Hair loss - Can you ever significantly raise ferritin levels through diet?

[Toffeepineapple]

Hi,

I'll post this in GH too, but posting here for traffic, as I know it's quite a common issue.

Can't seem to get my levels up above 24 and this is no doubt what is causing my hair loss. All other tests have come back normal.

I've really tried ramping up my iron intake naturally, so lots of leafy greens, red meats etc, alongside a ferrous fumarate tablet every 2 or 3 days and Floradix and hair/nail vitamins, which also contain a small amount of iron. I usually have a bit of orange juice with the Floradix to help absorption.

I'm not sure I can do any more. My GP says I should concentrate on the cause, I.e, my extremely heavy periods and look at slowing or stopping through medication or the Mirena coil, but I'm really not keen on that idea. Saying that, I am getting quite desperate, as my hair loss doesn't appear to be slowing and it's making me very self conscious

Can I have a private iron infusion on my levels? I assumed not, but after doing a bit of research, I've managed to confuse myself and now I'm not sure.

TIA

You might be able to raise them through diet, but tbh as your GP says unless the cause is addressed you’ll not be likely to be able to raise them faster than they’re being lost. Unsure re private infusions but I’m sure they’ll be available somewhere!

My ferritin was 13 a couple of years ago. Had thinning hair, breathlessness, palpitations (especially after alcohol), fatigue and awful headaches. I tried with diet and iron supplements but only a 3 month course of iron tablets were effective in bringing it up. Since I had the tablets, it’s gone up and stayed up (despite heavy periods due to endometriosis).

@ThePontiacBandit, can I ask what your levels are now? I suspect I also have endometriosis. Were they able to reduce the symptoms at all?

My levels have risen. They were 7 around 8 years ago, but they haven't risen enough to stop or at least, slow the hair loss.

I think my last was over 50, if not higher. I had a laparoscopy to diagnose my endometriosis about 4 years ago, they basically found a couple of spots and burnt them away. I had chronic abdominal pain that they struggled to diagnose until I pushed for a gynae referral.

The surgery cured the chronic pain and eased my periods for a bit but they’re getting worse again now. I’ve tried the Mirena coil (sent me batty) and progesterone only pill (greasy hair, spots, permanent panicky feeling) so I have given up on contraceptives for now and just painkiller up along with wheat bags at home and stick on pads for when I have to move about. Not ideal but there’s no other alternatives that seem to suit me. I do use a moon cup rather than tampons which seem to cause less pain.

@ThePontiacBandit, oh that's quite a jump! I'm assuming you felt much better. Did you have any hair loss too?

I'm sorry to hear your periods are getting worse again. Tbh, I hear this a lot with endo surgery, which is probably why I've put off getting further investigations, which are very invasive in the first place.

Yes I hadn’t realised how ill I was until I started the tablets. My hair was thinning and falling out to the point I’d noticed, not sure anyone else had. I have other health issues so I never feel totally “well” but I’m better than I’ve been in a while.

I was in agony (off sick for months due to the pain) so for me, it was worth having the surgery. I’d had all sorts of tests and scans but they often don’t pick up endo. I’d suffered with my periods since I was a teen and was finally diagnosed in my mid 30s! It cured the chronic pain and eased my periods for a few years so not bad really. Minimal recovery needed for me. They wanted me to go on the pill long term to prevent the Endo growing again but because they will only prescribe Cerelle instead of Cerazette I struggled with the side effects so I chose to stop it.

My ferritin level was 0 when I saw my gynaecologist, so I was told to take iron supplements (bought over the counter from the pharmacy, but only cost a few £s)

3 x 200mg ferrous sulphate per day for 3/6 months was recommended to me, I haven't had my bloods tested again but feel a million times better so I assume they are working

@ThePontiacBandit, sounds like you've really been through it. My pain is mostly a niggling, dull pain on my lower, right abdomen. It comes and goes and doesn't seem to coincide with my cycle. Had scans, but nothing was found, but I knew that it wouldn't pick up endo anyway. My periods are quite painful, but my ovulation pains can be crippling. The flow is insane

@gurglebelly, really glad you're feeling better. I heard that GPS don't tend to advise on taking iron every day now, as the evidence shows it's better absorbed spaced out, so once every 2 or 3 days.

Obviously working for you though!

