I seem to have had a much quicker come back than most, but I was only on the low side of normal on my iron count, but I had a deficit in ferritin, which is pre-anemia... and I felt absolutely horrible until I got blood work done and started a high iron vitamin regimen.

I started feeling 'better' within a week (meaning I at least had the energy to do a daily load of laundry again!), but it took months for all my symptoms to go away, and I still feel like I'm not where I should be yet.

It takes a very long time to build up iron, and with a deficiency your body will pretty much consume most of what you intake until things start balancing out...only then will your body start storing reserves.

I strongly suggest identifying the definite root cause of your deficiency (diet, digestion problems, internal bleeding), because even with supplements you may still just be masking another issue even when you feel well again!