Chronic non-specific symptoms (low ferritin, slightly elevated calicum)

Hi,

I've been lurking this forum for some time now.

I am in my mid 30s and have been dealing with lingering issues since puberty.

My main problems are related to daytime sleepiness/fatigue, low energy, improper cognitive functioning and general neurologic/neuropsychiatric issues (besides slow, gradual MPB of course).

I've undergone many exams throghout years and so far no serious problem has been found.

I've recently found out my ferritin levels are extremely low (around 20), and almost the same findings came back in 2013 (around 13). I regularly practice intermittent fasting and use a Lugol's solution (iodine/iodide formula) quite irregularly. However, I also don't consume any caffeine, I am a smoker and do stuff that should increase the absorption of iron, so it seems quite unusual for me to have the levels this low (both my serum iron levels and hemoglobin levels are normal). I had an extensive Celiac blood test done and the results were normal as well. I am not a vegetarian but I do not consume too much meat either, I mostly eat poultry about once or twice a week, don't eat pork and consume beef/fish only occasionally.

I noticed there is the topic about ferritin, so this is the reason I am making my own topic. What is the general consensus on ferritin levels and why do you think the recommended values according to mainstream medicine (above 100) are bad? Should I stop using the iron supplementation or should I stop it once some "good value" is reached? Is it possible my non-specific problems are related to chronically low ferritin levels that went unnoticed because this test is not performed regularly? Do you have any idea what could cause the levels being this low?

Another issue I am dealing with is the slightly elevated levels of serum calicum. I found it accidentally back in 2014 and these results have been consistent since then (around 2.55-2.60 mmol/l of Ca and around 1.30-1.35 mmon/l of ionized Ca). I even checked my PTH levels but they came normal. I read about body being in an acidic state as a potential culprit responsible for this (acidicbody.com seems to be quite a good source of information regarding this topic). Do you have any explanation for this? Using a magnesium citrate powder appears to be quite beneficial when it comes to mood/well-being but I found it to be ineffective regarding the serum calicum levels. I don't drink much water, could I be in a state of hidden chronic dehydration that could potentially cause the (false) elevation of calcium in the results?

EDIT: I suffer from frequent bouts of EBV/CMV reactivations and have shingles about once per two years or so, which is highly unusual since people usually don't experience this until they become elderly. I even had shingles as a child, which is extremely unusual. No dental cavities whatsover (there is one in the "beggining" state according to my dentist, though).

Thank you in advance for answers.

Regards

In my clients, I actually have them target a 20 ferritin level. That said, ferritin is the least important iron measurement.

Unfortunately conventional medicine places a lot of emphasis on it. All it is just extra storage and is not indicative
of whether someone is anemic or how well their iron metabolism is.

The only advice I could offer without knowing anything else history wise that taking extra iron has zero benefits
except more inflammation and early death.

I even tell menstruating women to drop it. I tell them that once the bleeding stops they will age "overnight"

Conventional medicine even has them pump IV's of iron, it's a pro-death prescription.

Basically, we, meaning everyone beyond early adulthood has more iron than we need. What drives "iron metabolism"
is a lot more than iron.

In the last 7 decades, everything that "medical authorities" have blamed on cholesterol is due to excessive iron.

What's missing is co-factor nutrients. To simplify it a bit, foods in their natural state (without government additives) that
naturally contain iron also contain co-factor nutrients. These are balanced.

In many parts of the world (America being the worst), iron is in the form of iron or ferric oxide is added to refined flour products. They started doing this around the 1940's....do not remember precisely, and in the late 60's they wanted to triple that number...fortunately the "only" increased it by 50%, but nevertheless, it just added a nuclear bomb into the longevity factor, in the wrong direction.

Just me personally, if I buy a product that has added iron in it, I will not consume it.
If it naturally occurs, that's totally different.

I recently saw Joe Mercola interview someone who claims that low copper is the culprit for people having problems with low iron. Copper is one of those elements we don't get much of because our soils are so depleted of minerals. You have to register on Mercola's site because he feels that if he posts much on social media, they will censor him.

@CausticSymmetry @Dudard

Many thanks for your answers, guys!

I've found a study that hypothesizes lower iron levels may actually serve as an adaptive mechanism to help dealing with infectious stressors more efficiently.

hxxps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18949769/

My experience with doctors - especially with the younger generation of them - is horrible, they are totally clueless even about issues they should be well-educated about. Could be a locally restricted phenomena since I live in Eastern Europe or could be a reflection of the global decline in quality across various domains.

CS: "I even tell menstruating women to drop it. I tell them that once the bleeding stops they will age "overnight"

Huh.  I would not say that's happened to me and it's been a while.
(Isn't it more about diminishing hormones than excessive iron?)
I see many lovely youthful women also "of a certain age."  

