start to feel better after taking there medications, etc? It has only been a few days but I still feel like something the dog dragged in! Yes, I am an impatient person. but I just want the annoying lightheaded/dizziness, fatigue to go away!
depends what you are taking, how well you absorb it and how ill you are in the first place. i think i can take up to a ear to get well, but you could start feeling better sooner.
Basically i highly doubt anybody out there is going to feel any improvement within a few days.
In my case i was on some form or other of iron supplement for a year and three months and felt no better. Then i moved to getting iron injected straight into my muscle with a needle and after the fourth injection (one month later) i began to feel signs of more energy, particularly in the mornings.
I was diagnosed a year ago, had tons of test (and even a surgery) and have taken iron pills. I still feel horrible and I believe the fatigue is getting worse.
My PCP told me I should see an increase with the oral meds within 3 months. It never worked.
So now I'm scheduled to see a hematologist on Thursday.
Thanks guys...sounds like its gonna be a while I'm just sooo sick of feeling tired, dizzy and lightheaded when I stand up! I have had these symptoms for years, so I assume it's going to take a while for me to get back to "normal"....*SIGH*
Having ADA and just ID is two different things. Once your iron levels go really low, you can develop anemia. So keep my ferritin level at above 50, I go in for iron iv amost every 4months. No one has figured out where my iron is going, but getting the iv iron works pretty well. But even getting iron iv, it still takes a few weeks to feel different. I you are only taking oral iron, it could take months or years before you are back to your old self.
For me I have a retest in a few weeks, but I know my ferritin will be low. Eight weeks after I got my iron, my level was 89 then two months later it had already drop to 53 now three months later, guess it is a lot lower. I did not being tired and my hair falling out more. Guess it time to get more IV iron.
After doing this for two and half years, getting use to it. At least it helps me to feel normal even for a little while.
Hello there!! How many tests did they run on your blood? Did they do a Ferritin Level? If not, ask for one. It could help you determine how long before you would start to feel better. it is a long process and if your Ferritin is low, you have some rebuilding to do. Ferritin is a protein in your muscles that stores iron, if it is low that means your body is using up your storage to try and compensate. As you can figure, not such a good thing. Find out, also ask for an iron panel. Also, have they told you why you are anemic and what type? Do you have a bleed? You know, you could be without knowing it other than the way you feel. Are you having any pain in a specific area? (other than your normal aches and stiffness that come with this crap) If you are taking iron, are you taking one, two, three a day? And how long has it been going on? I feel your pain and maybe a little more. It is a long long road, one that I as well as you aren't willing to wait for. But it is really better to get a good handle on what is really going on so you can figure out how long the wait will be and what you can do in the meantime to help things along!!
Hope you feel better quickly!!! It looks like there are a lot of us out here.
D
To answer your questions, I have had many, many tests run...but the last bunch were iron, ferritin, b12(because of the tingling in my hands, feet and legs), folate and glucose. I am not sure what the exact numbers were. I only had a call from the drs. office saying "my iron was low, to pick up my prescription at the office." I am pretty sure my ferritin is low because everytime I do anything strenuous like walking up the stairs my legs burn like crazy and I am out of breath. I do not know why I am anemic, just that I don't eat alot of meat and I sometimes have pretty heavy periods, which may contribute. I do have alot of stomach pain, but I was diagnosed with chronic gastritis through an endoscopy a few years ago. I take 2 300 mg of Ferrous Gluconte a day. My lightheadedness has been going on since I started my periods, the rest of the symptoms (tiredness, breathless, etc.) have been happening for a few years--I just thought they were due to having my son (3 years ago). I go back to see my dr. on the 24th, so I will find out all the test results then.
Thanks for all/any of the help!
Ok, let's get down to business then. Almost everything you said fits me to a tee. You need to get your OB involved as well. I would have another GI consult as well. I had my first endoscopy 2 years ago and my second about a month ago. I also had a laparoscopy done 1 week before the GI work up. I would ask your dotor for a copy of your labs. It is your right and they owe it to you. You need to take a real good look at stuff and now for sure what you are looking at. Sometimes doctors tend to not worry as much as they should because they need a little push every now and then. I know, I am an ER/trauma nurse. I went years brushing off my symptoms and I ended up in a big mess. I haven't worked in over a month. It is funny you talk about the tingling in your extremeties, I have those symptoms as well. I also blamed some of the changes going on in my body from having my daughter. I have gotten to the point that no matter what I am doing, when I stand up I am light headed and dizzy. I am nauseated quite a bit as well. Through my latest procedures within the last month, I have been diagnosed with: endometriosis, ovarian cysts, gastritis, hiatal hernia, duodenitis, ilietis, proctitis, internal hemorrhoids, and a polyp was found in my colon and on my cervix. I had to ask for a ferritin level to be drawn before I ever knew how far things had gone. It is too bad that i to prompt doctors but I deserved the answers and they never batted an eye lash. Especially if you have young children, you owe to them as well to feel good. And we all feel so terrible, I wish I could turn back time because I feel bad when my daughter will ask me to carry her up to her room and I don't have the strength!!! Talk with your doc, see if he thinks you are bleeding somewhere. Take your labs to your OB and talk with them about the heavy periods and if they think it is related. I would also have another endoscopy but also have the always dreaded colonoscopy too. Other than your belly pain, which needs to be rechecked as well, do have pain anywhere else? I hope it gets better for you, and I would like to hear how it works out for you.
