I have experienced tingling, burning, weakness, and numbness all over my body. This has been coming on for the past three months. I had been getting painful but not debilitating headaches, daily. I decided to seek medical help when I lost feeling in my feet. I could barely walk. I would drag my feet across the floor. I became extremely tired. My eyes hurt, I lost feeling in my bowel, stomach, and throat.
My family doctor immediately ordered a blood test to check for deficiencies. Being a vegetarian, I thought I was suffering from B12 deficiency, but my levels were within the normal range. My ferritin levels, however, were "5". My family doctor did not seem overly concerned because my red blood cells were all within normal range. He stated that I was not anemic but well on my way to become anemic, so I would need to supplement the iron. Because I have inflammatory bowel disease, I was apprehensive to take iron because I do not tolerate it well. My family doctor said an MRI should be done to rule out MS but also said that the disease is not normally symmetrical. He referred me to an internist.
In the meantime my symptoms slowly improved. After 2 weeks, I decided it was a good idea to integrate iron.
In the third week, I saw the internist. He believes that everything is related to the low levels of ferritin and that if I boost my iron, all symptoms will subside. He thought that it would be unnecessary to see a neurologist or have an MRI to rule out MS.
Since I saw the internist, I have experienced extreme pain all over my face, along with a headache. The pain is debilitating. I also started vomiting with diarrhea.
I am hopeful that all of this is due to low ferritin, but I am wondering why my family doctor was concerned that it might be much more than that? Can low ferritin really cause all of these symptoms? Would it be a good idea to still have an MRI and meet with a neurologist? or would it be best to wait everything out?
Thank you!