r/Copper_deficiency

Anyone with low copper experience low ferritin , high serum iron and high saturation?

F 48
5’2 145 lbs

This is what the hemotologist told me yesterday when I asked for help with my chronic copper deficiency…

For about 4 years I have attempted to get help with my chronic nausea, fatigue, muscle weakness, and joint pain.

I have been tested for Hematochromatosis, Wilson’s disease, celiac, crohns, pancreatic insufficiency, auto immune markers, inflammation markers. Everything comes up negative. I have been passed from my PCP to a GI dr to another GI dr. Yesterday I saw a hemotologist. I explained my symptoms. We looked at all the tests I have had, we looked at my most recent blood test results. And apparently she believes I am anemic, need to start iron supplements, and that my other values are not important and do not have anything to do with my symptoms but suggested that they are probably related to perimenopause and/or “because I know my blood tests are abnormal and it’s causing my symptoms.”

I need help. I don’t know where else to turn. I feel horrible most days and work in the fitness industry and use all the energy I have in just a few hours.

My current iron panel showed:
Iron saturation 54.5
Iron level 165
Ferritin 20
TIBC- 303

CBC
MCH 36
MCV 103

Copper Plasma
48
Ceruloplasmin
11

The hemotologist I saw yesterday wants to do IV iron infusions to correct my low(ish) ferritin. But won’t address the very low copper levels. I have a rudimentary understanding of the need for ceruloplasmin to help with iron transport.

What should my next steps be?

I posted here a couple weeks ago with my blood results confirming low copper and ceruloplasim… I ordered the brand ‘Thorne - copper bisglycinate 2mg’ …. Stupidly I thought I’ll start at 8mg per day and flood my system then slowly taper down to maintenance dose but after 2 days I was hit with extreme “tired but wired” I didn’t get to sleep until 2:30am after going to bed at my usual time of 8:45pm… my heart was racing along with my thoughts and I thought I was having a panic attack… after googling it, apparently I mess up up my zinc/copper ratio too soon and my liver couldn’t process to rapid intake of excess copper… anyone else had this before?

I've taken it after food once, and I get a migraine for a few hours..

What's causing this migraine?

I started supplementation after a blood test revealing serum copper below reference range. Ceruloplasmin was low-normal within the reference range.

Been struggling with severe brain fog, depression, anxiety, physical fatigue, very low WBC and neutrophils.

I’m working with a hematologist. All my labs and hormones are normal. EXCEPT Copper.

Serum copper was 67 and Ceruloplasmin 16.
24hr urine copper test was <5(very low).
From my reading online, you can get symptoms from values like these.

Also, I have no IBS, no celiac. Colonoscopy was normal. I do not have Wilson’s disease. Liver is heathy.

I have been talking 2-4mg copper bisglycinate daily for 2 months. My serum copper went up to 70 and Ceruloplasmin 17. I have no improvement in symptoms. So my doctor thought my issues are not copper related but then when he saw my WBC and nuetrophils improved, he said that might be a good sign that it is copper deficiency.

He scheduled me to get copper infusions tomorrow.

My question to all of you is why would it be low in the first place and not raise up with pills? My doctor says idiopathic copper deficiency. He cannot give me an answer which bothers me because I want to get to the root cause.

My only other thoughts was that I might have asymptomatic SIBO which I should test for as my ferritin was also low and drops over each month…. I also read about how vit A deficiency can affect ceruloplasmin production. My value for that was 49 (range is 33-99). I saw a post of a guy who was on the lower end of normal for vit an and he started taking vit an and his ceruloplasmin jumped from 17 to 23 in a month…

Please share your thoughts? Thx in advance