About 10 years ago, I was slowly and silently dying but did not have a clue that I was within an inch of losing my life. Heart failure was just a click away. I was feeling run-down and exhausted, frightened because of heart palpitations, shortness of breath, foggy thinking and at night I was suffering with Restless Leg Syndrome. I had the constant urge to "eat" ice despite the fact that I was always freezing and couldn't get warm. I had nearly every single one of the 25 Red Flags of Iron Deficiency but never made the connection...I thought all of my symptoms were random and unrelated.
Eventually I concluded that my symptoms were caused by drinking too much iced tea – up to six glasses a day. I wondered if it could be the caffeine causing my symptoms and so I decided to kick the habit. But as soon as I stopped consuming caffeine it was like hitting a brick wall. I totally crashed. Caffeine had been the only thing keeping me going! (Later, I would learn that although the caffeine was combating my fatigue, the tannin in the tea -- also found in coffee -- was totally blocking my absorption of iron. The tea had been creating a vicious cycle!) After four days on the sofa, nearly lifeless, lacking the energy to even brush my hair or care for my two sons, my husband took action. He carried me to the doctor. My hemoglobin was 6...less than half the normal range of 12-14. My blood cells, which should have been plump and full of oxygen, were shriveled like deflated life preservers and there were a lot less of them than there should have been. My ferritin level was at 2, and normal is 50-100. I was severely iron deficient and severely anemic. That’s what is called Iron Deficiency Anemia or IDA.
My doctor prescribed an immediate series of IV iron infusions. I was grateful to have health insurance, but even then, I had to pay nearly $8000 out of pocket. I gradually improved and eventually my ferritin levels increased, but not nearly enough. At my next follow up appointment 6 months later, they were already slipping. I went through numerous frightening and costly IV iron infusions over the next few years and touted their results, but they never lasted. I was never really "fixed." My iron always decreased and I ended up with the same old symptoms. The IV iron was not working for me and quite honestly, I was concerned about pumping any more iron directly into my bloodstream.
I tried to learn more about my condition and find other solutions to my problem. I started researching and talking about anemia with anyone who would listen. I was shocked to learn that I wasn't the only woman in the dark about this deadly disorder. With help from the Iron Disorders Institute (IDI), and their executive director at the time, Cheryl Garrison, I learned that with simple changes in my diet and occasional iron supplementation with the right oral iron supplement, I could take control and do a better job of maintaining my iron health. Cheryl became my mentor and truly saved my life. She made me realize how serious my condition was and how I needed to address it. I began volunteering with the Iron Disorders Institute and soaked up every bit of iron knowledge I could.
At that point, I began testing iron supplements and tried nearly every product on the market. I simply could not tolerate them. They made me feel sick and quite frankly horrible. I had severe stomach pain, cramping and constipation. So what would I do? I would stop taking them and just continue to get worse. That is the same thing that happens to so many women. I call it the "Vicious Cycle of Anemia." I also tried to boost my iron through an iron rich diet, but I now know how extremely difficult that is to do. I was really at a loss and knew that there HAD to be a better way. I decided to figure it out and do it myself, with the help of my mentor and her son David, who lives with the opposite problem, too much iron, or hemochromatosis iron overload.
So we gathered the iron experts and formulated the very best iron supplement, Ferritin Boost, based on the true science of iron and the research of the Iron Disorders Institute. We knew what does and doesn't work when it comes to the bioavailability of iron and how it is absorbed (or not absorbed) and used by the body. We knew that the product had to be gentle or just like me, people would stop taking it. We knew what ingredients to include and which ones to leave out. We knew that with iron, less is most definitely more. We knew how to bring all of that together, and in January of 2018, we launched Ironology Health Solutions. It may have been one of the proudest moments of my life! We were finally able to offer a solution to those with iron deficiency, as well as those who struggle with too much iron or hemochromatosis, with the simultaneous launch of our Iron Block product.
Somewhere along the way, I created a little website called Get Your Iron Up to help other women who were suffering like me. I have heard from thousands and thousands of women over the years, and the most commonly asked question has been, “Which oral iron supplement should I take to combat my IDA?” I just came across a blog post from 2013 where I tried to address that and I wrote: "I wish that I had a simple answer for that but I am still searching for the perfect one."
