Low Ferritin (Iron) Level/Anxiety

[stovall1992]

Has anyone experienced bad anxiety with low ferratin/iron levels? My blood test showed that my ferratin level was 4😬, and he said that could cause neurological problems.

[Amz1987]

That’s very low. Mine was 11 and because I couldn’t get it up with my iron tablets (upset my tummy) I got an iron infusion and that got it up to 156 I think it was. Anxiety has actually been worse since then because of how my body has reacted to the infusion.

[stovall1992 in reply to Amz1987]

Yea, my doctor was really concerned when he saw that. I don’t have any insurance and I’m not working right now, so I barely make an income, so he put me on some subscription iron pills since it was cheaper. I got back for a checkup next month, and he said if my levels aren’t up, i’ll get an infusion. I really don’t want an infusion because of all the side effects. My mom had one and she was extremely ill afterwards.

[stovall1992 in reply to Amz1987]

how long has it been since your infusion and what kind of anxiety symptoms did you get afterwards

[Amz1987 in reply to stovall1992]

Hopefully you can bring it up with the tablets, you need to find the reason why it’s low too. (For me we think it’s because of my cycle) but levels are dropping again already.

I’ve been sick since and it’s been I think 2 months now, vomiting almost every other day, no appetite, constant nausea, sore muscles etc but these can also be attributed to anxiety, but I was never vomiting/stomach upset until the infusion. I feel like I’ve lost my quality of life since.

[stovall1992 in reply to Amz1987]

So sorry to hear that you’re going through this. I really hope the pills work. I might have to up the dosage. I have suffered from iron-deficiency anemia since I was a kid, but it’s never been this low. I use to have really heavy cycles growing up and really bad cramps, but they aren’t as heavy now, just long. I’m on for 7-7 1/2 days.

Those symptoms are rough. My mom experienced symptoms like that, but only for about a week. She had to get an infusion before she had surgery. I really, really don’t want one, so I guess I’ll talk to my doctor about increasing my dosage. I have been having bad anxiety, so I was wondering if low iron contributes to that.

[Amz1987 in reply to stovall1992]

Thank you. My dr refuses to believe it was from the infusion and told me it’s just anxiety. I know lots of people who swear by the infusions but after feeling how I do I’d never recommend it unless absolutely necessary.

[stovall1992 in reply to Amz1987]

yea I heard the infusion can give a person really bad side effects, so yea I won’t get one unless I absolutely have to.

[Redcat11]

Yes! Terrible bouts of anxiety that were incredibly crippling! No anxiety in the past, it literally began for no apparent reason. Ferritin was 7. But the anxiety had begun at least 2 years earlier, before I was told that low ferritin was the likely cause.

It took me a long time to begin to move the level up, and I’m still well under where I need to get it to. I still suffer with occasional anxiety now, but it’s getting less & less over time. I experienced far less anxiety, once I got my levels into the high 30’s.

[stovall1992 in reply to Redcat11]

That’s why happened to me. I started experiencing anxiety a year before I got a blood test. My doctor wanted to check my thyroid because I was complaining about a lump or glob in my throat, and when he did the blood test, he saw that my ferritin level was a 4. He put me on some iron supplements, but it’s taking so long for my levels to go up, and I really don’t want an infusion. I’ve had bad anxiety. I ended up in the ER Last year for a panic attack, but I’m not sure what my levels are then, and they weren’t too focus on that. the doctors were trying to get my heart rate down because it was really high.

Glad to hear that your anxiety has decreased since getting the levels to the high 30s. What anxiety symptoms did you have and how long did it take for your levels to increase to the 30s?

[tigerjuz86 in reply to Redcat11]

Bit of a long shot hope your still on this forum ,,

Hi

Just wondering when your ferritin was low did you ever wake up during sleep and heart racing sometimes out breath not sure if that’s but of panic and also body aches especially my shoulder blades

My ferritin is 9 and suffering at min as finding it hard to take tablets as cause me palpitations don’t know if to strong dose 210mg x 2 ferrous fumurate but can’t take so tryin gentle iron 20mg every other day to try get something in me

How are you now hope you are good ? x

[Redcat11]

It did take a really long time unfortunately. I couldn’t take the prescribed iron from the GP as it upset my stomach too badly. I tried a few but nothing agreed with me. I also tried altering my diet too. But that alone wasn’t enough to alter anything very much at all. One of my consultants tried to get an infusion agreed. But the NHS wouldn’t agree to it for various reasons. In the end I researched a lot and came up with a combination that seemed to suit me and more importantly, managed to get my levels moving upwards finally.

