AIBU to request an earlier GP appointment- low ferritin

My ferritin is dropping again. Was 38 at the end of January and 18 on Thursday. Hb is still good but I expect it'll start dropping soon as my ferritin drops more. Called to make an appointment and the nurse who answered the phone just looked at the most recent results and said oh everything is still within range but when I told her to look at the previous ones she realised she needs to consult a doctor, and thankfully the same one that referred me for the blood test.

I am currently really tired and dizzy which I've been assuming is down to some kind of bug but maybe its the iron.

Sorry pressed send too soon.

Agree with PP that says it’s unbelievable how much low vitamins and minerals affect how you feel. I had low vit D once and felt absolutely dreadful. It was a chore to walk up the stairs and my mood was so low!

I get regular-ish blood tests done through Thriva to check the main ones. My ferritin was at 34 so much higher than a lot of peoples but after reading the study I linked above, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to supplement it until it got to 100. Within two weeks of taking it, my legs didn’t feel heavy any more and I stopped getting heart palpitations. My mild anxiety also disappeared. After I corrected that, as my B12 wasn’t optimal either I started paying for private B12 injections - my local pharmacy does them for £30 and you don’t need to show them blood test results or anything - anyone can get one after completing a short medical questionnaire. I then corrected my Folate which was the last one to sort (I staggered these corrections on purpose) and can honestly say that I have more energy and less anxiety now in my early 40s than I ever have. It seemed to almost fix everything from night sweats to low mood to IBS!

I take these:

https://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/shop/products/Ferrous-Sulphate-200mg-60-Tablets_0113807?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PMax_P2UShop_VITAMINS&utm_id=19891902374&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19884833406&gbraid=0AAAAApDr58tPeQMJCWHAhA4-8HbMiyUOR&gclid=CjwKCAjwntHPBhAaEiwA_Xp6Rj4kFkasm8cykjUzhZvPcs-DM9Eb_rhwugXOcmlqvcN5lkoSryYR1xoCAS8QAvD_BwE

Yes sure - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5986027/

I last read this a couple of years ago so my memory of it is sketchy, and not sure if more studies have been done since but it states that if someone is presenting with symptoms of Iron Deficiency without anaemia, they should be supplemented until ferritin levels are at 100.

I found a difference on the supplements within about 5-7 days. Like you I had a gap between diagnosis and prescription and I just bought OTC in the meantime- you’re right it isn’t as good, but it is better than nothing

I'm getting my iron levels checked soon because they've been trending downwards since my infusions, think I'll ask to check vit d when I get the doctor appointment afterwards.

It's been going on for well over ten years. I get an infusion, then the wait begins again. I also can't absorb many other macro and micro nutrients.
B12 jabs are usually every three months, although I'll have a loading dose every so often if it get too low, the same with Vitamin D.
Vitamin D, folates and copper are the three that probably make me feel the worst day to day.
If you can, I think it's worth having as many tested as you can. It has amazed how badly even slightly out of range minerals and vitamins can make you feel, but I also know my bloods go to more than one lab and the three monthly testing is expensive.

my DD had ferritin of 8 when she was 14 and GPs didn’t care. She had more issues earlier in year and iron panel showed a deficiency (iron deficiency without anaemia). I paid for a private iron infusion via the London clinic as sick of her being fobbed off for over 5yrs. It did help, and hopefully will get her through her A levels but she does have ongoing issues. It annoys me so much how GP’s de-prioritise this and other women’s health issues.

