Iron Stores depleted.

[ozchick]

Very brief history.  Gave birth to my 3rd child at 37yrs old.  He is now 6 months old.  3 months ago I went to my GP because I was feeling overwhelmed with tiredness, slightly emotional (because I was so tired), and feeling "not myself".

He instantly prescribed antidepressants (Remeron), diagnosing PND with slight seasonal affected disorder.

I took them.  After 8 weeks, I was STILL feeling tired & emotional ... in fact the tiredness was increasing.  I went back to my GP and asked for a blood test to check my thyroid & hormone levels (as I had not had a period since the birth and didn't breastfeed so was wondering what was happening).  As part of that blood test, he also checked my Iron.

Results came in.  Low iron.  Ferritin level of 7.

I have been taking an iron supplement for 30 days, and had my levels tested last week - ferritin risen to 27.  All iron is still on the low side and I have to continue with iron supplement for another 2 months.

But in the last week I feel as though the fog has lifted.  The tiredness, exhaustion is gone.  I have renewed energy levels again.

My question is ... was I depressed or was my iron deficiency causing this feeling.  Of course I've asked my GP, who I think doesn't want to admit that perhaps I was misdiagnosed and is perhaps feeling uncomfortable that I had to ask for the blood test, that it wasn't something that he looked at in a post-natal woman complaining of fatigue.

I feel so good now.  I am going to discuss coming off the antidepressants.  They are not a medication I have ever needed and I don't think I need them now.

So yes, my question - could iron deficiency and low iron stores make you feel so tired and run down and overwhelmed that you just cry.

[JadeEternity]

Absolutely.  My mom had anemia even worse than me and she used to tell me that the anemia was very much like having acne.  The idea is to keep it under control because if you don't, you can have some horrible symptoms.

Some people have relatively low hematocrit levels and may do much better than someone who is borderline with the symptoms they might have.  Every time my anemia has gotten out of control, mine has been borderline, but I have felt horrible.  The fatigue, headaches (which I never have), feeling dizzy and really feeling depressed.  I'm a pretty happy person even with a good amount of stress so I know when something is out of whack.  

I'm just glad that you went to the doc and you asked for the test.  Most women do not and they should.  My gynecologist does this at my yearly visit for a PAP routinely.  He says most of his patients have it at one time or another or suffer with it chronically.

With the antidepressant, I would definitely try without it to see how you are feeling.

[quarky]

i personally am anemic and when my iron levels drop too low...i start to feel depressed so its entirely possible that was your problem all along.