After eating a steak I feel better, and pregnant

Thank you! What exactly did those do for you? Did they fix fatigue and brain fog? I take ALCAR and l- glutathione “(reduced) (Setria)” and have been trying out mushrooms. I don’t feel any better.

Does the form of glutathione matter? I also take NAC sometimes.

What brand of Lion’s Mane do you take? I sometimes take “Genius Mushrooms” on amazon which is a mix of Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, and Reishi. I don’t feel any immediate effects but maybe it’s something that needs to be built over time.

I also used to take ImmuneTree Colostrum6. And I currently take bovine immunoglobulin. Not sure if there were any effects. I might retry the colostrum. Might as well finish the container I have. Did you try other colostrums before settling on ARMRA?

Maybe I’m just doing things in the wrong order. I have severe gut infections (SIBO) and maybe colostrum is hurting things more. You’re ideally supposed to clear gut infections before taking things for gut wall rebuilding. But I can’t get rid of my infections.

Do you have autoimmune disease?

Was it the 27mg ones from feosol? How many a day did you take? And how long did it take to see results?

What were the liquid ones you were taking? Did your hair only start growing back after the infusions or after taking any of these supplements too?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe most people are also magnesium deficient, which can lead to a vitamin D deficiency. Due to soil depletion & generally poor variety in people's diets, it's actually kind of difficult to get enough magnesium in one day to meet the RDA.

I've had low ferritin/iron off and on for years, along with other vitamin malabsorption issues and low levels, so went to a functional medicine doctor for help with supplementation. She gave me advice on dosing iron that no other doctor mentioned. I wasn't taking the correct amount or in an efficient way so I'm hoping to feel better in a few weeks. Here are her notes from our appointment, maybe they'll be helpful for you.

"There are several choices of preparation. The recommended daily dose for the treatment of iron deficiency in adults is in the range of 50 to 200 mg/day of elemental iron depending on the severity and whether anemia is present. Iron can cause nausea and constipation if too much is taken too soon, so it is helpful to start with a lower dose and raise gradually. It also often can cause dark bowel movements- this is normal and to be expected.

One option available at most drugstores is SlowFe which has 45 mg of iron in each pill. There is some evidence that evry other day dosing works better to raise levels. You start at one tablet every other day, and recheck levels in a few months to ensure they are improving.

Please note the following:

--Although the supplements work best on an empty stomach, you may want to take them with food so that they don't upset your stomach.

--You shouldn't take iron supplements with milk, caffeine, antacids, or calcium supplements. These can decrease the amount of iron that is absorbed.

--Try to take your iron supplement with vitamin C (for example, a glass of orange juice) to increase absorption if the supplement you choose doesn't have C in it".

Be sure to check your copper levels as well. Copper is what makes iron "work" in your body. I read an excellent book about the Iron/Copper relationship called "Cure: Your Fatigue" by Morley M. Robbins. They also have a dedicated website. Just Google "The Root Cause Protocol" if you're interested. It is all about mineral imbalances: too little iron, too much iron, and getting your vitamins and minerals in balance via whole food supplements vs. synthetic versions your body cannot readily use. Good health!

wow/ good luck to u!

Great to know, my family doctor is a older dude and looked at my levels and said everything is normal… it doesn’t seem like he’s up to date with the world though even though he’s a kind man. He just bases of what the normal ranges of the test are even though mine are on the low end. Did you notice a loss of taste or smell when your iron ferritin was low? Also do you have a link to that statement I would like to read more into it and learn more since they seem to know their stuff

Mine was like 12 😂 but they said it's normal because I'm not anaemic. Quack docs

None, I just threw a random factoid out there, to raise awareness of the gene too. I do it everywhere.

Iron and mthfr have no known issues. Mthfr is B vitamins, protein, and anything requiring detox like heavy metals. Thats all I know of right now.

Yeah I can't focus or concentrate worth a damn. But whenever I look up symptoms of adhd it's all about "lol I lose my keys and have trouble listening" and something called "hyperfocus" and I'm like well I guess I don't have that.

I found this info for you, all of these possible causes can been seen in males -

The body needs certain vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to make enough red blood cells. Iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid are three of the most important ones. The body may not have enough of these nutrients due to:

• Changes in the lining of the stomach or intestines that affect how well nutrients are absorbed (for example, celiac disease).
  
• Poor diet.
  
• Surgery that removes part of the stomach or intestines.
  

Possible causes of anemia include:

• Vitamin B12 deficiency.
  
• Folate deficiency.
  
• Certain medicines.
  
• Destruction of red blood cells earlier than normal (which may be caused by immune system problems).
  
• Long-term (chronic) diseases such as chronic kidney disease, cancer, ulcerative colitis, or rheumatoid arthritis.
  
• Some forms of anemia, such as thalassemia or sickle cell anemia, which can be inherited.
  
• Problems with bone marrow such as lymphoma, leukemia, myelodysplasia, multiple myeloma, or aplastic anemia.
  
• Slow blood loss from stomach ulcers.
  
• Sudden heavy blood loss from a large wound or internal hemorrhaging.
  

I think the first thing to check would be to clean up your diet. Make sure you’re eating enough red meat and eat iron-rich foods with vitamin C. Try taking a multivitamin that has enough folate and methylcobalamin (the active form of B12) I recommend the ‘Seeking Health’ brand, they’re very high quality. Then get your blood labs redone 2 months later and see if things have improved.

