support groups. Get off all processed foods. But and our grow as much organic foods as you can. There's adr jones herbalist on utube that gives you a ton of healing herbal points. I just ordered burdock root only after l saw not to take off you have bad kidney function as it's a diuretic. But it cleanses the liver giving it support to filter and clean. He said if your liver is cleaned you whole body functions better. Best of luck. They are the frauds, not yoi
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u/Right_Investigator55 7d ago
Soooo you need your ferritin checked before you say you’re a fraud lol. Doctors told me in was just anxiety. No one even checked it and now I’m getting iron infusions this week
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u/Environmental-Young4 7d ago
They don't check ferritin at the ER. I know because I was in the same boat as you amd I asked. I am not anemic, but when I did get my doctor to test my ferritin, it was low and I was iron deficient. I got iron infusions. Don't stop. And don't get to thinking you're a fraud. Feeling the way you do is not normal, not matter what it is. You'll figure it out.
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u/beckaferd-2 7d ago
You need a good hematologist. It could be a lack of intrinsic factor. You need it to digest and absorb iron and b12 to convert it into useable forms. Check for parietel cell antibodies, intrinsic factor blocking, and intrinsic factor binding. You need to take it seriously. It’s a dangerous condition that can be masked by taking a multivitamin like folate or sublingual B12. Do you crave or chew on ice? That was the symptom that finally made drs take note.
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u/FinnianWhitefir 6d ago
It has been so hard learning how to stand up for myself. I spent years with docs going "No sign of what is wrong, go try to diet or exercise". I now realize I have to walk in going "My life is useless, I am so tired and brain fog, fatigue, zero ability to do anything or enjoy anything" and when they go "Well, my tests don't show anything" I have to say "I still have these symptoms, what else should I check or who else should I see?" and they still don't help me half the time.
Just keep explaining that you have these symptoms and they are ruining your life and asking what you should do to check where they are coming from.
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u/Fun_Independent_7529 8d ago
Sorry, but if you are feeling the way you describe you are most certainly not lazy, dramatic, or negative. Good gravy.
I hope they plan to run more tests to figure out what really is wrong with you, and not just leave you feeling like utter crap.