That combo was Solgar Gentle Iron caps/ Megafoods Blood Builder/ A good quality Vitamin C which must be taken with the supplements to help absorption/ And a good quality herbal tincture called Yellow Dock. I added each one carefully and over time so that I could stomach them without any real issues, and that combination has worked for me consistently ever since. It’s taken me around 20 months to get up into the 60’s and I’m now due another blood test, so hoping to be well into the late 70’s by now. Unfortunately for some of us it’s a slow process moving the ferritin upward. It depends on why the ferritin has dropped so significantly as well. Hope that info helps.

[stovall1992 in reply to Redcat11]

thank you for the information! I can’t take the prescription iron either. It gave me bad side effects, especially with my stomach. I was taking Thorne Ferrasorb Iron, and that has vitamin c with it. I believe that’s also Irom Bisglycinate, but I’m only taking one pill a day. The lady at the place I bought it from said I could take one in the morning and one at night because it’s gentle on the stomach, and considering that my level is a 4, I would need to take a higher dosage.

But I will look up the Megafoods Blood Builder and Yellow dock. Do you take your supplements all at one time or throughout the day?

[Redcat11 in reply to stovall1992]

I started off just taking one supplement a day with the vitamin C. And gradually built up to taking them all together. I take them with my evening meal as I found taking them with food really helped them to not upset my stomach. Because I take thyroid medication I found taking them just once in the day was easier for me, so that I could keep them well away from taking thyroid meds. But if you aren’t having to take any other medication that the iron would interfere with, then I can’t see any issues with taking them twice a day. There is a lot of more recent evidence to support that taking iron supplements alternate days is actually much better for greater absorption. I don’t know too much about it, but listened to a Dr discussing this on an interview for the BBC a short while ago. I’m sure that there would be some information online about this. I’m thinking of experimenting with this myself. I really hope that you can start to get your ferritin level moving soon. I really didn’t realise how awful I was actually feeling, because I had been feeling like it for so long, that it was part of my ‘normal’ But once I started hitting the 30’s I realised that I was really feeling so much better😊

[stovall1992 in reply to Redcat11]

wow that gives me hope. thank you so much. I take iron with a snack, but sometimes, I still have a little stomach issues (i have a really sensitive stomach), so I’ll take with a meal instead. I’ve been so tried and fatigued that I don’t wake up until after 1:00pm some days. But I really hope that once my iron levels increase, I’ll start to feel much better.

I looked up that Yellow Dock, and it looks very promising. I’ll research some more, and try it out. Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it!

[Redcat11 in reply to stovall1992]

Really happy to help. Living with incredibly low ferritin isn’t easy. Good luck! It’s a slow slog to get it moving upwards. But it’s absolutely worth it. I’ve still got some way to go as yet. But it’s such a relief to not have to live with the constant anxiety. And so very good to be able to wash my hair without it coming away in my handfuls. The yellow dock is definitely worth a try!

[stovall1992 in reply to Redcat11]

I didn’t know hair loss was a symptom of low ferritin levels. I started noticing that I was losing my hair and I didn’t know why!

But again, thank you! I look forward to the day where I will feel

much better, and not have anxiety every single day.

[1blessedfamily]

Hey. Mine was an 11 last week and I have severe anxiety and neurological problems. I now take iron daily to try and get it back up. Doctors can’t seem to figure out why mine keeps dropping

[stovall1992 in reply to 1blessedfamily]

Yea, mine is always dropping, but it’s never dropped this low. How long have you been taking iron, and have you seen any changes in your anxiety?

[TrustnGod]

Hello stovall1992. Please take medication soon! That is really low. My iron is fairly low and I have severe anxiety and panic as well as restless leg syndrome and muscle spasms as a result.

~Lia

[stovall1992 in reply to TrustnGod]

Yea, my doctor was really concerned. I am on iron pills now, but I had to stop taking the prescription ones because it gave me really bad side effects. I was suppose to take two a day (morning and night). I take this iron supplement called Throne Ferrasorb, but I only take one a day. I might have to up my dosage.

[TrustnGod]

Oh man. Keep us updated on how things pan out. I hope you don’t have to get the infusion!

[stovall1992 in reply to TrustnGod]

I hope not! do you take iron supplements, and do you take anything for your anxiety?

[TrustnGod in reply to stovall1992]

I take slow FE. it’s really nice because it’s a slow release so you have less stomach side effects. I take something called B-complex which is basically a huge dose of b vitamins to help combat anxiety. It has helped immensely. what about you?

[stovall1992 in reply to TrustnGod]

Oh nice. I take L-Theanine. Do the B-Complex give you a lot of energy?

