Sleep Problems and have been told low vitamin d D and low iron !

[possiblysamira101]

Hi everyone, my name is samira and I'm a 19 year old female. The start of August 2017 I began having sleeping problems. I thought it was my sleeping pattern which I missed up and was excited to finally sleep the night after, again, nothing. This continued for weeks and it's almost September now. I finally went to the doctor explained everything and they took a blood test. Also guys I go gym and my diet is decent. A week later they said I has Vitamin D deficiency and low iron and prescribed me pills which I assume is vitamin pills. However, I don't feel like that's the problem, I feel like there's something else. Has this ever happened to anyone and can vitamin d or low iron cause insomnia ???

[shaws Administrator]

Welcome to our forum,

I am sorry you have health issues as a 19 year old.

Your doctor was correct to give you a blood test. Low iron is a cause of many symptoms. I shall give you a link. Iron is not a vitamin but vital for our health. Vitamin D is a pro-hormone as is B12, so both are very essential to be optimum. I believe you have to take vitamin C along with iron tablets.

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

I would ask the doctor to test your thyroid gland hormones. The blood test should be at the very earliest possible, fasting (you can drink water). If you were taking thyroid hormones you'd allow a gap of 24 hours between last dose and test and take them afterwards.

Ask for TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, Free T3, and thyroid antibodies.

Vitamiin B12, ferritin and folate. If these have already been taken ask the doctor for a print-out of the blood tests you've had. Always make sure the ranges are included in the blood test - these figures are in brackets after the result. This is a link and within in SeasideSusie's response you will see what is recommended for deficiencies we have.

Always get a print-out of your results with the ranges for your own records and you can post if you have a query.

[possiblysamira101 in reply to shaws]

thank you for your quick reply seriously, I never ever get I'll and I'm pretty much healthy but this sleep issue has been driving me crazy and effects my mood so much. I began taking the iron supplement but I receive my vitamin d ones in 2 days.

[bluebug]

Yes low iron levels can cause insomnia and sleep problems.

[possiblysamira101 in reply to bluebug]

thanks for your reply, I'll be making sure I take my tablets everyday.

[bluebug in reply to possiblysamira101]

It is important that you do what the others have advised to ensure you have no long term problems. Many posters on here have suffered decades of problems simply because they didn't do this. Once you do this you can learn how to deal with things yourself and when to go to the doctor.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low vitamin D can also cause insomnia

How low was the vitamin D result and how much has GP prescribed.

Are you in UK - different units of measurement in USA

If you level was very low you should get a "loading dose" which is is short course of high dose

drgominak.com/sleep/vitamin...

[possiblysamira101 in reply to SlowDragon]

I don't know, they took my blood test and made me wait two weeks but I called a week after and they just gave me a prescription and had to collect my medications. no explanations at all.

[Dee215 in reply to possiblysamira101]

Same thing happened to me. Now they have removed all the meds in the same way

[hellybaybee]

Hi Samira, from your name I would guess that you are Asian (correct me if I'm wrong!) it is very common for Asian people (particularly if you are in the uk) to have low vitamin D. Don't underestimate it's effects as it can make you feel very poorly - symptoms include fatigue, inability to think clearly, bone pain, muscle weakness and insomnia.... unfortunately there are many things that cause the same symptoms such as hypothyroidism and b12 deficiency/pernicious anaemia. I would say that you should listen to the dr, give the vitamin d a few months and see how well it works. If you still feel that there is something further ask for b12, T3, T4, tsh and thyroid antibodies as vitamin d deficiency and low iron are also common in those with hypothyroidism. Good luck, I'm sorry you feel so unwell at just 19 x

[possiblysamira101 in reply to hellybaybee]

Hi, yeah I'm from the UK but not Asian hahah and thanks so much for your reply it honestly helps and yeah I will defo give it a try and it probably is that. Thanks again !!

[hellybaybee in reply to possiblysamira101]

Ha! Well you take your guess and your chance! Good luck with everything 😊

[shaws Administrator]

All of our vitamins/minerals have to be optimum. This is what SeasideSusie says about another member's results:-

read the link:-

ferritin was really low at 5 - taking 2x 200mg of Ferrous sulphate

Do you have the range for ferritin? Did you have an iron panel, full blood count and haemoglobin test to see if you have iron deficiency anaemia?

I believe your ferritin is way, way below range and I think an iron infusion should have been given, which would have raised your level in 24-48 hours whereas iron tablets will take months.

If you have iron deficiency anaemia, and with your ferritin level, then you should have the maximum dose of ferrous sulphate which is one tablet three times a day.

Take each iron tablet with 1000mg Vitamin C to aid absorption and help prevent constipaton. Always take iron 4 hours away from thyroid meds and two hours away from other medication and supplements as it will affect absorption.

For thyroid hormone to work ferritin needs to be at least 70, preferably half way through range.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[possiblysamira101 in reply to shaws]

Yeah he gave me 2 boxes with 84 tablets of ferattin to take twice a day. I'm on my third now and I can't exactly remember what dosage but I'll let you know when I get home. Thank you !

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to possiblysamira101]

Definitely get copy of the original blood test. Ring receptionist and say you will pick this up next time you are there.

It takes a day or two, for them to get the OK to give results to you, but they can not refuse to.

Come back here on a new post when you find out the results.

Also check what the vitamin D dose is. If it's only 800iu it's unlikely to do much.

3000iu or 5000iu daily for 2-3 months is probably what you need. Even higher if your test result was very lie, which is why it's important to find out original test result

[Clutter in reply to possiblysamira101]

PossiblySamira101,

If you take each ferritin tablet with 1000mg vitamin C it will aid absorption and minimise constipation.

When you get vitD take it with the fattiest meal of the day which will aid absorption.

[leoopard]

Samira,

Perhaps it would be better to deal with the two problems you know you have and then see how you get on? Low iron and low Vitamin D can both cause a wide variety of issues. Low Vitamin D can definately cause poor sleep, I am not sure about the iron.

To avoid stomach upsets you should take your iron just before or with meals. To help you absorb it, and to avoid getting constipation take it with 1000mg of Vitamin C (that's equal to one of those fizzy tablets at Morrisons or Asda).

You should (ideally) take your Vitamin D tablet with a fatty or oily meal as it will absorb better (e.g. meat, oily fish, avocado all good).

As Helly stated above people with dark skin (including those of Asian descent) need much more sunblight to make enough vitamin D and are often short of it in the UK. An outdoor form of excercise with your arms uncovered would also help.

best of luck.

[kamarx]

hi.. I have the same issue and it just so happens that I have low iron and vitaminD. a coincidence. I don't think so.