Help with Iron-deficiency anemia - PEP BB medicine.wood.anemia

Pseudonym: Nikki

Things to know:
*Anemia means hemoglobin is low. It's often the last stage of iron deficiency, as the body generally prioritizes making hemoglobin over the hundreds of other things that iron does in our bodies. I don't have a photo of my hemoglobin results, but I have a screenshot of the doctor's summary when I was diagnosed with anemia. My hemoglobin quickly resolved, so most of this post is focused on the "iron deficiency" part.
*Ferritin is a protein that stores iron and releases it as needed. Iron is like the cash in your pocket that can be spent immediately, and ferritin is your money in the bank that can be withdrawn. Ferritin level below 30 is currently recognized as a marker for iron deficiency. If the science is accurate, most lab ranges show too low of ferritin as "normal."

Photo 1 - The doctor's summary when I was diagnosed with anemia in 2022

I took an iron supplement as recommended by my doctor, but my iron and ferritin continued to drop, so I did my own research.
Photos 2 & 3 - Iron and ferritin levels after I had begun iron supplements. They're lower than when I started, so I stopped the original supplement.

Photo 4 - I started taking Floradix (a low dose iron supplement), Deep Roots tincture from Red Moon Herbs (to help my body use the iron), and herbal infusions high in iron and other minerals (particularly stinging nettle infusion).

Behavioral: Iron is best utilized in the morning vs the evening, and the body is able to digest and absorb nutrients best when calm. With this in mind, I began starting my day with peaceful recitations, visualizations, and/or prayers of gratitude before taking the iron supplement and Deep Roots tincture.

Food as Medicine: I learned that some minerals, particularly calcium, interfere with iron absorption. Eggs are recommended for iron overload because the choline in the yolks blocks iron absorption. Spinach and Swiss chard need to be cooked for the iron to be bioavailable, and glucose spikes may inhibit iron absorption. Vitamin C, animal protein, and beta-carotene increase the bioavailability of nonheme (plant based) iron. Cofactors are necessary, such as copper, zinc, folate, and B12. So I rearranged my meals, particularly breakfast since that was right after taking the iron supplement and tincture. Soup became my frequent breakfast, usually made with lentils, handfuls of parsley and other greens,  mushroom powder, a bit of beef, and other veggies. Everyone recommends beef liver, but I just couldn't handle much. Fortunately, there are plenty of other nutritious foods. When I didn't have soup, breakfast was things like beef patties smothered with tomato sauce and a side of cantaloupe, or sweet potato with chicken sausage and strawberries -- components that were high in iron enhancers (meat protein, vitamin C, beta carotene) and low in iron inhibitors (calcium, oxalates, phytates).

My concoctions: Iron couldn't be well utilized when I was low in other vitamins and minerals. I saw the biggest increase in my bloodwork and my overall well being when I began incorporating mineral-rich herbal infusions. I used only nettle to begin with but then branched out and alternated oatstraw, red raspberry leaf, and hawthorn berry, often adding rosehips for the vitamin C. I drank all but nettle later in the day so the minerals wouldn't interfere with iron absorption.

Photos 5 & 6 - Iron is within range and ferritin is over 30. I'm no longer considered iron deficient!

I'm going to continue with my current protocol, as I'd like to see my ferritin get optimal rather than just "no longer iron deficient."

Do you believe your hemoglobin resolved quickly with the Floradix? I am chronically anemic and I get iron infusions every year for the past 5 or 6 but they make me feel awful for a week after and I need 3 infusions over a month so that's a a long time of dealing with that. Plus they are very expensive. I asked my hematologist if I could try oral iron again and she is giving me 3 months to get my ferritin & hemoglobin higher. She said she would prescribe ferrous gluconate but when I picked it up at the pharmacy it was ferrous sulfate. When I asked, she said it was the same thing (which it obviously is not). So the trust has eroded a bit. Plus I have bad GI issues and reflux already. Your information is very helpful. How long did you steep  your nettle infusion and how much did you usually drink a day if you don't mind me asking?

Sunny Kahlo wrote:Do you believe your hemoglobin resolved quickly with the Floradix? I am chronically anemic and I get iron infusions every year for the past 5 or 6 but they make me feel awful for a week after and I need 3 infusions over a month so that's a a long time of dealing with that. Plus they are very expensive. I asked my hematologist if I could try oral iron again and she is giving me 3 months to get my ferritin & hemoglobin higher. She said she would prescribe ferrous gluconate but when I picked it up at the pharmacy it was ferrous sulfate. When I asked, she said it was the same thing (which it obviously is not). So the trust has eroded a bit. Plus I have bad GI issues and reflux already. Your information is very helpful. How long did you steep  your nettle infusion and how much did you usually drink a day if you don't mind me asking?

That sounds rough! I can see why trust has eroded.some with your doctor. Do you have an idea what the root cause of your iron deficiency is? Without knowing that, it's so hard to address and correct... it's like continually trying to fill a bucket with a big hole in it. I've had several GI issues over the years as well, so I'm addressing that and liver health, and it seems that's been helping my body with iron absorption.

My hemoglobin had already raised to normal level before I started taking Floradix, but Floradix has been the only supplement so far to raise my iron and ferritin without causing more stomach problems. I hear good things about Mary Ruth's gummy iron from people who can't tolerate other iron very well, so I'm considering looking into that at some point, too. For now, I need the B vitamins that are in Floradix. For some people, the B vitamins in Floradix would be too much, so that's something to keep in mind.

I usually steep the nettle infusions in the fridge overnight. An internet search for Susun Weed's Nourishing Herbal Infusions can give you much more info about it. Many people who drink them go for a quart a day, but it usually takes me 2 days to drink a quart, and I'd have 1-2 per week. Nettles can be rather drying, so I also like it with a pinch of marshmallow root to balance that.

Have you tried a heme-based iron? Simply Heme is the one I see most often used, and I would have tried them but I can't swallow pills. I hope you find what helps you!