Yes it was pretty much the lowest point of my life. Went from feeling fine one minute to getting a stitch that wouldn’t go, which turned into chronic abdo pain. I was admitted with ?appendicitis because of the location (right lower side of my abdomen). That’s happened three times actually. Three admissions ?appendix. Still got my bloody appendix!
It was over 5 months from when it started to diagnosis last time but at least now I know I have the Endo. If I have another flare up they’ll probably still admit me in case it is my appendix, but if I don’t deteriorate and it’s not my appendix I know to ask for a gynae opinion instead of being left hanging like I have before.

@ThePontiacBandit, I'm sorry, that's bloody awful!

I was actually really surprised that no GP has ever mentioned my appendix being the potential culprit. I have, but was told that the pain was much more likely to be a c section scar or IBS, for which I have no other symptoms.

I've been wondering if there's any point in trying something topical to stop or slow the hair loss, given that I'm pretty certain the cause is low ferritin. The last GP said that I could be lucky and still have some success.

Maybe worth a shot 🤷‍♀️

I did using spatone iron water and hair, skin and nails vitamins, as well as increasing my healthy fats and proteins.

Oh and going on endo meds helped me too! That was probably the actually magic, tranexamic acid

@TigersandTeddybears, do you mean the tranexamic acid was for the endo? I have been offered this, not for endo, but for my very heavy periods, which I guess could very well be the cause. I decided not to take, as I knew they would be a long term commitment and presumably my periods would just go back to normal once I came off it.

Ah, after doing more research on tranexamic acid, I see that it's not a pill that you take constantly. Am definitely more interested in this than I was before....

That's really interesting, I spoke to the consultant, my GP and Pharmacist and not one of them mentioned that. I was however told to take each tablet with orange juice

Judging by the wispy baby hairs that are now at my temples it certainly seems to be doing the trick with my hair loss though. I'm hoping it will start to get a bit thicker if I can carry on

I'll be interested to see what levels the next set of bloods come back with as it's difficult to get levels back up when you have to sit/sleep on towels (and set hourly alarms through the night) because you bleed so much

gurglebelly
Best thing I ever did was use a hand towel through the night. I don’t have to change 5 times per night. Since using a towel it hasn’t stained the mattress .

@Agnes41

gurglebelly Best thing I ever did was use a hand towel through the night. I don’t have to change 5 times per night. Since using a towel it hasn’t stained the mattress .

This is really embarrassing but on the bad days I put a puppy pad down, then a hand towel on top which I sleep on - it was a bit of a game changer as it helps stop the sheet/mattress topper looking like a crime scene each month!

May try that as we have a new bed coming in the next week

@Toffeepineapple definitely give the tranexamic acid a try. I suffered with incredibly heavy , long periods for 3 yrs. I couldn't leave the house for days, and was passing fist sized clots. I had periods of 6 or 7 weeks at a time (as usual) and up to 3 months.

The GP said they dudnt think TW would help, I didn't think it would as I read to take it fir 4 days, and I wondered hiw it would work on 6 week long periods

Eventually I tried it, and it is an absolute game changer. Flow lessened on the 2nd day and could be described as light by the 4th. I dont take the full dose now and don't take it every month. I've taken some this month as I'm on holiday.

I feel like I get bloated on them, and I get a but of pain (my very heavy periods were thankfully quite painful free!).

My iron levels and stores have improved. I had iron infusions previously but get by taking a spatone a day and eating iron rich foods. I'm still moderately anaemic but my symptoms are less and I just can't tolerate ferrous fumerate.

Totally forgot to say, have you had your thyroid levels checked?

I have low ferritin due to coeliac disease. I was on 3 ferrous fumerate a day to bring it up. They give me an inflamed colon and diarrhoea though 😫. I'm not on anything now but I still think my ferritin is low and maybe dropping. I have hair loss and tiredness. I have regular blood tests at the moment so no doubt I will get an up to date level soon.

@ImFree2doasiwant, I'm a little confused with the tranexamic acid and how it works. If it basically stretches out your flow and causes more clots (which is a concern to me, as I already have a stupid amount) then aren't you losing the same amount of blood? In which case, my ferritin levels won't go up - isn't that right?

Yes, I had my thyroid levels checked a couple of weeks ago. All normal apparently. Took a lot of pushing to get it though.

I don't really know how it works, but it doesn't work as you describe in my experience. It was almost like turning a tap off.

I was very very sceptical, I just didn't see how it would help. I had a pack in the house for 3 months before I decided to try them and honestly, I regret not trying them sooner. My flow has dramatically reduced. I do get clots but they are 50p sized instead of apple sized.

I had read so many people on here recommending them, but just didn't believe it would help. I'd urge you to try them for 3 months.