ongoing ferritin "low iron" issues (Read 1501 times)

Question.  Has anyone found that, despite their numbers going up (ferritin/iron) they still have symptoms after running?  I was diagnosed with very low ferritin almost 9 months ago and started supplementing.  Many of my symptoms have since improved...so I started tapering the supplements.  I am now down to one iron pill a day.  However, I still find that excessive running brings my symptoms back ... after running I feel week, shakey and have occassional heart palpitations.  Could running be caused this symptoms to reappear?  I have been tested for other possiblities.. thyroid etc... but this is the only explanation.. I guess. 

Thanks for the reply.  I did have my levels checks and every doc tells me.. you are good to go... back to normal.  Honestly, I haven't had one doctor acknowledge that this is in any way linked to running.  It is very frustrating and makes me think I am crazy... indeed, I had one doc tell me I might need anti-anxiety meds.  Ha... If I can't run... I certainly will.   So... what kind of doctor do I need exactly?  A nutritionist?  Sports medicine? Any thoughts as to the correct doc to follow this issue?  

I have symptoms come back pretty quickly if I get lax on my supplements for a few days. Your doctor doesn't see the link to running? Switch docs. Also, if you aren't getting the needed results pay attention to how you take your supplements: Not with coffee or tea, not with calcium, with fruit or vitamin C supplement. That helped me pretty quickly.

When I first tested in Feb 2011 (with awful symptoms... shaking, vertigo, dizziness, heart palpitations) .. I had a ferritin of 11 (on scale of 13-150).  My hemoglobin was 12.9 (out of 11.5-15.).  By this time, I had already started supplementing with iron for a few weeks b/c I had a hunch that was my problem.

 

Started supplementing with 3 iron pills a day (325 mg ferruous sulfate) and cut down on running significantly.

 

Sometime around June/July, I was feeling much better so I cut down the iron to 1 pill a day and started running 3/4 times a week + other exercise ( plus I am a really active person).

 

I was last tested in July and had iron at 32ug/DL, hemoglobin at 13.2 g/dl and ferritin at 102ng/ML. 

 

Now that my ferritin level is up significantly.. I am worried and don't want to overdo it on the iron. 

 

This is probably too much information, but I am pretty sure my problem was the result of a "perfect storm".  I have had 2 kids over the last five years, was on a IUD which caused me excessive bleeding (for 2 years) and during this time ramped up my running.  I drove myself into the dirt. 

 



Your iron numbers are better now than I can even get mine to and I am male.  While I'm not an expert on this, it does not appear that your iron levels would be the source of your problems....unless your levels have dropped a lot since the July test.

11 was bad....If you're over 30 on ferretin, unless hemoglobin is low, I start doubting that iron is your issue.

I second spaniel's opinion. sounds like not iron. Could it be not enough rest/sleep/ too much stress? I know when I'm doing high mileage (high for me, that is) I need at least 8 hours of sleep a night.

 The difference, for me, when iron WAS an issue (and I don't think it is in this case) was that I never felt fully awake.  I'd get up in the morning but never feel awake.  When my iron is at a normal level I wake up and am alert very quickly.