Iron Depletion in Blood related to COVID?

Posted by stellm @stellm, Jun 11, 2021

Has there been any reports of iron depletion in the blood after receiving the Pfizer vaccine?

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@karathorntonwong

Thank you for sharing. I too am experiencing low Ferritin and Iron levels post Moderna Covid-19 vaccination. I am a 48 year old former trauma nurse for 9 years, now vascular access nurse for 17 years and have never had anemia, not even with my two full term pregnancies. My first Moderna dose was 8/24/2021. I experienced sever fatigue, heart palpitations and short of breath with minimal exertion. Multiple negative Covid-19 PCR test (I was PCR tested twice a week to be able to work). Second Moderna vaccine 9/21/2021. I experienced the same symptoms as the first dose. This time I had labs drawn. Iron level was 22 (low) with normal ferritin of 9, normal Hgb and Hct. Third Moderna dose 3/2/2022. Repeat labs 7/11/2022 Iron 15, Ferritin 4 Hgb 11.1 Hct 36.9 Severe Iron deficiency anemia. Colonoscopy, endoscopy and pelvic ultrasound scheduled for next week. Capsule endoscopy to follow if the previous exams are normal. I haven't had any abnormal menstrual cycles or GI symptoms. Just the severe fatigue and winded feeling with normal activities and talking. When I googled information on google scholar there are no studies or papers reporting this. Only that the vaccine is less likely to be effective if Iron levels are already low. This seems very coincidental. Hoping for truthful answers for all of us soon.

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Having Polycythemia Vera and needing a phlebotomy every four to six weeks however after the vaccination I went fourteen weeks. I thought maybe I was getting better but nope back to four weeks now. I also had heart palpitations and still do occasionally.

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@arla

I also have been tested for internal bleeding, endoscopy and colonoscopy, and thankfully they didn’t find anything. Hopefully the infusion helps her!

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Her tests results following the infusions show her levels up to the very low end of normal. She is starting the vitamin regiment again.

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@cubicgirl

It is unbelievable that they are making people go through money making testing Endoscopy, colonoscopy when they know it is the Moderna shot.

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You can refuse the endoscopies . Testing for occult blood in stool is a non-invasive first step. Also a trial of iron supplements is a first step

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@gstroede

Her tests results following the infusions show her levels up to the very low end of normal. She is starting the vitamin regiment again.

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Great news….

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@elenaeaton

You can refuse the endoscopies . Testing for occult blood in stool is a non-invasive first step. Also a trial of iron supplements is a first step

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That is the way I went.

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@gstroede

Her tests results following the infusions show her levels up to the very low end of normal. She is starting the vitamin regiment again.

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That is great news! Hopefully it will all go back to normal. I took supplements for 3 months and my levels didn’t improve at all, taking them for 3 more.

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@arla

That is great news! Hopefully it will all go back to normal. I took supplements for 3 months and my levels didn’t improve at all, taking them for 3 more.

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I hope you improve soon. I have another question. Do you find that you bruise easily? My granddaughter has been getting dark bruises from the slightest bump. Also, her menstrual cycle has been heavier and more uncomfortable.

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@gstroede

I hope you improve soon. I have another question. Do you find that you bruise easily? My granddaughter has been getting dark bruises from the slightest bump. Also, her menstrual cycle has been heavier and more uncomfortable.

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I’m sorry to hear that, her menstrual cycle could very well be contributing to this. I don’t find I bruise more easily.

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@aheid

Because there is a relationship between iron and the thyroid, can iron depletion resulting from covid or the vaccination, have an effect on patients with hypothyroidism, such as raising blood TSH levels? Is anyone experiencing this, especially those taking prescription iron?

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Yes. See your doctor. You may need iron infusions

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This is fascinating. I am a 43 YO female with no history of low iron. I donate blood every 3 months, and I get a physical with bloodwork done every year and my iron has always been on the high end (HGB ~14-15). I went to donate blood and was rejected. My HGB was 11. Went for blood workup, saw a hematologist, my ferratin was 2 and HGB dropped to 9. I even have iron induced PICA. Went for endoscopy/colonoscopy, totally normal. Tested for celiac, nope. I am starting 5 weeks of iron infusions on Monday.

I had my 2 Covid Pfizer vaccines in 2020 and early 2021. First Moderna booster in 11/2021. I had no issues with anemia. I had my second Moderna booster on 5/23/22 and was rejected for donating blood the first week of July.

Has anyone seen this pop up after 4 shots? And has anyone managed to convince their hematologist that this is real? I've read a bunch of medical studies (or I've tried to) and it seems like a simple course of prednisone could reverse this in some cases. I would love to hear from anyone who managed to get a doctor to buy into this, and figure out what that doctor did to confirm this diagnosis. Ideally I can figure out a way to safely continue getting this booster as time goes on.

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