Another compelling reason to get your lab work done

Over-doing supplements can cause harm too!

 

As some of you may know from previous posts, I’ve been really struggling to manage pain.  It had been getting progressively worse.  I recently identified the culprit:

 

Iron Supplements 

 

When I had my lab work done, my Ferritin level was over 400.  Normal is 12-156.  I was advised to stop taking my iron supplements.  

 

Guess what?  I feel better! 

 

I'd started taking prescription iron due to iron deficiency anemia.  After the cause for my anemia was addressed, my supplement dosage wasn’t adjusted.  The iron began to accumulate in my system.   I did some research and found out joint pain and arthritis-type symptoms are directly related to iron overload.  So are fatigue and weakness.  That’s why I felt like crap and kept needing to take pain medicine.

 

Who would have thought?

 

We spend a lot of time (rightfully so) addressing the issue of not getting enough nutrients, but I’ve never read anybody posting about what happens if you get too much of something.

 

More is not always better.  Balance is the key.

 

Get your labs done. 

Anything that is no****er soluable can be toxic in high enough doses. Glad you found the problem and are on your way to recovery.   

Many people mistake iron poisoning for arthritic hands as iron builds up in the joints of the fingers.   Then there are supplements like vit D which most people can take in higher than reccomended doses without an issue.  For others the same mega dosing many folks swear by is poison.  

When taking higher dose supplements, even with a perscription, we need to know the symptoms of over dosing.  They often begin as subtle changes and can mimick serious diseases just as with deficiencies.  

Many people mistake iron poisoning for arthritic hands as iron builds up in the joints of the fingers.  


I thought that's what was happening to me!  I have a previous diagnosis of Degenerative Joint Disease and arthritis runs in my family.   I figured it had just caught up with me. 

My thumb and the first two fingers of both hands were getting worse.  No deformity, but I was having difficulty making a tight fist.  I was also having joint pain in my shoulders and ankles, as well as new onset back pain.  I was thinking I was going to get a referral to a pain doctor because the OTC stuff I was taking wasn't working.

I'm not back to 100% yet, but there is dramatic improvement after just a couple of weeks being off the iron.

Time is the treatment as your body rids itself of the iron stored.  Just imagine if your blood work was not checked before medicating.  

My mom was an RN when health nuts started mega dosing on supplements and herbs in the 70's.  She warned the family of the risks.  I'm very careful about supplements including natural herbs.   

The body can store some nutrients for fairly long periods of time.

* Fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) - Mostly in the liver and the body's fatty tissues 

* B12 - liver

* Calcium - bones and teeth

* Iron - in the blood (ferritin and hemoglobin) , bone marrow and organs (liver, heart, pancreas

Thanks for sharing this because I don't take an iron supplement due to a hysterectomy and no longer having a cycle. However, my last multivitamins had iron in them and they didn't agree with me at all and I think it was the iron. I have arthritis and pain disorders but it was so much worse during this time. I got my next supplement without the iron like I usually do and I will be getting my labs done in about a month.

I was taking 300mg a day of the prescription iron.  Then I backed it down to twice a week.

Right now I'm still getting 36mg in my multivitamins.  I didn't want to go completely off it because I've had anemia in the past.  I'll see how my next blood work looks and decide from there how to proceed.

Glad to hear that you were finally able to get to the root cause of your pain issues and are feeling better.  This was definitely a good post.

Thanks.

Thanks for sharing. I have recently read several articles re: over use of vitamins & supplements that and your post proves we can get too much of a good thing. I've been anemic most of my life and sometimes double up on iron for weeks at a time not realizing I could be doing harm. I keep all appts 4 blood work & will continue to do so.