@perimenopause.app: One overlooked lab a perimenopause dietitian wants women to know about… FERRITIN. Ferritin helps show how much iron your body has stored. Iron stores can be low even when hemoglobin is still in the normal range. And if your periods have become heavier or longer, that blood loss can gradually drain your iron stores. Things worth mentioning 👇 • Fatigue that sleep doesn’t fix • Trouble concentrating • Headaches • Hair shedding • Feeling cold • Restless legs • Getting unusually breathless during exercise I’d ask: “Could low iron be part of this, and which tests make sense?” The list doesn’t diagnose you, but “my labs were normal” isn’t a reason to leave persistent symptoms unexplained. Mention the bleeding as well as the tiredness. Don’t guess an iron dose from a post. Food belongs in the conversation too—beans, lentils, tofu, meat and fortified cereals can provide iron. For planning the food side of this conversation, Lila can help plan meals around familiar foods you enjoy. Search Lila in the App Store and make the plan your own. Treatment for an iron deficiency is a separate conversation with your clinician. This reminder comes from a post by @perimenopause.nutritionist. I’d pass it to the friend who keeps saying she feels wiped out. 💜 I’d save the question now so it’s there when I need it: “Could low iron be part of this?” I don’t have to decide the answer before the appointment. Save it for your next appointment. #perimenopause #ferritin #womenshealth
