Has anyone else had low ferritin levels?

[QueeenOfHearts]

I’ve been feeling exhausted for what seems like forever. Recently I’ve been struggling to keep on top of the housework and just daily family life because physically staying awake is tough. I finally took myself to the GP had some bloods done and although my iron levels are within the normal range (12.6) my ferritin levels are 5.

Has anyone else experienced this? I’m unsure how bad these levels are? I’ve been given some iron tablets so I’m just hoping they’ll kick in soon 🙏🏼

I had this in pregnancy, from memory the ferritin level goes up to 200 or something, I think I was under 10 too and needed tablets. It did make a difference quite quickly and I knew when I needed them that the tiredness I felt was not normal pregnancy tiredness.

Yes, I’m not in the UK so I was offered an iron infusion.
It’s a quick way of getting the ferretin levels up.
Iron tablets will take a bit longer. Were you also given guidance on eating iron rich foods. That will also help.
My hair was also falling out. This stopped as my ferretin levels improved.
However keep am eye on it. If they go down again then it’s worth investigating why this is

Mine are very low, never got above 10, and I don’t absorb it so nothing I’ve been prescribed has made a difference.

Did they check your b12? I don’t absorb that either so have regular injections and that’s been life changing.

5 is v low. I struggle with mine too. Cut caffeine down and take tablets with orange juice as vitamin c helps you absorb it.

I felt lousy when my levels were v low and they were higher than yours. They're still not great. Hope you feel better soon.

Oh and shellfish and steak also good sources of iron.

I used to drink spa tone as iron tablets as grim!

Yes mine were 5. I took iron tablets and they went up but if I stop taking the tablets they drop back down so I have to take them regularly. I’ve been told I’ll have to take them until post menopause.

Mine went down to 4 in pregnancy with a haemoglobin that was still in the normal range. I felt rubbish - I was constantly exhausted, and struggled with insomnia where I'd wake up part way through the night and couldn't get back to sleep.

I was already on spatone which clearly wasn't doing enough, and started on iron tablets but couldn't tolerate the side effects. They ended up prescribing me a liquid form of iron normally used for kids - I felt much better within about a week.

Yes. I had this last year. Been taking iron tablets for a few months now and my levels are normal again but my GP wants me to keep taking them to ensure my stocks are replenished.

The exhaustion and muscle aches were really bad but they've gone now and I feel much better.

Take the iron tablets with vitamin C like orange juice as it helps with absorption.

I did, and was routinely ill which I believe caused depression. I eventually had an endometrial ablation as I could never replace as quickly as I lost.

I had a ferritin level of 5 with normal haemoglobin. It wasn't flagged up as abnormal on my blood results, so I assumed everything was normal. Weeks later I saw my consultant and asked about my results and was told about the low ferritin. They don't seem to get concerned until haemoglobin is abnormal.

Was feeling like I was dying for a long time, had been referred to cardiology as my heart kept feeling like it was going to stop It got to the stage that after walking up the stairs I had to lie down at the top as I was so tired. Was made to feel like a hypochondriac, haemoglobin was fine so I couldn't be anaemic. Finally I had a full iron profile and got a phone call from the hospital to say my ferritin was 2 and I needed an urgent iron infusion.

A few weeks later I felt AMAZING, I actually got into bed and had to read to get to sleep, for so long I couldn't even remember getting into bed as I would even fall asleep on the stairs on the way up. I would really push for an infusion OP, if I ever feel my ferritin is on the low side I would get one privately as it does so much more than taing tablets.

Mine were undetectably low 2 or 3 years ago. I was sent for retesting after the first results were so low, but no, 3 samples all came up with the same results.

I took it in supplements for 3 months and was tested again. This test showed some improvement, but my levels were not in normal range for another 6 months.

Weeks later I saw my consultant and asked about my results and was told about the low ferritin. They don't seem to get concerned until haemoglobin is abnormal.

Agreed. My ferratin levels are low, my haemoglobin is high. I don’t really understand the correlation between them. I asked my GP who didn’t really clear that up. Maybe someone here can clarify. Which has to be low for it to be anaemia? What does high haemoglobin mean?

Yes, I had an iron infusion. Ferritin is the long term storage and mine was very low. Haemoglobin levels were also low. Tablets did nothing, I was told to take them with orange juice up to 3 times a day but they still didn't work.

Yes I was feeling very tired aches in arms and legs, hair loss and restless legs. My Gp said iron level was fine but ferritin was low.

I took galfer iron tablets and felt better within few weeks. I continued to take the iron for about 3 months. I didnt go back for re test so Ive no idea if they went up by much.

I went to my GP about frequent ‘headaches’ (actually diagnosed by neurology as migraines). Had numerous blood tests to check for things that might be causing them. Hb was fine (has always been about 140!) but my ferritin was down at 13. One GP did quiz me about reflux and bowel issues in case something there was causing it (I work in Endoscopy, we get a lot of patients with unexplained anaemia) but I did point out I have endometriosis which could well be the cause. Within 2 weeks of the iron tablets I felt my energy levels improve. After 3 months by ferritin was up at 50. I’m off the tablets now, been off for a month and will get my bloods tested again when I’ve been off 3 months. I already think it’s dipped down though, I feel tired again, I’m breathless when I’m active, especially going up stairs which is annoying!

Ferritin is the store of iron so you can have low iron stores but not be anaemic because there's enough iron in the blood currently. It's like having enough food for today's dinner but all your cupboards being bare.

I had really low ferritin before I was diagnosed with coeliac disease, iron tablets weren't enough so I had iron infusions, like @spicedapples I think it caused depression as after iron infusion all those symptoms went away. I had heart symptoms too and general aches afterwards I felt a million dollars. Ended up with endometrial ablation a few years later and more iron infusions but all has been ok for years now with gluten free diet and no periods