I was definitely wrong about what was helping. Symptoms came back hard after being off the iron for 2 days, so I’ve resumed taking iron but symptoms (pounding heart at meals and for hours after exercise, breathlessness) are still there, but it’s only been a day or 2 since starting again.
I’ve done some more research on ferritin, iron saturation, and whatnot. First, I wasn’t fasting for those iron labs and that could’ve falsely elevated the serum iron. Next, I saw that in patients using erythropoietin stimulating agents they must also use iron because the ESA increases iron needs/demand in creating new red blood cells. I’m wondering if for that reason, testosterone is acting like an ESA (keeps my hemoglobin high-normal), therefore I just need more iron than I have for now.
With my numbers, I’m pretty sure I’m pretty far from iron overload and just a couple weeks of iron supplementation should be fine.
Thoughts anyone?