Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Without Anemia | Recommended Lab Tests

Fatigue, weakness, and decreased performance often manifests before anemia presents itself because cells are struggling to create enough energy to meet demand.

Over and over, I see patients and athletes suffering with chronic symptoms that are related to iron deficiency and cured by simple iron repletion.

It should be noted that even though results from a CBC panel may show hemoglobin in the normal range, iron deficiency still decreases hemoglobin synthesis.

If you are underperforming, get your CBC, transferrin saturation, TIBC and ferritin levels checked.

#drwholeness #OptimizeIron #IronDeficiency

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[notkat]

I just found your channel a few days ago and I feel like you are the only doctor I have seen to do such a great job at describing the ins and outs of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. You totally know what you’re talking about! Watching your videos has given me a better grasp on how to tackle my deficiency, thank you! Could you do a video on how iron deficiency impacts weight loss and how to lose weight while iron deficient? I know a lot of people struggle with weight gain when their iron levels drop. Thank you!

[jayjones]

So glad Dr. Angove believes this. Just saw a hematologist today who literally was dismissive of a diagnosis of low iron without anemia, even though my ferritin is only 7 and have incredible weakness, hair loss, headaches, palpitations, tinnitus, etc. This doctor I saw could not be bothered. Acted as if this was all in my head.

[madisonwallace]

Something nearly disabled me about a month ago and I think it's this. I had a fainting spell followed by persistent palpitations, brain fog, short term memory problems, extreme fatigue, air hunger, vertigo, pulsatile tinnitus, and many pre-syncope episodes. I can't even drive right now because no one has been able to give me a diagnosis after 3 ER trips, a cardiologist, 2 primary care visits, countless labs, and a head CT. I had iron, ferritin, and TSAT checked and they were all much lower than recommended by hematologists, but the insane lab ranges say "Normal" so I still can't get a diagnosis from primary care. I can't get into a hematologist for 3 more months. The only thing that has remotely helped has been starting iron supplements on my own, but I never know how I'll feel on any given day. This is the scariest thing I've ever experienced. Thanks for bringing awareness to this issue!

[madeleinewinterdown]

My ferritin is 3 : tachycardia, hair loss, cold intolerance, exercise intolerance, insomnia, weakness, anxiety and now TINNITUS

[jellisquared]

My ferritin level is 8. I have tachycardia in the mornings when I first wake up, mild hair loss, body weakness and exhaustion at the end of the work day, intermittent arrhythmia and palpitations, tinnitus and pulsatile tinnitus, and mild anxiety and mild shortness of breath. I just ordered Blood Vitality today and opted for expedited shipping. I can't wait to feel well again and have my old energy back. 🙏🏼

[laurapriedite]

I'm a female. My ferritin has always been low (below 2) probably due to extremely heavy menstrual bleeding. After every period i feel like I'm about to die. And because my cbc is in normal ranges my doctor decided to put me on antidepressant because "it's probably hormone based mood disorder". 10 years of antidepressents which did nothing but made me gain 30 extra kilos. It frustrates me so badly.

[julieboyd]

I have suffered from recurring flares of minimal change disease since 12 years of age. I am steroid resistant and my last round of treatment was one year of Cyclosporine. I am now 47 and over the past 5-6 years I have had EVERY test under the sun, including tests for autoimmune diseases, all normal. My hemoglobin has been low in the past, especially with flares but now it is the lowest level within normal. However, I have NEVER once had a GP, Nephrologist, Rheumatologist or any other doctor test my ferritin or iron saturation levels until I demanded it just this week. I have complained about almost every symptom you described for many years, yet I’m always told by my nephrologist and other doctors that my symptoms aren’t from my minimal change disease! I have had one GP tell me I’m depressed, basically lazy. My ferritin is 9 and my iron saturation is 11.2. My nephrologist finally suggested iron transfusions, which I’m supposed to start next week. My main concern is how much damage has this done to my body in my 47 years suffering from severe iron deficiency due to recurring minimal change disease? My nephrologist and my GP act like it’s not a concern and transfusions probably won’t even help, but something is making me feel like I’m dying. I eat healthy. I do limit my protein because of my occasional nephrotic syndrome and what I do eat is usually fish. No one can give me answers as to if this is due to kidneys or a secondary disease. I feel lost.

[bobGmitter]

Yay, had 25 ug/ml ferritin on 1/22/24 just got tested on 3/1/24 and my ferritin is now 46 ug/ml. Took 20mg of Heme iron and 5 mg copper per day and cut back my zinc to 11 mg a day.

[sonnytrixter]

Came across a curious case, CBC was within the normal, however patient had high lactate levels, low ferritin. Probably HYPOFERRITINEMIA

[michellelynnm]

My 15 year old has Headaches, she takes deep breathes all the time like she is air hungry, fatigue, anxiety, some irritability, (she is by nature a soft spoken sweet child), Insomnia, heart pain, racing heart, left side tingling, dizziness, pale skin color, hair falling out, nausea, no appetite and exercise intolerance. It is debilitating and she is now home schooled. I took her for blood work last week. Her Ferritin is 39, Iron total 225, Iron binding 332, Saturation % 68. Hemoglobin 14.7. Her TSH is 2.70, T4-6.7, T3 uptake-30, Free T4 -2. Hashimotos runs on both sides of my family. My mom, her sister and I have Hashimotos. My dad's brother and one of his sons has it as well. Should I be concerned about low Ferritin and her TSH? Her B12 is-278 pg/ml. The doctor is not concerned about her Thyroid, Ferritin or her Iron. She rarely eats red meat. Starting in September I had her taking Ancestral Grass Fed Beef Liver. The doctor said she should stop taking them. He said, take 1000mcg of B12. They didn't check her vitamin D. I'll have that tested. She is going for more blood work on March 11th. I am really confused on her iron situation. Does she have iron overload or something else? Thank you for any advice.

