Extremely low iron

[Crookedsmile1]

I know this might be more appropriate in general health but think there’s more traffic here.
Basically around 3/4 weeks go I went to get lots of bloods done as I hadn’t been feeling well etc. It turned out my ferritin (iron levels ) were at 2. It was a bit of a shock , I’ve always had heavy periods so just didn’t make the connection. Also I do feel tired but I have 3 dcs , loads of work and my third bad sleeper who’s still up a night at least once every night so just thought it was that.
I have been taking iron tablet daily for one month and trying to increase my iron rich foods, I definitely felt an improvement but now feel really tired again... I also don’t sleep that well due to years of sleep deprivation so never sure if it’s the lack of sleep. Interested to know if anyone else has gas such low levels and bd how long it took to recover or feel better

I had terrible levels while pregnant. The best thing for me was taking liquid iron as easier on the stomach.

Took me about 2-3 weeks to feel better.

It’s worth taking other supplements etc Vit B and D as well.

My ferritin levels were 27 and my GP prescribed high strength ferrous fumarate 3 times a day for a month. So you may need much more than you're taking. I

What did your GP advise and prescribe?

I was tachycardic with a ferritin level of 5 and had a two unit transfusion.

Thanks swisskit, I’m taking them just one a day. The dr did say my levels were incredibly low and wondered how I’d been functioning. I just realized today that I felt absolutely exhausted still.. I have an appointment again next week and will go for more bloods. Just thought I’d feel better by now. I also feel quite down so wonder if there’s a connection?

I was going to post similar, my level is 12 and I feel awful but the ferrus fumerate makes me feel so ill. I get a really upset stomach but can't get back to the doctor for a few weeks so not sure what to do.

You must feel horrendous with a level of 2, did your doctor mention injections? I've heard they can do this to get your level up to something more manageable?

Make sure you avoid tea with meals and take the iron with vitamin c or or orange juice

Also I was told to take two tablets a day and my level is higher than yours so sounds like your dose could be upped? Maybe speak to them again

One tablet a day won’t cut it if you have anaemia. At my worst I was taking 210mg ferrous fumerate x 3 a day. Over the counter iron supplements don’t contain enough iron. You need proper medical guidance and it doesn’t sound like you’ve had that as yet. I have stubborn anaemia that always returns so now I take 210mg ferrous fumerate once a day long term. I do have Addison’s and hypothyroidism and asthma etc. So my immune system is very low.

They were definitely very concerned but mentioned my hemoglobin level being ok. Any research I have done suggests that ferritin of two is ridiculously low so now genuinely wondering should o be on something much stronger..

Mine were 13 and I found within 3 weeks of 325mg tablets I started feeling better...(bloods showed it had gone up to 42 already)
but being at 2 I’m surprised they didn’t consider a transfusion. My advice would be to go back to the GP about this.

I was going to post similar, my level is 12 and I feel awful but the ferrus fumerate makes me feel so ill. I get a really upset stomach but can't get back to the doctor for a few weeks so not sure what to do.

Have you tried ferrous sulphate instead? I find them gentler on my stomach. Can buy them from any pharmacy.

I also take them before bed.

Anyone suffering stomach discomfort with iron tablets take Nexium - either over the counter or prescribed (you can get double strength on prescription) but don’t take them at the same time as the iron. I take Iron in the morning and Nexium at lunch time and it really helps my stomach cope with the tablets (I get 40mg prescribed from the gp).

I had to have x3 a day, the doctor told me 2 take it with orange juice 2 improve absorption, it took about 2 months to feel any better, I also had to go onto the pill and only have a period every 3 mth. I’m still on 1 iron tab a day a year later

I'm struggling with this. My ferritin is 6. I will be retested at the end of November.

I've been on ferrous sulphate for the past couple of weeks and I do feel better. They are killing for my stomach though.

What I've found helps is taking the iron pill after a meal. If not I will start feeling extremely nauseous.

I've also cut out most coffee, tea and dairy out of my diet and I take my iron pills with a glass of orange juice.

I wouldn’t take nexium with iron unless told to by a GP. It is a proton pump inhibitor and they can affect the absorption of iron and other vitamins/minerals.

Mine was 2, I took ferrous gluconate three times a day for 6 weeks. The first few weeks I was off work as I was basically on the toilet but it started to feel better after a month then went down to one a day. No tea or coffee or daily with it, take orange juice.
Went up to 20 then 40 the 70. Went on the pill too no more periods.

You can take Nexium and Iron but not within 2 hours of each other. You can ask a pharmacist if you’re not sure. I have both prescribed from the GP. Most people on the forum for the conditions I have take both. I wish I had known this earlier as I suffered for years before I knew.

I am not medically qualified but my experience of needing iron was that because my levels were low but closer to the acceptable levels that I had one tablet a day, the ones I were prescribed mentioned up to 6 per day (with Gp approval). I would suggest you go back, get bloods done again and check if you need to increase your dose with the GP? I agree with pp take iron tablet with orange juice and don't drink tea or coffee or anything with caffeine half an hour before or after.
As an aside before I got pregnant i saw a British lady for acupuncture, who was well versed on Chinese medicine and she said that British people have low standards for blood/ iron levels. Eg we don't worry until it's really really low. She said to eat lots of red food, eg red meat but also beetroot, tomatoes, red peppers etc? Not sure if it worked but dc1 was conceived shortly after I leant to make an awesome beetroot soup!

Mine was 2 and I would get breathless just climbing the stairs. I had to have an iron infusion with days of them finding out I was that low, felt better very quickly after that

Thanks for all the info. Definitely not feeling right and don’t feel any big improvement. Hard going with three dcs to take care of tbh. Will go back this week and up my dose in the meantime. Hopefully will feel some improvement soon.

I had this a few years ago but can’t remember how low my ferritins were but they were very low. I felt utterly exhausted and often felt muddled. I finally went to my GP when my hair started falling out and I passed out walking up some stairs in the London Underground! I was put on iron tablets 3 x day but I also had to sort out my periods which had caused the anaemia. I had to have an ablation in the end to stop me losing so much blood.