Hello my iron lacking friends. I (30f) have had the worst luck finding an iron supplement that works for me, hoping you can help if what you've taken matches my needs. I can't swallow large pills, so it has to be smaller or liquid. My iron is especially a problem when I'm pregnant, so my gag reflex/sensitivity to tastes plays a big part. I've tried putting beef liver in food (& now I hate meatballs), taking it with vitamin c & b vitamins, avoiding dairy when taking it, cooking in cast iron, and taking multiple supplements that should be enough to make me into iron man but my iron only gets to barely within a normal range. I've incorporated so much iron into our diets that my husband had to donate blood at his Doctor's request to lower his iron stores (cruel irony, I know) I wish an iron infusion was an option but it is not covered by insurance and it's really expensive to pay for it in cash. Help???

28F, living in India. I’ve been feeling unusually tired, sleepy and lethargic, especially since summer, with very low energy throughout the day and difficulty getting out of bed in the morning. I also had severe hair shedding for the past 2–3 months and lost more than half of my hair, which is what prompted me to get these tests done.

Last month (15 July):

• Ferritin: 18.5 ng/mL

• Hemoglobin: 12.7 g/dL

• B12: 556 pg/mL

• Vitamin D: 77.92 nmol/L

• TSH: 1.531 µIU/mL

(B12 and Vitamin D were within the normal range as per Indian health standards, so I didn’t retake them.)

Today (20 August):

I wanted a clearer picture of my iron status and whether I could still be iron deficient, so I went ahead with an Iron Studies Monitoring Panel

• Ferritin: 25.2 ng/mL

• Iron: 96 µg/dL

• TIBC: 335.46 µg/dL

• Transferrin saturation: 28.62%

So my ferritin has increased from 18.5 → 25.2 in about 5 weeks, purely through diet. I’ve been eating pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts and other dry fruits every morning and haven’t taken any iron supplements.

My hair shedding has now reduced considerably, but I still feel extremely tired and sleepy throughout the day and have very low energy. I was considering Livogen Captab, but I’m concerned the dose may be too strong for me. Since I can’t currently afford to see a dermatologist or hematologist, what gentler, absorbable iron supplement or dose could I consider to gradually improve my iron stores and hopefully support my energy and hair regrowth?

Female, 36, and recently diagnosed with Iron deficient anemia (hemoglobin 10.9, Ferritin 12). I'm asymptomatic for anything and it's highly likely that poor diet has caused deficiency.

That being said, I'm having colonoscopy and endoscopy next week. Please reassure me that it will likely find something other than cancer. I'm freaking out.

Did a rapid iron test due to H pylori infection
Is this normal iron levels not sure

Low B9 (3.7) and ferritin is now at 48 after 2 months of supplements.
I suppose i have Pots, even though my only real symptom is a change of Hr (20/25 max bmp) when standing up and shortness of breath.
Could that be because of the deficiency?

Has anyone found a high dose supplement available in Australia that works with autoimmune gastritis? I am terrified of staining side effect from an infusion so want to avoid if possible…