[Kathy_Wray]

I've been taking iron for years and my Ferritin level won't get any higher than 36 so far. How can I raise my Ferritin levels to optimal levels?

[pradeepkailasa]

I have tinnitus in left ear, heart palpitations once in a while, but extremely tired and dizziness, my ferritin levels are 21 and taking 150mg of heme iron since a month, it helped in the beginning but not any more feeling like am going backwards.

[anonymoususer]

I have iron deficiency, but I do not have anemia. My ferritin is at 8 when its really low and a haemoglobin is normal. The highest my iron has ever been is at 12 my doctor kept saying your iron is fine, , until I looked at my own blood work realizing yes 12 is in the range, but on the very low end of the range explaining why I’m always so extremely tired, cold hands, cold feet, always feeling cold, dry hair no matter how much sleep I get I never feel rested, really weak, dizziness and shortness of breath. I thought I was going crazy until that doctor died and I have a new doctor and they’re going to do an iron infusion. I’ve tried so many supplements, and they never bring it up

[Jenny.C]

I'm confused. My ferritin says 12ng/l and the document says normal is 30-300 and that I'm below the reference limit. My gp is away at the moment so I spoke to another doctor. He said it wasn't that low. He then went on to prescribe vitamin D because that was 30nmol/litre. I asked if I should take iron supplements and he said I can if I want to. I'm hoping the vitamin D would do the trick because I'm exhausted. I didn't know palpitations and whooshing in my ears was a symptom but they've been driving me mad for a couple of months. What dose of iron should I be taking. I don't want more gut problems because I'm having a mare with that too.

[djquick]

So… my results came back TIBC high at 452, but Ferritin normal at 263, iron 133, iron sat 29%, RBC 5.3, Hemoglobin 16. So what’s up with that?? All normal but TBIC high. 🤷🏼‍♂️

Have had fatigue, shortness of breath, brain fog, light headedness, tachycardia.

My physician says nothing wrong with my iron.

[ljwismer]

What happens when the body hits the iron depleted stage (serum iron critically low, ferritin critically low, iron saturation of less than 2%). In the case I’m thinking of patient is TPN dependent, oral iron supplement had had a zero impact on deficiency due to malabsorption. Injectafer will be given and levels will be maintained for close to a year then out of the blue complete bottom out. What is the pathophysiology that causes to happens and what happens as the body adapts when replacement therapy cannot be given immediately due to insurance issues

[Ashley-xbsk]

Are there any rare blood disorders that cause Iron Deficiency Without Anemia? 2 years ago, I had Novasure Ablation with D & C and a Tubal Ligament Surgery at the same day surgery because of Menorrhagia-Metrorrhagia which runs in my family with very, very bad menstrual cycles that has family history traced to my great grandmother who bled to death going through the change of life or perimenopause/menopause which would be a very rare medical emergency in this day and age. My great grandmother died of severe blood loss from her menstrual period which would've been an emergency room visit nowadays or a 911 call the way she lost the blood due to a rare case of life-threatening menorrhagia-metrorrhagia. Fortunately, I live in a day and age where medicine in more advanced in procedures, and medication than my great grandmother. Heavy and prolonged bleeding as well blood clots run in my family; it tends get worse around the perimenopause or menopause stages in life.

This is 2 years later, and it's been a success with my procedure, and I haven't had gynecological health issues since then because the gynecologist told me I would have to worry about it for a while, and I get light periods. I had blood test done through my regular doctor and confirmed low iron. The doctor recommended I see my hematologist which I see in September. For now, I take an iron supplement once daily in the morning. I have never had children or given birth to a child. I'm 41 years old.

However, I do see blood in my stool and stool test have been done. Are there any recommended specialty blood test I could ask my hematologist in September? I hope I can solve my great grandmother's mystery bleeding, and her death case one of these days by discovery of a blood disorders, and conditions that can cause life-threatening menorrhagia-metrorrhagia. Now one of my aunts recently had blood test done and discovered that rare blood disorder that cause cramping or pain which could be genetic. I'm not sure what the name of it is.

[Marletdstyle]

My Ferritin is 4 and hemoglobin 11.7 I feel fatigue, dizzy, hair loss etc but my Dr hematology’s says that my hemoglobin is normal and that low ferritin doesn’t affects all that. 😢

[audreyhepburn]

Hi Sir,
Why would vit b12 be on the high normal (647), Hgb 13.5 but ferritin 24 ? 3 months ago it was 37. Thank you.

[riddirahman]

Hey man subbed to your channel. wonder if you can help me.
I have ferritin of 157ngl and trans sat 15% and iron of 9.9
Does this mean I’m deficient without anaemia?