Lisa, that sounds like a terrible journey you've been on. I'm glad that things are improving, but I'm so sorry that you had to spend decades as well seeking answers and solutions. My situation is complicated: I want the possibility of having children, but I'm nearly 39, and they only just discovered my hemophilia alleles about a year ago. It's hard to get a hematologist to bother with me: most doctors aren't interested in a complicated case, and given that hematologists are often simultaneously oncologists, an otherwise-healthy patient is not a priority. As for iron-deficient patients, the pregnant ones are likewise the higher priority. I'm afraid, though, of miscarrying, hemorrhaging, or otherwise having a brain-damaged baby on account of the iron problems. I don't want to keep experimenting with this during a pregnancy... although who knows if I'll even be able to get pregnant in the first place.

It's interesting what you mention about your weight; every single time I've taken iron supplements, my weight has climbed. I've learned "hacks" to reverse that, but not before spending the majority of my 20s overweight, without a clue what was going on. (Now I know: it seems to be a combination of the inflammation and the microbiome upset, both caused by the iron.) I haven't yet found a doctor I trust to give me an iron IV or injections; since I'm not anemic, my health insurance is reluctant to cover this.

So disgusting what women have to deal with in the medical system. And these sexist waste-of-space doctors are costing the system (and us) tremendously.

As Bexxy said below, I'm sorry your doctors put non-existent, imaginary children's health above your own. My God... Wishing you fantastic health going forward.