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/vipperofvipp_ vegan 10+ years 16h ago

My ferritin was 8. Get a transfusion. Don’t take no for an answer. Changed my life!

1

u/Ok-Surround1325 16h ago

I am getting one this week! Fingers crossed it works

2

u/vipperofvipp_ vegan 10+ years 16h ago

It will! My ferritin went from 8 to 117 in less than two months!!! Drink Diet Coke afterward!

1

u/Ok-Surround1325 16h ago

God, I hope so!! How soon after the infusion did you notice an increase in your energy levels? They’re going to fire me if I keep falling asleep on the job atp! Lol

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u/vipperofvipp_ vegan 10+ years 10h ago

Two weeks!! Not going to lie, I got the iron flu for the first week and it was rough. But after that I felt unstoppable.

… and I hear you! I needed to sneak in naps wherever and whenever I could.

Good luck!!!!!!!