u/AardvarkPure5892

This may sound like a strange and weird topic, but has anyone ever felt like they weren’t taken as seriously by a doctor because they looked “too healthy”?

I grew up with a mom and grandmother who always believed you should be presentable before leaving the house. So even when I feel awful, I usually have my hair fixed (or pulled back), a little makeup on, and I’m wearing something nicer than sweatpants. It’s just how I’ve always been and believe me it does not reflect how I feel on inside. I have always taken care of myself thru exercise and skin care too up until recently when I don’t have the energy.

The reason I ask is because my primary care doctor once told me, “You don’t look like your iron is low.” This said after he had never checked my ferritin before only going on how I look. (It was in fact low at 12) This comment has stuck with me ever since. It made me wonder if looking put together subconsciously affects how some healthcare providers perceive patients.
I’m not talking about dressing up, just looking neater than how I approach normal days in lounge clothes and leggings. Has anyone else experienced this or wondered the same thing? I must look anxious or depressed though because they will offer those meds to me all day long.

Sorry I’m sure this has been asked a lot in this group but wondering if anyone can tell me how long I should expect to wait before I see some improvement in my symptoms, mainly fatigue. I have had 2 - 200mg Venofer infusions within last week . I thought I felt little better day after my first one but now nothing. I am constantly yawning

I have only had 2 venofer infusions and dr wants to recheck my levels. I feel as though it is too soon because everything I read says 4-6 weeks. It has not even been a full week yet.

I had my first infusion yesterday and honestly didn’t feel much different, other than being really tired last night. I figured my body was just trying to figure out what to do with it.

This is hard to explain, but I feel sooooo much less like a grouchy b*tch this morning! I’m usually not someone who wants to talk to anyone before noon, but today I actually don’t mind it. In fact, I caught myself wanting to call someone just to see how they’re doing, which is so unlike me!

That’s the only change I’ve noticed so far, but I’ll happily take it.

I recently realized something that honestly surprised me.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been told my iron was low and to just take iron supplements. It became more of an issue after I had my children, but the recommendation was always the same: supplement and recheck.

It wasn’t until my ferritin dropped to 12 that my new gynecologist recommended an iron infusion.

That made me curious, so I went back through my lab history. I was able to see results going back 18 years, and what shocked me is that my ferritin has never been above 19. My very first ferritin level on record, 18 years ago, was also 12, and I was simply told to take iron supplements.

I’m not saying an infusion is the right answer for everyone, but if I start feeling significantly better after this, it’s going to make me wonder how much of the way I’ve felt over the years has been related to iron deficiency that never really improved.

Has anyone else discovered they’ve had chronically low ferritin for years before finally getting treated differently? What was your experience?

I think yesterday’s appointment was the final straw, and I’m considering finding a new PCP.

I went in because I thought I had a UTI. The appointment started with my doctor joking that I was pregnant (I’m not), then telling me I did not have a UTI and that I must have used the home AZO strips incorrectly or they were old?

I told him I still feel awful and mentioned my gynecologist scheduled me for an iron infusion because my ferritin is 12. He immediately said I didn’t need one because my levels were “fine,” even though he hadn’t ever even checked my ferritin. My hemoglobin is 12.1, so I know I’m not technically anemic, but I’ve have not felt myself for a long time and frankly exhausted. He said I know what someone who needs iron infusion looks like and it is not you. I am very dark complected and tan easily so I guess he meant I am not a ghost? I have huge dark circles and my hair is breaking off in chunks but I guess that’s normal. I told him I have worked out for years and I know when my body is telling me something is up, again he mentions depressed or maybe perimenopause.

For the past couple of years, I feel like every complaint has been met with “you’re fine” or another antidepressant prescription.
I left feeling completely dismissed. Has anyone else switched doctors simply because they no longer felt heard? I am actually second guessing everything he has ever told me and I want real care.

Thanks for letting me rant .

I finally get my first infusion venofer on Monday, and I’m honestly so excited. I’ve been feeling awful physically and mentally for a long time, and I’m really hoping this helps me feel like myself again.

My biggest issue is that I’ll have short bursts of energy, but then I’ll crash for 2 to 3 days afterward. I’m hoping the infusion helps with my stamina, endurance, and overall energy levels.

For those of you who’ve had iron infusions, what improvements surprised you the most? Was there anything that got better that you didn’t even realize was caused by low iron? I’d love to hear your experiences, whether they happened right away or took a few weeks.

Thanks!

I am just a year shy of starting HRT and the last year has been well….not the best . I keep trying to push thru because I think this is good for me in the long run but I’m not so sure it is. My ferritin levels have plummeted leading to hair loss and extreme anxiety. My thyroid levels are out of whack too . I have been on same dosage for 7 years and just recently have had to increase it. I guess the worst though is my body has gone soft and I just look completely different. I was building some good muscle tone and was looking nice and lean but now my stomach is soft and I am much more curvy and well just much thicker. I like the sleep benefits of progesterone but nothing much beyond that. I still stay bloated and I worry that the estrogen is feeding my endometriosis . My periods are still bad unless I take naproxen for week or more around it and how good is that for me? Anyway, anyone else just feel like they felt better or looked better before??? Maybe after my iron infusion and thyroid levels are back to normal I will feel and look better but right now I’m struggling. I’m thinking of just stopping