u/CNC_Smith

I got an email September 16th with a tracking link saying my order is “on its way”. Today is the 28th and my order still has not arrived. The link (to DHL) says it’s en route in OH, but when I click for more detailed info, the last scan says “EN ROUTE TO DHL ECOMMERCE DISTRIBUTION CENTER OR AWAITING PROCESSING” in KY on 9/16. 🤷🏻‍♀️ I live in MO, so I don’t think it should take this long. What do I do?

I’m an avid runner, fit, outdoorsy, etc. Last month I got severe symptoms and subsequently learned my Ferritin was 9. On 8/28, I completed a series 3-300mg Venofer infusions and am slowly starting to feel better.

In the mean time, I haven’t done any dedicated exercise for a couple of weeks due to feeling all the usual low iron symptoms. Now I’m feeling “bleh”, bloated, and noticing I’m putting on weight (or retaining a lot of water). However, I haven’t been eating a lot due to loss of appetite and simply not doing enough to make me feel particularly hungry until dinner time.

I know most people tend to feel a lot better a few weeks after infusions, so I anticipate the same, but when is a good time to start reintroducing light exercise? Are there any milestones to consider?

Just wanted to share some encouragement! I’m new here (31F, very active, outdoorsy), but have read tons of your guys’ posts on the various aspects of iron deficiency. My story is pretty much like most people’s:

☑️ Slowly accumulating unexplained/easily ignored symptoms that don’t seem related
☑️ Progression of said symptoms until you can’t deny something is “off”
☑️ Doctor orders bloodwork

Again, I’ve read tons of posts that describe appalling instances of uneducated doctors and nurses completely dismissing and even gaslighting patients with iron deficiency! Let me just say that I am SO sorry for anyone who has experienced that, and if that is you currently, run away from that provider and find another one who will take your health seriously! Do it right now!

My story is basically the opposite. I dismissed my symptoms thinking I was having some hormonal shifting, but brought it up my doctor to get her thoughts at my biannual checkup. After all, I was only having bouts of intense fatigue, some PMS symptoms around my period (which I never had before—not even cramping), and noticing my emotions were more “dynamic” than usual 😅

She suggested bloodwork and even said at that moment that she suspected iron deficiency over hormonal changes. However, I dismissed this, said I’d get around to trying some iron supplements, and let her know if it helps over the next couple of months. Guys, I had not even ordered the supplements yet… Within ONE WEEK of that checkup my body went into a frenzy! It was like my sympathetic nervous system ran off a cliff.

Temperature dysregulation, severe emotional dysregulation, pounding heart (normal rate), constant exhaustion, frequent presyncope, total brain fog (bad!), tingling/itching, constant anxiety, and many more! I was scared, feeling terrible, could not work AT ALL, and the worst part was having no idea WHY. So, I messaged my doctor just asking for the labs (not telling her what I’d been experiencing) and she ordered them right away.

Surprise! The most notable results were:
🔴 Ferritin - 9
🔴 Iron Sat. - 17%
🟠 TBIC - 437
🟠 Vitamin D - 30
🟡 WBC - 10.2

The rest of my labs looked great, otherwise. Doctor advised taking iron supplements immediately, but she did not know, and I did not piece together, my worsening symptoms. Over the next few days I researched them and realized:

❌ Every little thing I had been ignoring for months was due to worsening iron deficiency and/or low vitamin D levels (even my crazy dry eyes 👀)
❌ It will take months of supplementing for my Ferritin to recoup and symptoms to resolve, at best!
❌ My elevated WBC could be falsely inflating my already depleted Ferritin by a few points
❌My next cycle (due in a few days) could lower my already depleted Ferritin by a couple more points before the supplement has a chance to make any impact

My immediate thought was, “I don’t know how this could get much worse than it already is, but I cannot endure whatever that looks like!”

I messaged my doctor again explaining to her my symptoms and their timeline, letting her know that was why I changed my mind for the labs in the first place. I also shared my concerns for the symptoms potentially worsening with my next cycle. With no hesitation, she ordered iron infusions and my first one is scheduled tomorrow 🩸❤️

(That checkup was on 8/5, my bloodwork was taken on 8/13, results came 8/14, informed my doctor of the severity on 8/18, insurance approved and infusions scheduled on 8/20, first infusion 8/21)

I share this for anyone who’s being dismissed by their care provider, struggling with advocating for themselves, or simply getting sub-par treatment for iron deficiency of any kind. IF YOUR PROVIDER IS NOT:

✅ Knowledgeable and competent
✅ Attentive and understanding
✅ Compassionate and caring
✅ Receptive and responsive

🏃🏻‍♀️💨 Run like the wind, with whatever energy you don’t have left, and find one who is. They do exist and you deserve one that has your overall health and wellbeing as their top priority!