[TrustnGod in reply to stovall1992]

They’re supposed to help with that and I notice a big difference in my energy levels when I take it vs when I don’t so I’d say yes. How is the L-Theanine? I’ve heard good things about that one.

[stovall1992 in reply to TrustnGod]

L-Theanine works short term, but then I used it for a longer period, I started to notice that it wasn’t working as well. but it does calm me down. I take CBD as well, but CBD isolate because I can’t handle the full-spectrum, since it has traces of THC in it. But I need something I can take everyday that will

build in my symptom.

I am low on vitamin B12 as well, so I’ll look into the B-Complex. What brand do you take?

Sorry for all the questions!

[TrustnGod in reply to stovall1992]

Don’t apologize! Ask any questions you want. It’s rough finding medication to help anxiety. Especially the natural ones.

The one I take is by naturemade. I was skeptical but it honestly helps me to rationalize through my anxiety. Before I couldn’t calm down until I was tested and checked by a doctor. It’s very subtle but it definitely makes dealing with the symptoms a bit easier. I had my vitamin b 12 checked and it’s perfect but I’ve read what doctors consider to be an adequate level still can cause symptoms. Oh well.

[stovall1992 in reply to TrustnGod]

okay, nice! glad it’s working for you. I’m check that as well. Because of my anxiety, I have develop a bit a agoraphobia, and most days I don’t even want to leave my house😞 this anxiety is the worde

[Latebeemint816]

Are you experiencing dizziness, too?

[stovall1992 in reply to Latebeemint816]

no dizziness. I get lightheaded sometimes.

[stovall1992 in reply to Latebeemint816]

I used to get really bad dizziness, where I had to call out of work sick because I could barely get out my bed. But then the dizziness went away, and I haven’t had it in a while

[Latebeemint816 in reply to stovall1992]

I’m dizzy all the time, just wondering if it could be related to low ferritin levels. I have anxiety, too. I think bc I lose so much blood during menstruation, I could have low ferritin. I’m also tired all the time, I never feel well.

[stovall1992 in reply to Latebeemint816]

dizziness is definitely a sign of low ferritin levels, as well as fatigue. I’m tried all the time as well. I also have a very fast heart rate and shortness of breath, even though I have had every heart test and they all came back normal. but I found out that fast heart rate and shortness of breath is a symptom of low iron as well. have your doctor done a blood test on you, to determine what your ferritin level is?

For the dizziness, I recommend TummyDrops Natural Ginger. You can get them from Amazon. They helped me SO MUCH whenever I got dizzy. One time, I was so dizzy, I couldn’t barely lift my head up. I stayed in bed until 4:00pm. After sucking on about 3-4 of those, the dizziness started to go away, and I felt a lot better. Do some personal research before purchasing, but they helped me tremedously

[Latebeemint816]

I have the same thing! I can’t exercise, it’s awful. Thank you for the info.

[stovall1992 in reply to Latebeemint816]

I can’t exercise either, which makes me feel worse because I want to be active, but it’s tired too quickly

You’re very welcome. I hope it works for you, if you decide to purchase it

[PushingThru]

So my brother had very low levels a couple of years back...9 I think? He was immediately sent for a blood transfusion. The cause? A persistent bleeding hemmoroid. It took a year of various tests for them to find the thing that my brother had told them was the cause from the beginning!

It was cauterized but took him a year of iron supplements to be normal again.

[stovall1992 in reply to PushingThru]

oh wow, I’m sorry that you’re brother went through that.

My hemoglobin is fine, it’s just my ferritin levels. and my levels have been low, ever since I was a kid. I’ve had test done, but they couldn’t find anything. Now, I did have test and they found uterine fibroid tumors, but they were small and they said that wouldn’t cause my low iron levels. but that was also two years ago, so I should probably get that checked again.

Did your brother take prescription iron or iron supplements?

[PushingThru in reply to stovall1992]

I think it was prescription. I do remember they upset his stomach pretty badly but he was stubborn and persisted. He said it was better when taken with food for sure but he looked very skeletal for a while. His hair thinned pretty fast and went grey quickly too. He was early 30s at the time. It thickened up again but the color never came back.

[stovall1992 in reply to PushingThru]

I was prescribed iron to take, but it made me feel so sick. I was constantly nauseous, even if I ate it with food, and my stomach hurt so bad. I started taking this iron by Thorne called Ferrasorb. It uses Iron Bisglycinate, which I read is really easy one the stomach, and it is! I haven’t had any problems. It also has vitamin C and vitamins B6 and B12, which is great because I am deficient in B12 as well.

How’s your brother now? Has he seen a positive difference with his iron level increased? and did he suffer anxiety?

So sorry for all the questions!