u/Bag-Administrative

Let’s say you meet on a dating app and decide to go on a date. I understand there’s no “official” way, but from your experience, what’s the most appropriate way to greet this semi-stranger? Hug? Kiss on the cheek? Fist bump?

I've been going really hard with my iron supplementation for a month, especially since I didn't have any side effects. I have started noticing improvement in brain fog and energy levels about 3 weeks in. At 4 weeks I tested my ferritin and it was 81 (after 31)! I want it in the 100s but I'm going to slow down with the supplements for now.

However, a few days ago I also noticed that I'm feeling more sleepy and tired (not in the same way as before I started supplementing). I ended up sleeping for around 12 hours last night and noticed I have some joint/muscle pain.

After doing my research, it sounds like it's very likely that I have depleted my copper so I'm gonna try to supplement with that now.

Just wondering if anyone else has dealt with this?

First test was done one month ago via a private lab (no doctor referral) and it came back 31. I had a lot of symptoms of anemia so I started heavily supplementing on my own - 100mg elemental iron every other day with vitamin C and lactoferrin + 6 beef liver caps daily + eating red meat almost daily. The reason for my low ferritin was heavy periods that lasted for over a year, but that problem is resolved now.

Then I did a finger prick test at home (48 hours after any pills) and sent it to the lab. Just got results - my ferritin is 81!

I do actually feel noticeably better but I can't help and doubt the accuracy of the results after reading other people's experiences here.

I am wondering if finger prick test is just not very reliable? Or 48hrs after taking the pills was not enough of a time gap for an accurate test? And because I know someone will probably ask - I haven't been sick or had any reason for inflammation this month.

My B12 also came back slightly elevated.

I have a long list of symptoms that overlap with low ferritin and subclinical hypothyroidism. My ferritin is 30 and TSH is 2.69.

I wonder if anyone was in a similar situation and fixed their ferritin and saw a drop in TSH?

A guy that was not on the bus (saw him waiting outside as we were pulling into the bus stop) as soon as the baggage door was opened he grabbed the first suitcase and ran away before anyone realized it. I’m not even sure if anyone else noticed it happen, it happened so quickly. I got super anxious and scared to say anything but even if I did it would have been too late anyways because he was out of sight within 30 seconds.

Be careful! Try to put your stuff deeper in the back and watch out for sketchy people.

32 F, not on birth control. These are the symptoms I've been dealing for 7+ years:

• Brain fog (really bad)
• No libido
• Fatigue
• Hair loss
• Cold feet/hands

Labs:

• TSH: 2.69 mU/L
• **Free T4: 14.93 pmol/L (**1.16 ng/dL)
• **Free T3: 4.25 pmol/L (**2.76 pg/mL)
• Ferritin: 31.6 µg/L

Hormones tested in the follicular phase:

• **Testosterone: 0.56 nmol/L (**16.1 ng/dL)
• Free Testosterone Index: 0.60%
• **SHBG: 94 nmol/L (**5.42 µg/mL)
• **DHEA-S: 114 µg/dL (**3.09 µmol/L)
• Estradiol 60.6 pg/mL (222.5 pmol/L)
• Progesterone 0.26 ng/mL (0.83 nmol/L)

From what I understand, I may have subclinical hypothyroidism causing low androgen activity which leads to my symptoms. I also have lowish ferritin. I only have access to private healthcare at the moment so I'm trying to be very strategic about how I approach it. I would love to talk to an endocrinologist but I'm wondering if I should try to increase my ferritin, then retest to see if it lowers my TSH and helps my symptoms? Or is there no connection and I should just book an appointment with endo now? (it's quite pricey and I'll probably have to pay for all the labs again)