You don't have to suffer from the symptoms of iron deficiency
What is a good ferritin level? You can easily find out your iron levels with a ferritin test. Minna Halmari finally found relief for her weakened health after identifying iron deficiency and getting the right treatment.
Minna Halmari remembers from her childhood that her legs felt restless and falling asleep was difficult. The cause of these symptoms, which only grew stronger and more numerous with age, was finally discovered decades later. By this point, in addition to restless legs syndrome, she had developed several quality-of-life-impairing illnesses and iron deficiency anemia. In 2018, Minna's iron levels were measured with a ferritin test and a transferrin iron saturation test, and the results were alarmingly low. Her emotions ranged from one extreme to another – there was great relief, but also immense astonishment and even anger. Why hadn't this been thoroughly investigated earlier, after all those doctor's appointments?
Iron deficiency anemia had been officially diagnosed already in 2013, but at that time, the doctor responsible for her care did not address the problem with the seriousness it required. The symptoms had been strong, but Minna had kept pushing through. "Maybe this is just how it's supposed to be," thought the active mother, balancing a hectic life with two small children, work, and studies. Doctors who downplayed the situation and felt that more detailed tests were not at all necessary also weren't helpful. Now, however, Minna knows that the endless fatigue, mood symptoms, crushing chest pain, and several other symptoms clearly stemmed from iron deficiency. D50, E61.1., G25.81… many medical diagnostic codes also became familiar as Minna delved into the topic herself.
She had been taking iron supplements for a long time without noticing a sufficiently significant change. In situations where iron supplements are not suitable for the body or their effectiveness is insufficient for one reason or another, the possibility of an iron infusion, i.e., intravenous iron therapy, comes into play. Minna's symptoms significantly eased after the first iron infusion, and she felt incredible for a while. She finally understood what it feels like when the body's iron stores are not too low.
However, her ferritin levels quickly started to drop again. Heavy menstrual periods took their toll on her iron stores, and Minna constantly had to struggle to get the right treatment to maintain her iron levels. After a hormonal IUD and several self-paid iron infusions, the ultimate relief came only after finding a doctor specialized in iron deficiency and undergoing a hysterectomy. Minna still regularly monitors her iron levels and ensures that they do not drop again.
She finds the general situation regarding iron deficiency worrying – it's possible to get rid of the symptoms with proper treatment, yet far too few people realize they suffer from iron deficiency or the iron deficiency anemia it causes. What is particularly frustrating is that ferritin levels are easy to measure, but healthcare professionals often neglect to do so. If iron deficiency is diagnosed early enough, iron deficiency anemia does not develop at all. In Minna's case, unfortunately, the situation was noticed years too late.
As a co-founder of the Iron Deficiency Association (Raudanpuute ry), Minna has made it her mission to raise awareness of iron deficiency and its treatment. She constantly recognizes people, both in her close circle and in her work environment as a special education teacher, whose symptoms clearly match low iron stores in the body. "A person is a whole, and iron affects health on several different levels," Minna emphasizes. Especially in women, the unfortunately common iron deficiency and its symptoms can significantly reduce well-being and quality of life. Therefore, it is especially important to anticipate and identify iron deficiency as early as possible so that suitable treatment methods can be found individually and one's condition can improve.
Do you suspect you have low iron stores? Order Co-Test's easy-to-use ferritin test and find out from home if your ferritin levels are below the reference range. The 96.2% reliable test shows whether the amount of ferritin is within the reference values. If the test shows a low ferritin level, we recommend contacting healthcare professionals. Read more about the test and order here.
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