Low Ferritin? Feel horrendous!

Your periods are bad because you are anemic. It’s a vicious cycle that is making you more anemic. I don’t know if you can get this on rhe NHS but you must (if you can) insist on an iron infusion or pay to go private for one.
Having had this problem for a long time it was the only thing that helped me. You will feel brand new a few days after the infusion.

I'm also coeliac 😃

I did take a week off work in the end, and had the infusion in that time, it was life changing as the other poster said and I felt better in 1-2 weeks (which could also have been because I went GF immediately as well for the celiac)

I was feeling like this and I'm on the following after an absolutely pointless visit to the GP last year.
Contraceptive pill
Fish oils omega-3 six and nine
Magnesium i supplement
Kefir for vitamin absorption in the gut
Cbd oil.
I'm assuming I'm perimenopausal, but all of these supplements mean I have normal energy levels. I work 6 days a week and have 3 dc so full on.

After you've had the transfusion you will feel amazing so the sooner the better. I can't take time off work as NHS but I'd keep falling asleep at work and everyone kept asking me if I was with it. I was going to bed as soon as I got home.
They recommend starting on iron pills and keep taking it with the transfusion until your results come back normal. My ferritin levels went through the roof afterwards.
Some of us are just more prone to this than others.

I had identical and also an isthmocele which was very large . I had a repair which has made periods lighter although they are probably still considered heavy. I also have IBS and coeliacs. I take x2 ferrous fumarate , x2 spatone and 5 ml feroglobin per day plus probiotics. Every evening I make a very strong mint tea with 4 teabags which settles my stomach down and helps digestion (I don’t eat after having it). My ferritin was 11 and is now 40

I've been anaemic for 30 years and never really felt well. My GP just kept giving me iron pills which I don't absorb well. Refused to refer me for iron infusion.
Then I was turned down for surgery because I was anaemic and still not allowed a referral for iron transfusion.
I took matters into my own hands and found a private iron clinic at my local hospital where I paid £800 for an iron transfusion, within 2 months I felt like a totally new person, and was accepted for surgery.
I'll be going back if I need to, I think it's totally unacceptable to be anaemic for 30 years and refused treatment by the NHS.
I'd strongly advise you to think about doing this. It changed my life.

Hi OP,
I was in a similar situation 2 years ago with Ferritin of 5, the only thing that helped was an IV iron infusion as the tablets take too long - I was lucky enough to have private health and begged (literally) for the infusion via a Haematology referral. Could you possibly access a private haematology consultation?

They should do a full screening for auto immune disease markers and other causes, also menstrual issues.

If not I would beg your GP for an infusion. Really explain the tablets aren’t working and you cannot wait.

Best of luck, it really is awful.

In my case the cause was determined as Celiac disease and a gluten free diet has worked to get me back to normal health and iron levels.

If you are low on ferritin, and had low levels of b12 and D before supplements then it could be nutritional absorption issue like celiac, a medication side effect like metformin or PPI, or something that is depleting the levels like heavy periods. Are you perimenopausal or have low thyroid or have adenomyosis if you had C-section then that could have caused. There is also a chance of you being insulin resistant- inflammation markers, low energy, joint pain etc.

As someone with chrpnic low ferritin, your symptoms are spot on

Can you see a TSH result? (That’s for your thyroid).

Omg same! They are very heavy and can last 9 days!

Wow, this thread is so me to the T. I also have an appointment with GP on Friday too and I have the same concerns as you that even after being fobbed off last year I am still feeling this way only worse! Mine started a year before I had my toddler (now 2.5 years too) but as been on and off until l had her and it's jus felt more! Hand hold with you 💕

I would politely insist on a referral to a gastroenterologist for an endoscopy.

Just throwing this out there, and it may not apply but might be worth checking?

Similar to you I had very low haemoglobin and ferrritin. No cause could be found (initially), so the usual Galfer tablets were prescribed. They did zero only make me very constipated!

Eventually it was discovered that I had H Pylori infection and had a slow bleeding ulcer which I didn't notice until one day I had very black stools. Everything sprung into action then. Had endoscopy, then treatment for HP and transfusion and iron infusion. I'm feeling so good now but like you, was on my knees for ages.

Good luck and I hope you find a solution. Ask about an iron infusion, but I don't know what the criteria for that is off top of my head, i.e.a ferritin below X.

OP, if you are feeling breathless, I would say it's urgent that you speak to your doctor again - my sister had this and needed i/v iron infusions and was a week in hospital. It was actually an out of hours doctor who picked up her blood test results and phoned her in the evening and sent her straight to hospital, he said it was urgent. Don't let the GP fob you off, take DH with you to advocate for you if you're not feeling up to it 💐

I have sympathy for you OP as have very similar results. Ferritine 11 and raised inflammation. I have had achy joints my entire life and had lots of investigations for autoimmune conditions that came to nothing as a teen and early 20s. I was prescribed ferrous sulphate but taking that gives me agonizing stomach cramps so I have just stopped. I am off for more bloods on Monday to see what is going on. The tiredness and brain fog are hideous. I cant remember my words and my focus is terrible. Sorry I cant make suggestions but I hope you get some answers when you go to the GP Friday