Low Iron

[Abby14]

My Iron storage ( Ferriten) is Low! In fact my iron is always low Can"t wait to get it sorted! My legs are driving me mad at the moment! I can"t torlate oral iron (makes me ill) so have to have iron infustions. Anyone else here have low iron?

[LotteM]

I hope getting tour iron levels up (blood and body stores) will take care of your RLS. Please keep is posted. I have low bit still ‘normal’ iron, ferritin close to 100, bit still raging RLS of I don’t take my meds.

[Abby14 in reply to LotteM]

MY Ferritin is only 11, sleep DR says it needs to be at least 50 to help my RLS! Waiting to have a Iron Infustoin.

[restlessinlondon]

Have you tried eating more iron rich foods? That may help.

[Abby14 in reply to restlessinlondon]

I have a good diet, I have Liver diease & liver tumors., I also have chrrioss! I am sure it is connected to that

[Parminter]

My level is 20, which is about falling down a hole. I am taking Floradix iron, double-dose, until I can get an iron infusion - if I can.

It does not work in every case, but most. And it may take some time to be truly effective. Take care that they do not put Benedryl into the infusion, ask for it per mouth.

I understand that this can lead to the worst RLS you can possibly imagine, to the horror of the hospital attendants who witness your agony. On the other hand, get Benedryl in the infusion, and ask a cameraman to record the results, so the whole world can see what we endure.

[Abby14 in reply to Parminter]

Ok, Didn"t know they put that in it.

[DicCarlson]

The best iron supplement for RLS is Ferrous Bis-glycinate. It cut into my RLS IMMEDIATELY - and eliminated symptoms in 3 months. There is no stomach upset and no constipation, and it only costs $5. It also has the ability to more readily cross the blood-brain barrier. Many companies sell it, but it is made by Ferrochel - links to manufacturers albionferrochel.com/index.p...

[Abby14 in reply to DicCarlson]

Thankyou

[Casinogoer]

Sorry Abby14 for the RLS giving you so much trouble. I understand what you are going through. I have low iron off and on. I have to have iron infusions from time to time. The first time, I had to have eleven of them. Now, it is just when the iron gets on the low side. I really hate to tell you this, but even with the iron therapy you may not get the relief you are hoping for. What medication are you taking for the RLS?

[Abby14 in reply to Casinogoer]

I am taking Parmixdome & Pregablign. The sleep DR did tell me I will get bad periods of RLS, I also have PLMD, A separate conditon where my legs move when I am asleep!

[Casinogoer in reply to Abby14]

Your ferritin level was checked and it is low. It should bee 100. Did you discuss the iron infusions with your doctor? It is the fastest way to get the ferritin level up. You see if that will help. My ferritin level has been as high as 500 and I still get rls. But you do need the iron level up anyway. It may be that the meds you are on just are not cutting it. I have been on just about every medication they know of and I still get rls break troughs .

[Abby14 in reply to Casinogoer]

I am waiting for a iron Infustion & gonna chat to GP about Upping my RLS med dose,as it does help & I think I might need a higher dose! Sleep DR told me for some RLS will disapear! but not for others! Its a matter of controlling it the best you can!

[Parminter]

I have had two iron infusions in the last week. It was Iron Sucrose, which apparently is the least expensive. My doctor did not give me an antihistamine, he just watched over me like a Mother Hen. We will aim for levels over 75, preferably over 100, over the next few months. I believe it can take some time for the iron to get into the deep brain, where it is needed.

I have read that oral iron can take forever and a day to raise levels sufficiently high for RLS patients. After an initial spurt, it slows down to a snail's pace and might take years.

I had thought a neurologist would be necessary, but my GP was happy to do it immediately.

[Abby14 in reply to Parminter]

I am waiting for An infustion at the moment! I can"t wait! Not only is My RLS bad, but other things that go with low Ferritn & Iron! I saw A nuro DR & he said Low Iron makes mirgaine worse! I have them well controlled with meds. But RLS & Migaine go together! It"s over sentive nerves in the Brain! I also have PLMD so my legs even move when I am asleep! Waking me from different stages of sleep! I can"t take oral iron, I get awful side effects! Plus they make little diffrence!

[Casinogoer in reply to Abby14]

I hope you get relief with the infusion. I know that the rls and migraines separately are bad enough, but together it is a nightmare. Let me know how you are, I had migraines for a long time and finally grew out of them. I was hoping the same would happen with rls, but it doesn't. I couldn't take oral iron either, my body could not absorb it.

[Parminter in reply to Abby14]

Abby, I have now had 500mg. I certainly feel a lot perkier. I have been out and about doing this that, all sorts of things that were impossible before.

The migraine connection is most interesting to me, as I have suffered paralyzing headaches for long periods over my lifetime.

Did your doc give any more information that may interest us all?

I wish you the best possible outcome.