Iron levels checked

[lanie136]

Had an iron panel completed. 2 important numbers. Ferritin 102, saturation 29 percent. Now what. Dr says both normal. Every test I take, everything comes back normal so why have I had RLS since childhood and at 76 getting 2-3 hours sleep because I have to walk the floors all night and getting worse and getting more and more in my arms too. Have tried every crazy idea and used requip, mirapex, and neupro and gabapentin with no relief. Take no meds now.

[SueJohnson]

At 102 your ferritin is barely over the 100 mark. However some people need it increased to 200 or 300. I would suggest you try to increase it. Take 325 mg of ferrous sulfate which contains 65 mg of elemental iron, the normal amount used to increase ones ferritin, or 50 mg to 75 mg (which is elemental iron) of iron bisglycinate with 100 mg of vitamin C or some orange juice since that helps its absorption. Ferrous sulfate is fine for most people, but if you have problems with constipation, iron bisglycinate is better. Take it every other day, preferably at night at least 1 hour before a meal or coffee or tea and at least 2 hours after a meal or coffee or tea since iron is absorbed better on an empty stomach and the tannins in coffee and tea limit absorption. If you take magnesium, calcium or zinc, even in a multivitamin take them at least 2 hours apart since they interfere with the absorption of iron. Also antacids interfere with its absorption so should be taken at least 4 hours before the iron or at least 2 hours after. Don't take your iron tablets before or after exercise since inflammation peaks after a workout, don't take tumeric as it can interfere with the absorption of iron or at least take it in the morning if you take your iron at night. If you take thyroid medicine don't take it within 4 hours. It takes several months for the iron tablets to slowly raise your ferritin. Ask for a new full iron panel test after 3 months. Stop taking any iron supplements including multivitamins that have iron in them 48 hours before the test, don't eat a heavy meat meal the night before, fast after midnight and have your test in the morning before 9 am if possible.

You say gabapentin gave you no relief. How much gabapentin did you take and for how long?

[lanie136 in reply to SueJohnson]

I told the Dr I believe I needed to be closer to 200 but he disagreed and wanted me to pursue EECP therapy but the driving distance to get it done is probably more than I can do

[SueJohnson in reply to lanie136]

You can do it on your own. The iron tablets are available over the counter. You don't need your doctor's approval. Why does your doctor want your to have EECP therapy? That is to improve circulation to your heart. It certainly won't help your RLS.

[lanie136]

I did the gentle iron for 2 weeks but didn't see a difference. I stopped because I was getting the iron panel but haven't started it again.

[RLSLearner]

Ianie, yes your iron levels are "normal" but not sufficient as Sue says. For some reason doctors are scared of pushing iron levels to high normal (I am a doctor and it does not worry me). Maybe take Vit D too. Have you taken an Opioid?

There were a couple of promising papers on EECP therapy 15 years ago but seems to be very little time.

[DicCarlson]

The Iron connection is fascinating - all the more for me, since supplementing relieved my RLS like slamming a door! Here is a study looking at the cases of patients with normal serum iron but with Restless Leg Syndrome.

This is a long and technical paper, but maybe something will jump out - "Hey, I have that!" Interesting, to note the role of Nitrous Oxide "a potent regulator of the dopamine transporter " - Nitrous Oxide has been used by athletes for improved fitness principally using beet root powder.

"Some patients with Iron Deficiency Anemia and RLS may have a persisting RLS suggesting that iron deficiency may produce in some patients long lasting changes not corrected when the Iron Deficiency is resolved. Perhaps the iron transport to the brain is altered, but this remains to be studied."

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[WideBody in reply to DicCarlson]

I took L-arginine for awhile, maybe it helped? I take Taurine now. Always looking for something to help. I feel I have the long lasting changes.

One thing always worth looking at is Vitamin D levels. Vitamin D plays a large role in iron metabolism.

[lanie136]

Appreciate all the info. I have taken Vitamin D3 for about 15 years 4000 IU, as well as Magnesium citrate 500 mg, and tumeric, probiotics, red yeast rice, fish oil, 81 mg aspirin, statin, BP med, and other heart meds. Just started taking Gentle Iron and sometimes B6 and B12. Do any of these make RLS worse?