Iron deficiency and mental health

[Pheebs93]

Hi Everyone,Just after some guidance.

Back in September 2022, after months of weird symptoms (heart palpitations, tachycardia, breathlessness, fatigue, low mood, anxiety, hair falling out, sore tongue ect) I was diagnosed with iron deficiency without anaemia.

My blood test showed Ferritin 6ugL (23-300) Folate 4.1ug/L (3.1-20.5) and B12 300ngl (187-883).

I was prescribed ferrous fumarate 210mg, I've been taking them ever since. Had another blood test done in A&E a week ago and my ferritin is now up to 13.

In still feeling awful, still got the physical symptoms but my mood has been awful. I'm very depressed, I've lost so much confidence, I'm anxious, my anxiety is through the roof. It's been terrible. Can anyone relate to this?

Kind regards Pheebs

[Nackapan]

B12 deficiency folate deficiency cxn give these symptoms too.Your ferritin is still low . It takes time tk raise it .

Is your diet okay.

If you eat meat and diary eggs ect it's likely yoh have an absorbtion problem.

Even in range b12 yoh couid still br deficient if not reaching the cells.

Was vit D done ?

Get s print of tour blood results.

B12 shoukd be treated before folate

PA is an autoimmune condition .

Plenty of links to read on sleeptbunnys posts

Hope you improve soon

[Technoid]

Hi Pheebs93,

Did you get the iron infusion(s)? If so were they any help?

Have you tried the alternate day iron dosing? and/or glycinate form?

Your folate needs to come up too, but these all point to some underlying issue, if not diet related then absorption problems and gut issues so that needs looking into over and above treating the individual nutrient deficiencies as there is a root cause to be uncovered that needs to be tackled too I think. If B12 is involved the gut may be damaged causing knock-on effects with nutrient absorption too. If you suspect B12 you can ask for MMA/Homocysteine tests also - not definitive but could show a problem and help with getting a diagnosis.

Large quantities of iron cause a lot of inflammation to the gut, which reduces iron absorption, in some way making things worse

[Gen89]

My ferritin has been that low, without anaemia, for years and it’s not affected my mood. But I’ve definitely got thinner hair!

[Tiredycake]

Hi I’m so sorry to hear that you feel like this. I am in exactly the same boat as you with same symptoms word for word. I’m deficient in iron, b12 and b9, so taking supplements for all 3 now, hoping it will help but at the moment still feeling awful, especially mentally, can’t remember anything either!! So know that you’re not alone, I hope you start to feel better soon, they say it does take a long time to improve symptoms. Get your B12 and B9 levels checked too. Xx

[Wowo23]

I have the same level of ferritin and iron saturation with anemia. I just started with iron infusions. I'm to have 1 a week for 10 weeks. It's been 2 days since my first one and I'm feeling extremely anxious. I believe it's because our body is not use to the iron/energy and causing the anxiety.