funilly enough I had my ferritin re ran as it was low (previous GP said I was reading too much in to it but I am exhausted, have dizzy spells and feel weak they re ran it and it dropped from 28 - 15 since 2020 its gradualy been dropping and boy do i feel it!. I was putting in a request to see the GP anyway as i have had a chesty cough for 6 weeks and as I am in for a laporoscopy I need to make sure not an infection as waited 2 years for this appointment and can't afford for it to be cancelled as i can't take the constant pain anymore - anyway I digress when I saw the GP we touched on my low ferritin as well and she agreed that whilst in range its not optimal and we agreed this is not anemia but the fact my body just can't store iron doesn't matter the amount of veg i eat or have red meat im just not storing and she said this happens with many people and you would have to eat 20 steaks in a week to get the amount of iron a tablet can give,. she has suggested i get either Ferrus sulphate or ferrus Fumarate and as i pay for pescriptions she said get over the counter as its the same strength and cheaper. I have just bought 2mth supply as we are testing my ferritin again in 2mths and she has said take 1 tablet every other day, she said that they used to recommend 3 times per day and then once per day but the side affects outweighed any benefits as the benefits didn't change with the amount of tablets but the side affects mainly consitpation were worse. so I would look to do the over the counter iron supplement maybe put a request in to the GP and ask if this would be what they recommend in the short term until they have the telephone converstaion with you. My GP also suggested Multi vitamin with iron in to help. (1st GP I have actually felt has listened to me not going to lie)

Speak to a pharmacist. I had a ferritin of 11 and buy Ferrous Suplhate 400mg over the counter. Far cheaper than a prescription. Pharmacist can also advise on dose based on your results. To begin with I was advised to take a loading does of 1 tablet, 3 times a day, then had my bloods repeated 3 and 6 months later to check for an improvement. Now I just take 1 tablet daily.

Which brand do you take?

That’s interesting- can you link to the evidence for this please? Thanks

I’ve got quite heavy periods at times & wondering where my ferritin is at…

When my hb was 80 (and ferritin was 4) they said if my hb dropped below 80 I'd need a transfusion rather than an infusion - that's terrible that they wait until your hb is that low just for an infusion. NICE guidelines don't sound very nice!

I have open access to a unit at my local hospital for iron infusions when I meet NICE criteria. I usually live with ferritin in single figures (it's currently 7). I'm surprised they haven't told you to just buy some iron supplements.
I have blood tests every twelve weeks, but they only book me in when my haemoglobin drops below 80. I have blood transfusions if my Hb drops low enough, the worst being 34. It's the only tine I've had them call me in immediately.
Edit. Sorry, just seen you've ordered some.

I get mine from there. Take them with vitamin c, I get the fizzy tablet ones. You can take every other day for best absorption and less side effects

Glad to hear that OP, keep us updated!

Yes you can.

Ferrous sulphate is available OTC. The guidelines for dosage have also changed over the past few years. Instead of taking three tablets a day, some people will be prescribed just one tablet a day (or even every other day if they do not tolerate iron tablets well).

It absolutely is low. A menstruating woman’s ferritin should be between 75 and 100. No wonder the OP feels like crap.

YABU. It’s not that low. Just get some iron tablets

Do you have a pharmacist at your GP practice that could prescribe you some iron in the meantime? I find the pharmacist at our surgery can sometimes be more helpful than the GP especially for care in between appointments

I've been undergoing investigation for fatigue since August. I was hospitalised for it at the end of my pregnancy. My ferritin has dropped from 75 to 32 on OTC supplements and they weren't wanting to give me any on prescription. I'm awaiting more blood tests to figure out what is going on as it's not a clear picture.

I take a glass of orange juice to bed with me and take the iron tablets when at 6 am when I first wake up. I'm breastfeeding and trying to keep on top of calcium as I have a family history of osteoporosis. This allows me to have a long enough gap between taking the iron tablets and my breakfast. I'm still struggling but it's not just my ferritin that's wonky.

When my iron and haemoglobin were low I was prescribed 305mg ferrous fumerate. I started just buying it myself though because it's less faff than messing around with prescriptions. Im in Ireland not the UK but it's widely available here over the counter and online.

I’m pretty sure the price you’ll pay for a prescription will be higher than buying iron supplements over the counter

You’ve missed that I, and other posters, have said to go elsewhere. I buy them OTC all the time time. As I said upthread, the pharmacist said to do that, and not to bother with a prescription as it’s more expensive. I’ve been on and off them for a long time and I’ve never been refused them or said why I want them. You’ve been unlucky. In addition, I had another poster both posted links to the relevant item so you can buy them online. I think I have been helpful actually.

Contact the surgery again. Explain that the symptoms are affecting your MH and you'd like an earlier appointment