Background: I posted about two months ago that I went to the doctor because I just generally felt like crap (fatigue, headache, etc) and they decided the best approach was to throw all the blood tests at me.
The result was that I had extremely low (14ug/L) ferritin levels. In context, you should have upward of 100ug/L and preferably in th 200 range. You can (like I did) also have low ferritin while still showing normal hemoglobin results - this is called non-anemic iron deficiency.
Of note, symptoms of low ferritin include headaches, fatigue, weakness, always being cold, irritability, shortness of breath, dizziness, sore leg muscles, and lowered immune system. I experienced elevated symptoms right after my period.
Anyway, two months down the road of daily iron supplements (with Vit C) and I'm seeing massive improvements both in my fitness and non-fitness life. I wake up more easily in the morning, I can think more clearly at work, and the constant feeling of forcing myself to do exercise, or not doing it because I just felt like I'd run out of steam, is going away.
I have always been and continued to be (even throughout the undiagnosed phase) very active. The low ferritin just made it way way harder, but as I've always had good exercise habits, I pushed myself to maintain those habits.
Low ferritin levels can affect your aerobic capacity (VO2 max) and your lactic acid production. Over the last two months, I've noticed a significant improvement in both my performance and my recovery time. I can bike commute to work on top of my regular rides - something that I found impossible to motivate myself to do previously.
I even bumped up from intermediate to expert in my local cycling race series last week! Although I still got tromped cause daaaaamn those ladies are fast.
Anyway, I thought the update would be interesting from the fitness and performance perspective.
The result was that I had extremely low (14ug/L) ferritin levels. In context, you should have upward of 100ug/L and preferably in th 200 range. You can (like I did) also have low ferritin while still showing normal hemoglobin results - this is called non-anemic iron deficiency.
Of note, symptoms of low ferritin include headaches, fatigue, weakness, always being cold, irritability, shortness of breath, dizziness, sore leg muscles, and lowered immune system. I experienced elevated symptoms right after my period.
VERY IMPORTANT is that these same symptoms can be caused by other deficiencies, and too much iron is also bad. Don't start supplementing without seeing your doctor and getting a blood test.
Anyway, two months down the road of daily iron supplements (with Vit C) and I'm seeing massive improvements both in my fitness and non-fitness life. I wake up more easily in the morning, I can think more clearly at work, and the constant feeling of forcing myself to do exercise, or not doing it because I just felt like I'd run out of steam, is going away.
I have always been and continued to be (even throughout the undiagnosed phase) very active. The low ferritin just made it way way harder, but as I've always had good exercise habits, I pushed myself to maintain those habits.
Low ferritin levels can affect your aerobic capacity (VO2 max) and your lactic acid production. Over the last two months, I've noticed a significant improvement in both my performance and my recovery time. I can bike commute to work on top of my regular rides - something that I found impossible to motivate myself to do previously.
I even bumped up from intermediate to expert in my local cycling race series last week! Although I still got tromped cause daaaaamn those ladies are fast.
Anyway, I thought the update would be interesting from the fitness and performance perspective.
Meanwhile the WHO says adults less than 15 are deficient. Even the lab results flagged it. Jeez