Low Iron stores for years but no reason why?

Allergies, blood and immune system
1

Hi

3 years ago I started feeling unwell all the time. I felt sick, breathless, had chest pain and tongue sores all the time. I finally went the doctors as my hair was thinning and I had 30 bruises on my legs. My GP did some bloods and it came back my iron level was 3. She said I wasn't anaemic but had low iron stores. It took months to slowly get back up. I came off the tablets when I got up to 120 and within 2 weeks I started feeling ill. I had my iron checked again and it had gone down to 60 so they said I would just be on the tablets for life.

My concern is why my iron is low. At the time I wasn't having my monthly cycle so it can't be this. I had bloods to test for Celiac disease but that was negative and my diet had not changed. My doctor said it will be due to my periods but I kept telling her I wasn't having any. She just shrugged this off.

My question is can your iron stores just randomly go low and will now always be this way without any reason?

I just want to know if that's possible or if there is something causing it

Sarah

2

Are you on meds for acid reflux? Do you take Tums, Rolaids, or any proton pump inhibitors? I am in the same boat. I hear that you should not take the gurd meds for more than 2 years. I have taken them for 20 yrs. I can't live without them, but they don't allow me to absorb Iron. My hydrochloride acid levels are now too low to digest iiron and others. B 12 etc.

3

Hi Sarah. your situation sounds so similar to mine. I just wondered how you were getting on? Has your iron gone up and did you find the cause?

4

Hi. Dream crone I did take a med for stomache acid for a few years but stopped.  Could just taking them for a few years cause bad iron absorbtion? 

5

My iron did go up but I have been on iron tablets for 4 years now. Now the tablets are not working and my iron levels are dropping.