I am so thrilled that my search is over. With Ferritin Boost, I can finally answer that question and give hope to the millions of women who do not need to suffer any more. Ferritin Boost iron supplement has allowed me to get my life back, get rid of all of the "Red Flags," or symptoms of iron deficiency anemia, and feel like myself again. It has been the perfect iron supplement for me and for so many other women and men across the world. Because it is effective, smart and gentle, it has been a lifesaver and that is no small accomplishment. It is without a doubt the best iron supplement I have ever tried...and that's the same thing our happy customers are telling us here at Ironology.
Thanks for taking time to learn more about me and my story. I hope that you'll give Boost a try and I pray that your search and your story have happy endings too. Feel better and stay well. I wish you all the best.
~ Ronnetta
I am proud to say that after all these years I am considered an expert in my field. That field is Iron Deficiency. I have lived it most of my life and have helped many women overcome it. As an active volunteer and Board Member of the Iron Disorders Institute, I represent a variety of Iron Disorders that affect millions of people. I am a Certified Iron Educator which means that I can coach anyone with an Iron Disorder. At ironology Health Solutions, we offer solutions for both iron deficiency and iron overload. But I typically choose to “stay in my lane” on the low end of the iron scale and leave most of the Hemochromatosis Iron Overload education to my partners, Cheryl Garrison and her son David Garrison.
As a teenager, David suddenly developed Juvenile Hemochromatosis and nearly died. But thanks to his mother’s refusal to give up and instead follow her “mama bear” instincts to find answers and help, David survived. As an adult, he created Hemochromatosis.org and Cheryl co-founded the Iron Disorders Institute. So they are the experts on Hemochromatosis Iron Overload. But sometimes a patient will veer into my lane and I need to get involved. Let me explain.
The most common treatment for Hemochromatosis Iron Overload is therapeutic phlebotomy (blood donation). Depending on the severity of the overload, the individual may require numerous phlebotomies over a period of time to bring iron levels within normal range Without vigilant monitoring of the person’s iron levels and a full understanding of the complex Science of Iron that we at Ironology and some knowledgeable health care practitioners posses, things can get out of hand. A patient with iron overload can actually be taken too far in the opposite direction and if overbled, he or she may become iron deficient. Although it seems counterintuitive, iron supplementation would actually become necessary at that point. And that is my area.
Most people with Hemochromatosis Iron Overload will want to use our ironology Iron Block to help impair absorption of dietary iron found in many foods and beverages. But there will be cases where those same individuals will have a need for ironolgy Ferritin Boost. This product is formulated to boost ferritin and improve iron stores. It’s a balancing act and it can change before we even recognize the signs or symptoms.
Of course the flipside of this scenario can also be true. Some people, mostly women, receive mega doses of iron, often in IV form, to treat iron deficiency. At times, too much iron can be absorbed and a woman can find herself in the situation of having iron overload. In that case, ironology Iron Block could be useful for blocking further iron absorption when balance is being restored.
Iron-out-of-Balance® is a sliding scale and you can find yourself on either end of that spectrum at different times in your life. Sometimes you may need an iron supplement like our Ferritin Boost, and sometimes you may need an iron inhibitor like Iron Block. The key is being vigilant in monitoring your iron levels which is something that most doctors may not (and often will not) do. Because it’s often difficult or cost-prohibitive to obtain iron tests, we have developed the Ironology Iron Panel with our affiliate Accesa Labs to help you save time and money. This test bundle can be ordered online and completed at your local Quest Diagnostics. Use our link or code "ironologyhs" to save 10% on your total order. Receive confidential and secure test results electronically, then share those results with your physician for proper diagnosis and recommendations.
Best of luck and remember that ironology is here for you regardless of where you may find yourself on the iron scale, whether it’s one extreme or the other.
Most forms of iron just sit in your stomach and wreak havoc but they are commonly used because they are inexpensive and readily available. Most manufacturers don’t really understand the Science of Iron or what we as women go through on a daily and monthly basis.
As the founder of Get Your Iron Up, I have heard from many thousands of women whose primary complaint about oral iron is the gastrointestinal (GI) distress such as nausea, constipation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, bloating, acid reflux and indigestion that many brands can cause. Those formulations are not easy to tolerate, they are hard on the system and practically make you feel worse than your Iron Deficiency Anemia does. The GI side effects and stomach discomfort can be unbearable.
