The Invisible Deficiency: How I Lived with Severe Anemia Symptoms While "Healthy"

For as long as I can remember, I grew up feeling like something wasn’t right in my body.

Ever since I was a kid, I dealt with all the classic symptoms of iron deficiency — fatigue I couldn’t explain, constant hair shedding, dizziness, and especially issues with my hearing. My ears would ring, my sensitivity to sound shifted, and no one ever took it seriously.

And every time a doctor ran bloodwork, I heard the same sentence:

“Your hemoglobin level is normal. You’re fine — just eat well.”

Except I wasn’t fine.

I knew something deeper was happening, but hemoglobin was the only marker anyone cared to check, and since it looked okay, the conversation always ended there.

Everything stayed the same until a few years ago.

The Test That Finally Changed Everything

I had actually taken my daughter to see a naturopathic doctor. But during the visit, something inside me whispered:

“Why don’t you get checked too?”

She suggested a much more detailed blood panel.

My primary care physician questioned it:

“Why do you need this? Your hemoglobin is normal.”

But this time, I insisted:

“I want this test done.”

And I’m glad I did.

Because when the results came back, my ferritin — the iron storage in the body — was 7.

To put this into perspective:

• Ideal ferritin for healthy hair is around 75

• At 5, you’re considered at a level that might require a blood transfusion

I wasn’t “fine.”

My body was running on empty.

When Iron Supplements Don’t Work

Naturally, I was told to start iron supplements.

The problem?

My body rejected every single one of them.

Constipation.

Headaches.

Stomach heaviness.

Fatigue.

No matter how low the dose was or what form I tried, it was the same story.

Eventually, I was told to “just rely on food.”

But even then, no matter how well I ate, my ferritin never budged. My body simply wasn’t storing iron.

The Hair Loss Nobody Took Seriously

Around that time, I started noticing something terrifying:

A thinning area at the crown of my head… and a small patch where hair had completely vanished.

When I went to my doctor, she looked at me — I was 38 years old — and said:

“It’s age.”

But deep inside, I just felt that something didn’t make sense.

I wasn’t ready to accept that answer.

The Moment Everything Shifted: Rosemary

This was when I had just started studying aromatherapy — literally the earliest stage of my learning journey.

I read about rosemary essential oil and its effects on circulation and hair follicles.

With nothing left to lose, I applied it to that empty patch.

Two weeks later, I saw little hairs pushing through the scalp.

Four weeks later, the patch was fully covered.

That was the moment I realized:

Hair loss doesn’t just “happen.”

It has reasons — and there are natural ways to reverse it.

This was the beginning of what would eventually become the formula I now call RegrowMe — a blend that stops shedding, boosts circulation, and supports regrowth naturally.

But Life Happens: Stress, Loss, and a New Wave of Hair Fall

Recently, after losing someone dear to me, my body went into shock.

Sleep became difficult.

Stress consumed me.

Fear, grief, and emotional pressure took over.

My appetite disappeared completely.

My hair began falling aggressively — mostly from the front, which is the area most affected by stress, low ferritin, and hormonal disruption.

This time, even the oils weren’t enough, because the problem was deeper:

My nutrient levels had crashed again.

And with my history of being unable to tolerate iron, I had to find a new approach.

So I began researching again — deeply, seriously, and with the same determination I had when I first got into natural healing.

That’s when I found a supplement form my body can tolerate…

And when I mapped out everything the body truly needs for strong, anchored, healthy hair — especially during times of stress.

My Research & The Routine That Finally Made Sense

After digging through studies, speaking with practitioners, and experimenting carefully with what my own body could tolerate, I reached a point where everything finally came together. I realized that hair loss — especially when ferritin is low, appetite drops, and stress is high — responds best to a synergistic routine, not one single supplement. I built a simple list of nutrients that support the scalp, hormones, circulation, and the hair-growth cycle, along with the correct timing for each so your body can actually absorb them. These are the supplements that made the difference for me:

• Iron Bisglycinate (every other day) — gentle on the stomach, boosts ferritin, strengthens hair anchoring; best taken with a small snack and paired with Vitamin C for absorption. Must be spaced 2 hours after coffee and 1.5 hours before coffee.

• Vitamin C — improves iron absorption and reduces stress-related inflammation; take directly with iron on iron days. You may do real orange juice or lemon juice.

• B-Complex — supports appetite, mood, energy, stress regulation, and hair follicle metabolism; take in the morning with food and safe with coffee.

• Zinc — crucial for front hair thinning, appetite regulation, immune balance; take in the morning with food alongside B-complex (coffee does not interfere).

• Vitamin D3 — supports hormones, mood, skin, and the hair cycle; take midday on your iron rest days, with any meal containing a bit of healthy fat (coffee is fine).

• Omega 3 (DHA/EPA) — reduces inflammation, supports scalp health, circulation, and stress recovery; take any time with food (coffee-friendly).

• Evening Primrose Oil — nourishes the scalp barrier and helps regulate hormone-related shedding; best taken in the evening with the largest meal.

• Magnesium Glycinate — calms the nervous system, supports sleep and stress recovery, and indirectly helps hair by reducing cortisol; take before bed (coffee has no effect).

Together, these supplements form a routine that nourishes the body, protects the hair cycle, and keeps nutrients steady even during stress. The daily rhythm is simple: morning with a light snack like yogurt and honey, dates with nuts, or toast with peanut butter; midday with something gentle like lentil soup, garbanzo salad, or oatmeal; evening with a small meal and magnesium before sleep. Iron days just need a small coffee break so your ferritin can finally rise — but everything else fits naturally around your coffee, your day, and your energy levels. This routine is gentle, realistic, and designed for women with sensitive digestion, fluctuating appetite, and a lot on their shoulders.

The Truth About Hair Loss That Nobody Told Me

I wish someone had explained this to me years ago:

1. Hemoglobin is not the full picture.

You can have perfect hemoglobin and still be in deep iron deficiency if your ferritin is low.

Your hair depends on ferritin — not hemoglobin.

2. Doctors sometimes skip ferritin tests.

It’s quick, simple, and life-changing, but often overlooked.

Insisting on that test saved me years of confusion.

3. Hair loss has multiple triggers.

Stress, hormones, nutrient depletion, low appetite, digestion issues, and even emotional shock can all push hair into the shedding phase.

4. Age is not a diagnosis.

Hair fall at 38 is not “age.”

Hair fall at 48 is not “age.”

Hair fall at 58 is not “age.”

The body speaks through symptoms — and symptoms always have reasons.

5. Natural approaches do work.

Essential oils, scalp circulation, anti-inflammatory nutrients, and the right supplement synergy can transform hair health — I lived it myself.

What I Use Today & What I Share With Others

I now use two blends I created:

• Regrow Me — my formula for stress-induced shedding, thinning edges, postpartum-like fallout, and nutrient-related loss

• Deep Root Therapy for more severe cases or patchy loss

And after everything my body and my hair have been through, I can finally say this:

Hair grows again.

Strength comes back.

The body recovers — even when it feels impossible.

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Note: I am sharing the routine that finally worked for me after years of research. However, I am not a doctor. Please do not start taking Iron without getting a blood test first to confirm you actually need it! Always chat with your healthcare provider before starting new supplements.