Ferritin level low

[GiddySeal]

Hi. I just got some results for my ferritin levels which were 17. I’d be feeling a number of symptoms so feeling quite relieved that I know the cause of them. I feel so tired, palpitations, fast heart rate. I had it in my pregnancy which was 2 years ago and it happend the last 3 months to which I was put on medication. It never really got checked after and I presumed it all levelled out itself. Has Anyone had any experience that their levels were still the same after 2 years. It was 14 at the time of pregnancy. My diet I don’t think helps as I don’t eat loads of meat. I’m Speaking to the docs on Monday but wondering if anyone else had the same experience? x

You need some iron tablets. Take them with vit c.

Mine was 8, not sure how I was alive. I slept the entire year away until I got sorted. Sounds like you will need iron tablets or even an infusion at this levels.

After 2 years of pestering my GP having suffered from extreme fatigue and hair loss they finally did my bloods which were 21. That was 3 weeks ago and I’m feeling a bit better having started iron tablets, but they did hurt my stomach when I first started.

Take iron tablets every other day. I can't remember the full scientific reason but it's to do with iron absorption when you already have ferritin in your blood
Hopefully Google will help here, but I take them every other day and feel better for it (along with a glass of orange juice at the same time as vitamin c helps absorption too)

Taking it everyday reduces how much you absorb because it raises your hepcidin levels. Hepcidin is a hormone that regulates your iron levels.

Mine had to get to 3 before they gave me an infusion. I had absorption issues and tablets didn't help.

Mine are currently at 6 and I feel rubbish. Gp said I could pay for injections, nothing mentioned about an infusion. So for now I'm just on regular iron supplements as the injections are quite expensive.

I was lead to believe ferritin levels above 12 or 13 were normal for women, so 17 seems like a pipe dream to me at the moment.

thanks everyone for your messages. It’s so horrible, but relived there is a reason why these symptoms are happening. I don’t suppose anyone had cold feet as a symptom? I spoke to the docs today and all they said was start taking ferrous fumarate, 1 or 2 day and that was it. So I’ll be be asking for a realest blood test in 3 months and really hoping these tablets get to work quick x

Mine was 25 but cold hands and feet constantly, dizziness multiple times a day, always tired, never felt rested as was wired but tired so struggled to get to sleep, high heart rate, low VO2. I’ve started the combined pill without a break as my extremely heavy periods were the issue plus taking iron tablets every other day. I’m about 7 weeks into taking the iron and 5 weeks on the pill, definitely feeling better in some ways, just flat because of my hormones settling.

Hi OP, I had the same. Levels at 15 and horrible symptom's after pregnancy. I was so miserable and tired.
I would highly recommend an infusion instead of tablets as it’s very difficult to build up iron/ferritin levels with pills when it’s been so depleted. I understand this is because for most people (myself included) pills are really hard on the stomach, causing constipation etc.
An iron iv bypasses that and the iron goes straight into your liver/bone marrow.
I started to feel incredible a few weeks after my iv! My private consultant told me the nhs guidelines are out of date and some people could feel fine on lower levels and others feel terrible. Everyone is different. But levels such as 15 are so low - you will be surviving but quality of life is not great. Sometimes normal iron levels in blood tests mask low ferritin which are your iron stores.
So you could have enough to get you through the day but nothing in the tank.