Definitely NOT anemic anymore!

So it is official....Vitalady's "Tender Iron" (carbonyl iron)  totally works!  I went from anemic to low normal in two months and now 6 months after the initial diagnosis of Iron Deficiency anemia...my iron levels are TOO HIGH!  LOL  AMAZING! 

My iron went from 22 to 55 in two months and 175 in 6 mos!  WEE WHOO!
Now I get to cut down! 

My ferritin went from 5 to 16 to 44.5!!!

And my low HGB went from 11 to 13 to 14.9 ! :::Whew::::

So why do I feel so awful and tired?  My thyroid went back to hypothyroidism  (went from 2.41 to 4.42)  I've had that under control with no meds for 4 years!!!!....If it's not one thing it's another!  I feel like poop.  I thought I had arthritis in my elbow...My new Doc says it's tendonitis, (She thought I was an athlete! )  LMAO!  That's funny!  I am too uncoordinated and slow  and TOTALLY too lazy to be an athlete!  But she said it's probably due to my swimming which I do for hours on the weekends...makes sense now!  I was afraid it was a Vit deficency....

Well..Ill be going back on my first meds since surgery almost 5 years ago....Not too bad             

Hi Anita,

Well as far as am concern you are doing extremely well, and you should give yourself a definite pat on the back.  Just take the medication, and you should be fine.  You know what you have to do.  I pray you continue to have a healthy and successful journey!!!

Well thanks sweetie!  I think for someone who got a little too confident and complacent without vits, I got pretty lucky.  Some of us learn things the long hard way...But I got the message loud and clear...

VITAMINS FOREVER!!!!  LOL

Hugs!

You go girl!!!!

No more anemia for you! That's great. As for the hypothyroidism, I am in  the same boat and waiting for my latest blood work results to see what my new dose adjustment will be. I have been extremely tired and have a slow pulse and also am recovering from PS and not healing normally. My iron counts are good so it has to be the thyroid. Low thyroid is not something to ignore. Hope you start on some medication soon and start getting some pep back.

Sher

Hey Sher!

Yep, kicked anemia in the bud!  I was hypothyroid before surgery....I am very very sensitive too.  When my TSH is up like it is..I can almost fall asleep standing up!  It just amazes me how quickly these things happen...I had my labs 6 months ago and my thyroid was perfect!  All this time working hard on my iron I thought my iron levels were slipping. 

I cannot believe how weird I feel.  I have moments where my heart races and I feel like I'm having a panic atttack  and then I just crash into total sleepiness...I feel dizzy and just awful most of the time...I remember this from 5 years ago....but I have more energy now since I am not carrying 315 lbs too!  Thank goodness.  My hair is falling out like maddness!  I cannot wait to get on meds...What's one more little pill to swallow with all the vitamins?  

I heard that soy affects thyroid meds....and that is going to be soooooo unfortunate for me because I LOVE soy.  Looks like I have more research to do!  :(

Hey, that's great news!!! So, how many Tender Iron were you taking and what are you dropping it down to???

Thanks Tracy...

I was taking 13 tablets or 325 mg of Tender Iron.  I dropped down to 8 last night and will stay here for now.  I don't want to cut too far back and lose the ground I made raising my ferritin (bodies iron storages).  I still want my ferritin more than the 44.5  that it is (normal is 15-150)....It's the slowest to move....so I just need to slow the actual iron (in my blood)  down enough to keep normal levels but still keep raising the ferritin...THAT, I have NO idea how to do yet! I will figure it out though!  LOL.  I put in an email to Vitalady....and told her my plan...so I'm just waiting to see what she thinks or if she has any suggestions.  But I think I'll just stick with 8 for now...(That's 200 mg. of iron) 

Another thing though...The two month retest I had when they found I was anemic, I had just finished my TOM and my iron had raised very nicely into normal, but it was still quite low....This last test was a day BEFORE my TOM and so I know I have dumped some iron with my cycle...So I'm not going to be too eager to cut back too far just yet.  Doc sent me a letter and wants me to come back in...so she'll probably run another test in two months...Or I will request one to see where 200 mg leaves my iron.  It's a juggling act for sure!

I am almost where I want to be and hope to only take 5-6 to maintain my iron , ferrtin and good HGB counts....til I am no longer with a TOM. 

 

I am glad that you are not stopping the Tender Iron.  My former pcp told me she thinks everyone with a ferritin under 50 needs to supplement iron.  I am trying to get my ferritin to 100.

Hullo loverly lady,

It's good to hear the anemia is gone, and now it's the balencing act of finding out how much iron to take. It's good to not be anemic. As to the meds.. meh icky- but hopefully it'll get it all under control and you're energy levels will go back up.  Best of luck!

MWah!