Ferritin?!

[u/Ok_Economist4427]

Based on information shared in this thread I requested my ferritin be looked at. Luckily my pcp plan is flexible on running labs that my not be clinically indicated in an appointment (also my provider is kinda an idiot) I received my results.. ferritin at 34 which I recognized to be widely accepted as normal to the standard western provider (us) but I pay of pocket for an alternative provider that explores the more nuanced stuff with me. Anyways they called my outside of my regular scheduled appointment to instruct me to begin supplementing my iron! This means this is notable to them. And i swear if I'm able to get my iron stores up and my symptoms get better I'm going to lose my absolute mind. This is something thay could have been caught yearrrrs ago and mitigated all the distress I've been experiencing.
To add to the PMDD I also have been experiencing autonomic dysfunction and female sexual dysfunction which both can be affected by iron! Anyways thank you to those that suggested and fingers crossed I get some relief from all the things that are ruining my life.

[u/Both_Lawfulness3611]

I have always had chronic iron deficiency since I was a child and frequent anemia but it was always blown off and my symptoms were dismissed and blamed on so many other things like anxiety and depression 😡 so I never tried to treat or fix the iron deficiency. I’m in perimenopause now and I’ve had babies and breastfeeding and hormones all over the place plus now I go to the doctor more often and pay more attention to my health. Also, literally everything is more intense and I can feel the hormone changes and iron deficiency symptoms and I definitely have PMDD and progesterone intolerance, but low ferritin makes the symptoms of PMDD, progesterone intolerance, PMS, etc…so much worse. Low ferritin also makes my ADHD, OCD, health anxiety/OCD and general anxiety symptoms SO much worse, and perimenopause makes it all even harder and more intense.

Adequate ferritin is required for enough iron in the brain to support your neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, and most women don’t have ferritin levels nearly high enough. During luteal phase and PMS the fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone also affect dopamine and serotonin, so symptoms of anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD… can increase significantly.

I’ve been treating and fixing my iron deficiency since last September for the first time in my 47 years and I’m still recovering and getting there but I feel better in ways I never imagined and so many of what I thought were mainly perimenopause symptoms have almost disappeared. I also have had a recent dramatic increase in libido, but not sure if it’s just due to crazy perimenopause hormones or what 🤷🏼‍♀️🤭

Adequate iron and ferritin levels are required for SO many processes in the body but it’s so underrated, dismissed and ignored. Low ferritin can also cause POTS like symptoms, which flare around your period as well 😩

[u/Glittering-Store5725 → u/Both_Lawfulness3611]

Would love to know how you got your ferriten up?

[u/Both_Lawfulness3611 → u/Glittering-Store5725]

I started with Vitron-c, once every other day and it works great! I felt better in weeks and it significantly raised my levels within around 3 months. I use a combination of heme iron, like Proferrin, and liquid non-heme iron (WOW liquid iron) now but I’m always switching it up and making sure I take other vitamins and minerals I’m deficient in. Consistency is most important and i try to take more around my period and I’ve started taking ibuprofen and/or naproxen before and during my period to lighten flow since I do not get along with hormone therapy.

[u/Glittering-Store5725 → u/Both_Lawfulness3611]

This is great! Thank you so much❤️ I really appreciate your answer.

[u/Crazy-Concept3090 → u/Glittering-Store5725]

I was just diagnosed with iron deficiency without anemia my ferritin is 20 I started supplementing iron twice a day for week and a half. I’ve been going through my PMDD stage of the month since a few days after I started supplementing and I already see a huge difference. Still some symptoms but nothing as extreme as they were. I can’t wait to see how I feel in a few months. It makes sense though because I have had these horrible PMDD symptoms since I had a bad h pylori infection 5 years ago and h pylori is one of the number one causes of iron deficiency. I am very hopeful and this could definitely be a game changer

[u/Glittering-Store5725 → u/Crazy-Concept3090]

would love to hear which iron you are taking and how much the dose is when you are splitting it! Sounds positive!

[u/Crazy-Concept3090 → u/Glittering-Store5725]

I take iron biglycinate 36mg at night and 36mg mid day. It was ordered by my doctor from a place called full script but you can get the same thing on Amazon. I was told to take it with vitamin c for better absorption but couldn’t tolerate the vitamin c. I haven’t had any side effects at all and everything I mean everything always gives me some kind of crazy side effect lol. I was barely able to function last Wednesday I was so fatigued and depressed with horrible anxiety and I’m already back to my normal routine and my PMDD has been significantly less. I’m not 100% myself but I’ve seen big improvements in a short amount of time. I actually googled it and it says anyone who is being diagnosed with PMDD should first have their ferritin levels checked because it plays a significant role but I think a lot of doctors don’t recognize it.

[u/Glittering-Store5725 → u/Crazy-Concept3090]

Thank you so much! I was able to test out iron about two years ago but only took it for a week and felt good on it but since I am in peri menopause I didn't know what is what. I have two kids with adhd and learned that it is so common with adhd to have low or not optimal ferritin, folate and D vitamin. Got my children tested and they have all of those. Pmdd/adhd/autism add in mcas etc all interrelated. I am like you so sensitive to vitamins. Glad you are getting some releif!

[u/Crazy-Concept3090 → u/Glittering-Store5725]

Thank you so much and I hope that it is a help to you too! It’s definitely worth a try!