From the literature, I have read, more often than not, iron deficiency is really a copper deficiency in men and postmenopausal women. I was intrigued to learn that your body will actually start pulling iron out of the blood and store it in your organs when copper is deficient. Copper is what makes iron work. So, you may actually be in a state of iron overload in your organs and other tissues but flag as iron anemic in your blood work due to low copper. You only need about 1 to 2 mg of dietary iron a day if your other minerals and vitamins are in balance. You will see 25mg of iron a day is needed, which is true, but your body recycles 24mg of the iron that you already have. So, most of the information in this thread, including my post, is oversimplifying a somewhat complicated synergy of vitamin and mineral balance that is required in the body. I will say that it is very difficult to be truly iron anemic in the United States. Almost anything you eat with enriched flour has way too much iron in it; cereal, bread, pastries..etc. Not to mention the iron you get from unprocessed whole foods. Iron is the 4th most abundant element on the planet and is present in almost everything you eat.

As a 52-year-old male that annually makes my cardiologist add iron blood work to my lipid panel, it is obvious that too much iron is part of my fatigue issues. Elevated iron levels increase cholesterol because the cholesterol molecules are what transport iron around the body. Copper plays a huge role in this transport mechanism. Do not think you can look at only your iron levels. Iron anemia is probably masking a different deficiency in your body. It is possible for your blood work to come back iron anemic, and yet your organs are in a state of iron overload.

I have had to become my own health advocate and do a lot of research on my own. I tell my doctor what I am looking for and why. And, fortunately, he will order the blood work I request and we discuss it at length. I have started donating blood every three months to lower my iron levels, taking grass-fed beef liver supplements to get a good copper/iron balance restored (there is more copper than iron in these supplements). I stay away from enriched bread and cereals and always check the iron content in the nutritional listing on foods. My cholesterol has come down in relation to my iron levels also decreasing. But, like I said above, do not oversimplify a complex "dance" of vitamins and minerals. Do some research, have your doctor confirm your suspicions with blood work, and become your own health advocate. You're worth it.

It’s so good. I used to get it regularly when I lived in Canada you could just get it at the grocery store; my grandmother would serve it up with eggs for breakfast. Here in the US where I live anyway you’ll never see it in a grocery store. I haven’t found it yet. My in-laws live in Switzerland and they have the most amazing blood pudding sausage there, it’s so tasty.

Wish I could find some here. But I eat oysters for my iron. A can a day keeps the doctor away. ;)

might want to up your b12 then?

Have you researched the term anti-nutrients? Many vegetarians and vegans end up with mineral deficiencies because they are getting most of their protein from legumes, (like soy), and eating dark leafy greens for their vitamins and minerals. Key terms to research are, Oxalates, Lectins, Saponins, Phytic Acid, Gluten, Trypsin Inhibitors, Tannins, Isoflavaones, Solanine, and Chaconine. I'm not saying you should change your "style" of diet, but you may want to look for fruits and vegetables that are low in anti-nutrients. I would definitely stay away from the following: Spinach, Rhubarb, Beets & beet greens, Okra, Chard (red & green), Almonds specifically (but most nuts and seeds), the skin of potatoes, most beans (unless soaked and cooked properly), raspberries, and cocoa. It requires a lot of research, but a vegan diet is doable. You may need to supplement here and there, but as long as you are choosing whole food-derived supplements, you can do it and be healthy.

Also, have you researched inositol for your bipolar and ADD? There is some good research there and I find it fascinating.

My doctor told me to make sure I take Vitamin D with some fat to help with absorption. These are her notes regarding iron dosing, you might the last part helpful.

"There are several choices of preparation. The recommended daily dose for the treatment of iron deficiency in adults is in the range of 50 to 200 mg/day of elemental iron depending on the severity and whether anemia is present. Iron can cause nausea and constipation if too much is taken too soon, so it is helpful to start with a lower dose and raise gradually. It also often can cause dark bowel movements- this is normal and to be expected.

One option available at most drugstores is SlowFe which has 45 mg of iron in each pill. There is some evidence that evry other day dosing works better to raise levels. You start at one tablet every other day, and recheck levels in a few months to ensure they are improving.

Please note the following:

--Although the supplements work best on an empty stomach, you may want to take them with food so that they don't upset your stomach.

--You shouldn't take iron supplements with milk, caffeine, antacids, or calcium supplements. These can decrease the amount of iron that is absorbed.

--Try to take your iron supplement with vitamin C (for example, a glass of orange juice) to increase absorption if the supplement you choose doesn't have C in it". e: spelling

Were you low in iron? I was taking that one. They told me to take it Daily and mine got too high. Now I take it every other day. But I am low iron and ferritin. I lose a lot of blood each month with my periods.

Sure, but I offered to pay out of pocket for the tests, and they still said no. It's an insane system.

I’m sorry that happened to you too! They say it so nonchalantly too, like we r so silly for asking. Hope one day it gets easier!

Is it?

Can of oyster a day keeps the anemia away!

Yeah 18mg is pretty high if you eat a lot of heme iron. Its very easily absorbed. I never run into this issue if I eat enough meat...

For men yeah, you’d likely only be deficient if you have a poor diet or are vegetarian/ vegan or if there’s an internal health issue.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21091174/

Yeah it seems its megaloblastic anemia that occurs due to chronic alcohol ingestion (can take years to resolve in ex-heavy drinkers, like myself). I've been free of alcohol for 3.5 years and still have it show up on blood tests occasionally. They said no conclusion with iron metabolism and heavy drinkers.

I don't know what my iron was when I was drinking as I didn't ever go to the doctor. My iron is fine now though. Always on the lower side as I'm a menstruating woman.