D
Last edited by lemieux1973; 09-09-2007 at 07:38 AM.
Thanks for all the help and support. I could use it when it comes to dr's. When I have an appointment I have my hubby come with me because I am a pushover. I have been told my symptoms were due to "just having a baby", "depression", and "all in my head" which really discourages me from wanting to even go to appointments! Hubby is NOT a pushover by any means and will voice his opinion and if it wasn't for him I would probably have not been diagnosed with anything!! I am sure I still have many problems not yet diagnosed, but getting there SLOWLY!
I must say, my problems pale in comparison to what you are going/have went through! That is quite a list!! I have had many, many tests run from scopes to blood to gallbladder being removed! The only test I haven't had done is the colonoscopy, which I dread because I have a family history of Colon/digestive cancers, and most have died in their early 30's. I am 28. I am sure that will be next though.
The tingling in my hands, feet and legs has only been getting worse. I seem to notice it more when I am just starting to fall asleep. They get all hot and sweaty then the tingling/burning starts. My feet and hands have always been either too hot or too cold (usually too cold during the day and hot at night). I mentioned it to my dr. and that is when he decided to test me for b12 deficiency. I guess it came back normal, he never prescribed anything?!
As for the pain, stomach is the most obvious pain I have. Sometimes neck and back pain as well but not anything out of the ordinary. The stomach pain is almost daily. I don't think I have had a day in the last 4 years without it! I know I need to have another endoscopy done as the gastritis does not seem to be going away even though I have been taking a PPI for the last 3 years!
Anyways, am rambling on again. Thanks for all your help! I appreciate it!
Listen, I just meet with a great doctor and if he is right I am going to tell you all about it. I think your symptoms sound a lot like mine, and if he can help me (which I never thought it would happen) then I want to make sure you get help too. You sound so much like me even through what you say. I am glad to hear your husband is supportive AND going to appointments. I can't even tell you the name of the diagnosis, but it is secondary to the possible bowel issues I have and that is another reason, you need to talk to a GI doctor. Especially with your family history. If your doctor knows about that and your symptoms, he should have his butt kicked for not making you have one. Also, the numbness and tingling for me is from the inflammation and irritation I have been having in my wrists and hands. He says I do have arthritis, not sure what type yet, but that is pressing against a nerve causing carpal tunnel. Where braces on your wrists at night, the ones with metal peace to hold your wrist in place. I am going to, he said the sensations should start to go away rather quickly!!! Please keep me posted on how you feel or what your doctor has in store for you!! And as one of the doctor's that I work with told me, "You have to have complete faith in your doctor's and that they are giving you the care you deserve!!"
So I had my Dr. appt. today and he told me my iron was 7 and normal was between 10 and 200 (or something like that here in Canada) and I am NOT anemic..is that possible?? Wow...didn't know being a little low could cause soo many problems...I do have to admit I am feeling a lot better than when I first posted here...the horrible dizziness/feel like fainting spells have almost fully dissappeared, and the weird head buzzing thing has almost gone as well! Amazing what low iron can cause!! The stomach issues have also gone down a bit, but I don't really think that is iron related?! My memory is still horrible and I still have a bit of "brain fog"...hoping that will go away soon! For now I am still taking 600mg for another week or so then 300mg every other day...YAY progress )
i have anemia because of monthly blood loss and hormone imbalance, fibroids, etc.. When I take source naturals ferrochel I feel my energy level go up immediately. I am very skinny and respond to most things im depleted in very quickly. My ferritin is at a 1.7 and my blood count at an 8.0. I dont feel so terrible becasue progesterone cream helps to keep me balanced and my body is use to low blood levels after 3 years. Also my diet is very healthy. No fried foods, ice cream etc. that beings energy levels down.
So I had my Dr. appt. today and he told me my iron was 7 and normal was between 10 and 200 (or something like that here in Canada) and I am NOT anemic..is that possible??
When my ferritin was at 5, I did not have anemia once I started on the supplements. Prior to supplementation (with a ferritin of 5) I was anemic.
diamond79--Normal Ferritin for a female to feel good is 50-70 at least and should really be even higher. The low end of this chart is not good at all. When I was under 10 my hair fell out really bad. What does your doctor want you to be at? This takes a very long time to rebuild. Many people here are in your same position, so yes this is normal for some people. Glad you are feeling better! Good luck. FLFLOWERGIRL
jugirl - your body isn't used to being low in iron after 3yrs, it's you who are used to it, but not your body. Your body and your organs are actually struggling more than you realise. Not a lot of people realise how much of a toll very low iron levels take on a body.
I wasn't aware of a lot of things to do with low iron until i began researching the net, reading posts on the healthboard and then finally finding an amazing doctor who simply doesnt accept low iron levels and tries his best to get all his patient's iron levels up to a reasonable level due to bad long term effects of low iron.
I had to get iron injections in the end and now i feel great. I wish that 6yrs ago i knew all the info on this particular topic that i know today. I would have done something about it then, rather than it leading to side effects which will take a while to correct.
Don't simply accept that you have very low iron and somehow live with it, try your hardest to get it up as high as you can. The last thing you want is it leading to losing half your hair and a thyroid problem, among other things.
but I just want the annoying lightheaded/dizziness, fatigue to go away!
I'm just sooo sick of feeling tired, dizzy and lightheaded when I stand up! I have had these symptoms for years, so I assume it's going to take a while for me to get back to "normal"....*SIGH*
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