u/Alternative-Safety87

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?

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?

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 supplements or dose could I consider to gradually improve my iron stores and hopefully support my energy and hair regrowth?