Anyone who knows about serum ferritin levels/anaemia: mine is 27.5 ug/L

[DancinginthemoonlightA]

I've experienced extreme fatigue and tiredness the last few months (resembling chronic fatigue syndrome). Until a few months ago, I was always too energetic and found it hard to fall asleep. Now it's the complete opposite - I'm intensly tired even after 10 hours of sleep and had a dizzy spell where I was unconscious a few months ago and since then, the extreme tiredness has been everyday.

Bloods and tests all came back generally normal except

1. Very high vitamin B12 - I used a spray to supplement as believed I may be low. Usual values I think are up to 900 and mine was about 1,400 but they say B12 usually goes out of the body if you get too much of it so it should get down to normal soon but the last time I supplemented with the spray was over 3 months ago. I know low b12 can cause tiredness but unsure if too high B12 can do that too

2. Low blood pressure - surprisingly so - both systolic and diastolic are two digit numbers (around 98/63) which could also explain tiredness but GP says they can't do anything about it

3. My serum ferritin level is Anyone who knows about serum ferritin levels/anaemia: mine is 27.5 ug/L. This is on the lower end of normal (18 to 160 is normal) so I'm within range but on the lower end. Is it possible to be on the lower end of normal and still experience anaemia perhaps?

All other tests are OK so is it worth supplementing with ferritin. If so, which do you recommend?

GP has basically given up on me and said there's nothing they can do to help me (have had multiple opinions from different GPs)

Thanks

I think your ferritin levels sound fine. Mine was six. But I’m not a doctor.

I also wouldn’t bother supplementing b12 any more.

My ferritin levels were very low but in my case it was my hair falling out that prompted me to get tested. The normal range here was 11-317 and I was 11! It's suggested that for hair to stop shedding levels need to be at least 70 and for regrowth, 100.

Obviously you have a different issues, with the fatigue, etc. Yes, you may be within the normal range but it doesn't mean you won't benefit from supplementing, if low iron is contributing to your fatigue. You can look into ways of supplementing with iron, though I don't know anything about this as my ferritin is prescribed (ferritin fumarate).

My blood pressure used to tend towards the low side, causing dizziness on standing etc, and the doctors always congratulated me it being low as I was unlikely to have a heart attack or stroke! Again, there are ways to raise blood pressure (a bit more salt in your diet, for example) but obviously it's something you'd need to research.

Is there anything in particular that's happened in the last few months to account for the change in your energy levels?

I do hope you manage to find something that works - fatigue is awful.

I think there’s no harm supplementing but try and get prescription strength as it’s much stronger (obvs).

I had horribly low iron due to heavy periods (6.Something was my number for whatever was being measured) and I felt just like you. I started seeing an improvement within about a week and felt normal within about 6 weeks. (And that was only taking about 2/3 of the dose due to side effects)

Your ferritin (iron store) is not that low and if your haemoglobin is normal, you are not really anaemic.

If you want to take an iron/general supplement, Floradix or Spatone are good and can be bought in a health food shop. Unlike a lot of iron supplements, they do not tend to upset your bowel function.

Was your vitD tested?

Thanks for the replies so far everyone.

Yes vitamin D was tested and found to be normal (upper end of normal reference range).

Does anyone have any recommendations for iron brands/types and dosages (prescribed or over the counter) that really helped boost their ferritin stores quickly with minimal side effects (e.g. nausea, constipation, etc.?)

Thanks

Mine went down to 4.

I'd be ecstatic with 27

Last time I had my levels done it was 12.
Ferograd C is what I was recommended to take at night on empty stomach . The vitamin C assists the absorption of the iron.