Went from high iron to low iron in 6 months

(Shona) #1

Just wondering if anyone has had issues with their iron levels?

In the last 6 months I have been diagnosed with high iron with only one out of the 2 markers for haemochromatosis. To last lot of bloods coming back low to a point where I should be medicated.

I have been keto for 4years and in the last few months I have noticed more fluid in my legs and the lethargy I felt has gotten worse.

I just want to know if anyone has had these sort of issues or know of any websites etc I can do some reading about this.

I can’t keep going like this I dont have the energy to spend time and do things with my kids. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

(Edith) #2

First thought: If your iron was so high while on keto for 3.5 years and tanked in only six months with no dietary change, it does not sound diet related.

Second thought (which doesn’t quite fit since you’ve been keto for so long, but…) What is your protein, fat, and carb percentages? Do you eat a lot of red meat? Do you get enough protein? Are you eating a lot of oxalate containing foods that prevent the absorption of vitamins and minerals?

My nutrition theory, particularly for women is that it is very difficult for us to get all the nutrients we need on a ketogenic diet because we don’t need as many calories as men, and because so many of our calories come from fat, which does not contain a lot of vitamins and minerals. We also tend to eat a lot of oxalate containing foods on keto, i.e. nuts, berries, greens, that can prevent us from absorbing all the nutrients in our food. As women, about 500-600 calories a day is all we have to get in all of the vitamins, minerals, and protein we need. Everything we eat needs to be a nutrient dense as possible. Maybe you’ve drawn down your vitamins and minerals reserves over the past four years and the deficiencies are starting to show?

#3

Are you sure you didn’t have covid?

I’ve heard of people with severe post covid symptoms talk about accumulation of fluid in their legs. Covid leads to hypercoagulation and a deficiency of B12 in the body. B12 is required to make hemoglobin.

(Allie) #4

Where were the tests done? Just asking as I got mine done privately and they messed up big time, told me I was anaemic so I started supplementing then they changed my report without telling me (thinking I wouldn’t notice… ) to say high iron. Obviously I noticed as I pay attention to these things and I’ve now had a full refund for the last tests and cancelled their services as I can’t trust them at all.

It would be worth getting yourself tested again.

#5

These days my protein mainly comes from beef and eggs. My blood test last week showed I was low in iron. Lifelong (testing 2 times a year for about 5 years) it has never been a problem. So I’ll get it retested like Allie notes.

(Shona) #6

I dont really track my macros as I dont really change my eating much.
Breakfast
Bacon and eggs
Lunch
Is leftovers or some sort of salad or some cheese and meat.
Dinner
Meat with either veggies or salad
Sometimes I might snack on nuts or berries but its very rare these days.
I eat more than my husband as I am hungry all the time maybe im not eating enough fat. :woman_shrugging:

(Shona) #7

Im pretty sure it wasn’t covid. Dr has had no reason to think it could be.

I have experienced tiredness for years and have had regular bloods but this was the first ever time I have had issues like this. My tiredness is now more extreme exhaustion :sleeping:

(Shona) #8

So my test were done with a private company and ill be retesting again in 6 weeks as per Drs instructions. I was just hoping that someone may have experienced this type of thing before and could maybe shed some light on how I can make it through the exhaustion is killing and with 2 small kids and work im so tired.

#9

Tiredness is either due to Vitamin D and/or B12 deficiency.

Do you have circadian rhythm issues? Like not waking up at sunrise?