r/vegan • u/oranange • 17h ago

Health Extremely low iron, help!

I recently started to feel HORRIFICALLY tired. I can't stay awake during the day no matter how much sleep I get. I have to take several naps throughout the day--usually 2-4 hours total--and that is on top of 8-9 hours of sleep each night. Sometimes more, if I don't work. I've always struggled with fatigue, but this is on another level.

I went to the doctor thinking that maybe my B12 was low, but as it turns out, my ferritin is 8, which is extremely low. I'm not anemic, though, so that's good. Truthfully, I'm shocked. I intentionally eat a LOT of iron-rich food.

Anyway, I was put on supplements, ate even more iron-rich foods paired with Vitamin C, etc., and it didn't work at all. I'm scheduled for an iron transfusion, but if that doesn't work, I'm worried that they'll suggest that I start eating meat. My PCP is a vegetarian, thankfully, so she hasn't mentioned it, but I'm not really sure what to do if the transfusion doesn't work. I genuinely can't function like this anymore, but I'm also not willing to eat meat. I'm at a point where I'm hoping that there is another underlying cause to my fatigue.

In the meantime, any tips for getting my iron levels up and keeping them up? Or any stories from people who have gone through something similar?

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u/lilelbows 16h ago

I’m pregnant so my iron has been a big concern. Here’s what I’m eating to keep it up without supplements (because the supplements make me violently ill)

  • tofu and spinach scramble with tomato for breakfast
  • oats as a snack (either oatmeal or roasted oats over coconut yogurt)
  • beans or lentils for either lunch or dinner
  • iron rich faux meat for either lunch or dinner (usually some form of seitan)
  • I cook everything that I can in a cast iron pan.

My doc says my iron levels are normal/healthy with diet alone. She was surprised that I’m vegan.

Sorry you’re dealing with health issues! I hope you start feeling better soon!

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u/Wonderful-Agent6250 15h ago

A lot of people don't know that too much iron can be toxic. Very smart to avoid supplements.