Anemia and iron levels

kshama2001

Sorry, I know absolutely nothing about protein C deficiency

Maxxitt

OP, I would return to your doctor and ask for a clear explanation of protein c deficiency, how your levels "rate" with regard to severity, and what, if any, steps you should take to mitigate any risk of serious blood clotting. You should also ask for her to explain every lab test you took and what the results suggest.

trailrunner64

@FL_hiker. I am sorry you have to go through this. As helpful as it can be to seek advise here, I would let your physician do the testing he/she feel is needed and may even have you see a specialist if warranted. Anemia and iron levels can be complex and using Dr. Google or Dr. Fitnesspal won't give you the answers you need.

Hang in there - get the testing done. I am sure your primary care provider will get to the bottom of this. Sending you healing thoughts.

youngmomtaz

It is worth discussing every other day dosing of iron with your doc as well. I have been ferritin low/deficient for 15+ years. Starting point of 7. I have never got it above 40 and it never stays there. An endometrial resection I had in March will hopefully reduce period losses enough that I can finally recover. New research is starting to suggest not dosing daily due to the action of Hepcidin in allowing absorption. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1240030/

I will be talking to my doc next week.

fittocycle

In a way, it's not surprising that you are deficient in Vitamin C. I believe you need Vitamin C to help your body utilize iron rich foods. It's a good idea to combine an iron rich food with one high in vitamin C. For instance, having a spinach salad with mandarin oranges and strawberries.

Several years ago, I had very low ferritin. We never figured out the cause but I did work out intensely several days a week. My symptoms were being cold all the time, shedding more hair than usual, feeling very tired, getting out of breath easily, and getting dizzy easily. My doctor prescribed an iron supplement which we had to switch due to stomach issues. It took several months for me to see a big improvement in my iron levels. After I finished with the prescription, I also took an iron supplement for a few months. I found that taking a supplement with iron from a vegetarian source helped me process the iron better.

Please make sure that your doctor monitors your iron levels carefully and never take a supplement without a doctor's supervision. You don't want to find that you have a surplus of iron which can be dangerous too.

Best of luck to you and let us know what you find out!