I just thought I'd post this link - it has interesting information. I don't know that iron deficiency has anything to do with PCOS, but some of the symptoms we blame on PCOS might be iron deficiency related instead. I know my doctor told me my ferritin level was 14 - so I was fine. Little did I know that the medical community generally thinks that anything under 40 should be considered deficient.
I thought it was interesting that hair loss can be a symptom of iron deficiency. Since I've been taking iron supplements, my hair loss has decreased dramatically. I also don't seem to get as cold as easily.
Hi Andrena, Interesting post...... I had my iron tested ( ferritin levels) a while back, one doc I saw said it was low at 27 another doc said it was fine, ugggh, they seem to love to confuse us. Anyways, I did start on iron supplments for a short time but, I don't think I did it long enogh to see a positive change with my scalp hair. How long were you on iron before you noticed improvement? Also, what form of iron are you taking? I still have some hope that iron is going to help me. Take care, KC
I've only been taking it for a couple of months and I am already noticing an improvement in my hair loss.
I'm experimenting with what kind I take. I started out with Feosol caplets (iron carbonyl) - they seemed to work great. They were pretty pricy though. I went to a generic version of Slow-Fe and didn't seem to have any problems. Then I went to a generic version of a plant based iron - it was really cheap.
However, I must backtrack a little. This whole iron thing got started when I started getting RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome). I had done some research online and found that often it's linked with iron deficiency. So, I asked my doc....etc.
So, my RLS seemed to disappear, until was taking the cheap plant based iron. I was taking 2 caplets a day, then down to 1. My RLS started to come back, so I went back to 2 caplets a day, and it didn't seem to make a difference. So, I went back to 2 caplets a day of the generic Slow-Fe and it seemed to improve. I'm still getting these weird twitchings in my legs during the day, but not really bad like when the RLS was driving me nuts.
I'm thinking of going back to the Feosol (since I know it was what got rid of it in the first place) and just staying on it for about 6-8 months and go from there. I get my ferritin levels tested next month, so I'll see if I've made any improvements.
From what I've been reading ferritin levels should be a standard test that all doctors should be looking at - but very few do!
adrena,
Thank you for all the helpful info! I wish I had some advice for you about restless leg syndrome, didn't know that it was also iron related. I get it once in awhile ( i think thats what it is anyways). Do your legs feel, ummm.... how do I describe it, ok... like the muscles feel wiggly?? lol, told ya I wasn't sure how to describe .
Where did you buy the Slow- Fe from? I'm going to give it a try. Another question, are you seeing new hair growth? I know you had said it had improved, which is great by the way! Have a good one, KC
hmmm... very interesting post... it makes sense, I have all the classic symptoms of pcos (including the hair loss issue) and was finally diagnosed with pcos... and was also diagnosed as iron deficient (and anemic).... maybe the iron deficiency is related to the pcos or vice versa.
--All I want to do is hide from the world and take a break from reality and that's just not possible because time stands still for no one and before I know it I'll be a "has-been" without ever being a 'was'--
I got my generic slow-fe at Target. I honestly don't know if I'm getting new hair growth or not. I can't tell if the short hairs sticking up are new growth or new breakage! LOL! I do know my comb has a lot fewer hairs in it, so they're not falling out as fast.
Maybe some symptoms aren't from PCOS 