I would imagine Jennifer Lopez, at 52, likely is experiencing "the pause" or will shortly.
Oh, she looks terrible  
I just found this.  She's using minoxidil in a conditioning treatment!
My own hair is doing just fine but sounds worth trying.
https://www.firstforwomen.com/posts/shopping/hair-treatment-jennifer-lopez

Delphine wrote:CS: "I even tell menstruating women to drop it. I tell them that once the bleeding stops they will age "overnight"

Huh.  I would not say that's happened to me and it's been a while.
(Isn't it more about diminishing hormones than excessive iron?)
I see many lovely youthful women also "of a certain age."  

I would imagine Jennifer Lopez, at 52, likely is experiencing "the pause" or will shortly.
Oh, she looks terrible  
I just found this.  She's using minoxidil in a conditioning treatment!
My own hair is doing just fine but sounds worth trying.
https://www.firstforwomen.com/posts/shopping/hair-treatment-jennifer-lopez

A little bit of context here, that's with added iron.

CausticSymmetry wrote:

Delphine wrote:CS: "I even tell menstruating women to drop it. I tell them that once the bleeding stops they will age "overnight"

Huh.  I would not say that's happened to me and it's been a while.
(Isn't it more about diminishing hormones than excessive iron?)
I see many lovely youthful women also "of a certain age."  

I would imagine Jennifer Lopez, at 52, likely is experiencing "the pause" or will shortly.
Oh, she looks terrible  
I just found this.  She's using minoxidil in a conditioning treatment!
My own hair is doing just fine but sounds worth trying.
https://www.firstforwomen.com/posts/shopping/hair-treatment-jennifer-lopez

A little bit of context here, that's with added iron.

OK. For clarity, I would rewrite it as:
I tell them that if they don't (drop it), once the bleeding stops they will age "overnight"

Maybe a little dramatic with "aging overnight" but it's like hitting the accelerator on aging with the added iron.

CausticSymmetry wrote:Maybe a little dramatic with "aging overnight" but it's like hitting the accelerator on aging with the added iron.

Yeah I've heard that. In your opinion, do we also need to be cautious with high iron foods?
I take blackstrap molasses on and off, I'm on it right now.  A tablespoon has about 3.8 mg iron
as well as magnesium, calcium, etc.

Do you advise giving blood as a health/anti-aging measure?

Delphine wrote:

CausticSymmetry wrote:Maybe a little dramatic with "aging overnight" but it's like hitting the accelerator on aging with the added iron.

Yeah I've heard that. In your opinion, do we also need to be cautious with high iron foods?
I take blackstrap molasses on and off, I'm on it right now.  A tablespoon has about 3.8 mg iron
as well as magnesium, calcium, etc.

When iron is not added, but found naturally, then other minerals are naturally complexed, making it
work. Spent nearly a decade researching iron metabolism. Wouldn't even know where to begin, but
in food form, it makes all the connections work.

So, in the case of molasses, the lowest calorie ones (without the added sugar), can lower blood sugar,
because of the natural copper, etc. in there, but for some strange reason, organic varieties often add sugar.

CausticSymmetry wrote:

Delphine wrote:

CausticSymmetry wrote:Maybe a little dramatic with "aging overnight" but it's like hitting the accelerator on aging with the added iron.

Yeah I've heard that. In your opinion, do we also need to be cautious with high iron foods?
I take blackstrap molasses on and off, I'm on it right now.  A tablespoon has about 3.8 mg iron
as well as magnesium, calcium, etc.

When iron is not added, but found naturally, then other minerals are naturally complexed, making it
work. Spent nearly a decade researching iron metabolism. Wouldn't even know where to begin, but
in food form, it makes all the connections work.

So, in the case of molasses, the lowest calorie ones (without the added sugar), can lower blood sugar,
because of the natural copper, etc. in there, but for some strange reason, organic varieties often add sugar.

Eeek! I've never seen that (read labels obsessively). Anyway, thanks, good to know.
BSM supposed to be one of the best hair foods.

Do you advise giving blood? As a health/anti-aging measure.

Donating blood is a great way to extend life.

CausticSymmetry wrote:Donating blood is a great way to extend life.

But wouldn't you know. I did a search and it seems we need to be jabbed in order to donate blood!

Delphine wrote:

CausticSymmetry wrote:Donating blood is a great way to extend life.

But wouldn't you know.  I did a search and it seems we need to be jabbed in order to donate blood!

It might depend on where. Ask if this applies to therapeutic phlebotomy instead of blood donation.

CausticSymmetry wrote:

Delphine wrote:

CausticSymmetry wrote:Donating blood is a great way to extend life.

But wouldn't you know.  I did a search and it seems we need to be jabbed in order to donate blood!

It might depend on where. Ask if this applies to therapeutic phlebotomy instead of blood donation.

Looks like you need a doctor's go-ahead for that. I don't fraternize with doctors as a rule.

Guess I need to find a vampire...or just stick with eating lots of garlic for blood thinning