Discontinuing iron during virus

[Maldeerum]

I’ve had Covid for the last two weeks and stopped my iron supplements during the infection. Can anyone shed any light on when it is safe to restart supplementing? Many thanks.

[NotElissa]

Do you feel ok now? I made the mistake of having the AstraZenica a month after I had Covid the nurse told me it would be ok it was not.

Just had a quick read up and Covid can lower your iron levels. So if I was you I would start taking it again and see how it goes

[Maldeerum in reply to NotElissa]

Thanks, I’m just tired now post virus. I’m concerned about taking iron too soon if my hepcidin levels are still high after the infection. I can’t find information about when these drop back down. I don’t want my iron levels to drop too low through lack of supplementing but also don’t want unsafe iron storage if hepcidin might still be high. I’ve been unable to find anything out about when it is safe to restart.

[NotElissa in reply to Maldeerum]

Have you tried eating pate? Unless you are vegetarian of course

[Maldeerum in reply to NotElissa]

That wouldn’t address the hepcidin issue, though.

[NotElissa in reply to Maldeerum]

Can you get a blood test to check this?

[FallingInReverse]

hi there Maldeerum - what iron supplements were you on before?

When was your last iron panel and the results, including CRP-hs ?

When is your next blood test coming planned?

[Maldeerum in reply to FallingInReverse]

Many thanks. I had iron testing on 5 Nov and some elements (plus electrolytes etc) tested a week before covid (19 Dec). I’ve got a reading from 19 Dec of serum C reactive protein as 1.2 mg/L (ref 0-4). I’m assuming that’s CRP-hs? Is that right?

The rest of the iron levels:

Serum iron 10 umol/L (14-29)

Tsat 21% in Nov 50% in Dec (due to inc iron)

Serum transferrin 1.95 g/l

Ferritin 64 ug/L (this level is ever changing, dropped from 90 within a month due to slight decrease in iron supp. Usually hovers around 27 if I’m not utterly rigorous about my iron intake. Achieving 90 drove my TSAT to 80% hence the dose juggling)

Haemoglobin 134g/l

My current iron regimen is Three Arrows Simply Heme. Long standing iron deficiency anaemia in the past, iron deficiency thereafter. In the last year I’ve been really trying to get a healthier iron level. Ongoing issues are Hashimoto’s, B12 deficiency (gastroscopy pending so cause as yet unknown but autoimmune issues strongly indicated).

Many thanks!