And thus begins what I like to call the Vicious Cycle of Anemia. This is how it goes: Your physician recommends oral iron supplements, you start taking the them but they make you feel worse so you stop taking them, you ignore your condition and your iron levels continue to plummet. Before you know it, you're at rock bottom in terms of iron deficiency and you're too foggy and depressed to even do anything about it. This is where you can really find yourself in the danger zone...even close to heart failure like I was!
At ironology, we aim to break that cycle with the BEST iron supplements available.
Our team has nearly 60 combined years of studying, researching and educating others about the complex Science of Iron. Using a superior form of Iron and a proprietary complex of simple yet proven ingredients based on that science, we formulated Ironology Ferritin Boost for iron supplements with the most optimal absorption, but without the unpleasant side effects. With a fully chelated form of iron that stays intact in the GI tract for optimal absorption, our iron supplements are designed to gently and steadily increase ferritin levels and improve Iron reserves with no unpleasant GI side effects.
But that’s only half the battle and where understanding the Science of Iron comes into play once more. The ironology Boost Regimen will help you strive for maximum results.
If you’ve been diagnosed with Iron Deficiency with or without Anemia, and your doctor has recommended iron supplementation, you will want to follow the Boost Regimen (included with each order) carefully for at least 90 days before expecting to experience results. Improvement takes time and simple is not always easy. No matter which iron supplement you take, even with what we consider to be the very best iron supplement, if you don’t give it a fair chance, you won’t see an improvement. That’s why we recommend a 90-day commitment. If feeling better and balancing your Iron is your goal, decide to do this for yourself and stick with it.
So, can you stomach it? Breaking the Vicious Cycle of Anemia is certainly worth it, and it's very doable as long as you're armed with the right product and tools. We hope you’re relieved to know that ironology is ready when you are!
Think of it this way:
You can have Anemia (low hemoglobin) without having iron deficiency. That’s because anemia can be caused by issues other than low iron including infection, inflammation or blood loss. Anemia (low hemoglobin) can be detected through a finger stick blood test.
Likewise, you can have iron deficiency without having Anemia. Your iron can be low, even severely low, without yet reaching the point where your hemoglobin starts to drop. Iron levels are detected through a venous blood draw, usually from the arm.
I think it's important to note, having suffered at different times in my life with both Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia, the symptoms in both cases are quite similar and can be equally debilitating and severe.
Therein lies the most common problem. Many doctors do NOT test for iron or check ferritin. They will sometimes do a finger stick in the office but that only checks hemoglobin. Since hemoglobin does not have to be low in order for you to be iron deficient, you can see how this would be a problem. If you are struggling with low iron, even if you mention all of your symptoms, you may not receive proper diagnosis if you doctor relies on a finger stick. If you have not yet become Anemic, meaning your hemoglobin is still normal, your concerns might be dismissed, misdiagnosed (cardiac or pulmonary referral) or incorrectly treated with medication for another ailment (i.e. anxiety, depression) when what you really need to be treated for is iron deficiency. This will never be discovered unless your doctor performs an iron panel, something so simple that can actually save a life.
There are many factors that influence your body’s ability to absorb iron, including but not limited to: diet; choices and combinations of certain foods and beverages; timing of meals and dosing of iron supplements and other nutraceuticals and prescription medicines. What sets ironology™ apart is that we don’t just send you a bottle of iron supplements and wish you luck. We set our clients up for success with the ironology regimen which accompanies every order of ironology Ferritin Boost. Each regimen included with what we consider to be the best iron supplements available contains specific guidelines and tips based on many years of iron research and experience. You’ll have the absolute best chance ever at achieving iron balance and getting your life and health back on track. Most importantly, whether you are suffering from Iron Deficiency Anemia or simply Iron Deficiency, just know that Ferritin Boost can help!
If so, it's time to get your iron up! Imagine no longer having to take a nap midway through the day, or being able to join your friends for a movie (and actually stay awake), or taking your children to the park and not spending the entire time sitting on a park bench, or getting up off the sofa when your husband asks you to go for a walk. Do you even remember what that felt like? All of those things you have been missing are important to you and you're important to the people in your life who love you and miss you. It's time.
Click on one of the following links to go to the product page to order your first bottle of Ferritin Boost or the Ferritin Boost Starter Kit consisting of a 3-month supply of superior iron supplements to get you well on your way to feeling better, getting your iron up and getting back to LIVING again!
Stay well!
Ronnetta