I think my iron levels are low but my GP disagrees - wwyd?

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

I lead a very active and healthy lifestyle and generally have lots of energy. However recently my hair has started to fall out and I do feel tired and a bit emotional esp in the evenings.

Based on MN advice (thank you!) I booked a GP appt and was pleasantly surprised to be taken seriously. The GP immediately said, might be low ferritin. She ordered full bloods.

Thing is, these have come back now and my ferritin is 18ug/L whereas it describes the normal range as 11-307. These results are flagged as normal, no follow up required.

I can obviously see this technically is in the "normal" range, but it also feels like it's right at the bottom of a very big range.

In this situation, would you pursue? Try to supplement naturally? Or just leave?

It's in the normal range, what exactly do you want / expect the GP to do?

This is the reason the ranges exist.

I'd focus on diet, so you eat enough iron rich food?

It needs to be above 30?

Have you checked the NICE guidelines?

For hair growth, ferritin needs to be 50 to 70, some trichologists say 75.

I'd just buy an iron supplement.

Just buy iron supplements anyway.

i had bloods done recently and mine came back low and gp said to buy supplements.

They taste awful.

I have low ferratin and although I was prescribed ferrous fumarate I don't buy it on prescription as its cheaper to buy over the counter. Just do that!

I was having sleep issues a few years ago and they wouldn't do a sleep study until my ferritin level was 50

Your ferritin is far too low. I had a blood test at my surgery at the beginning of the year and my ferritin was 5. The GP said it was a little low 🙄

Fortunately I have private health insurance through work and used that for a haematology appointment where I was told it needs to be at least 80, especially if you are losing your hair. I had an iron infusion and felt better within weeks.

You don’t stand a hope in hell of getting one via the NHS but I can recommend Three Arrows heme iron if you’re not vegetarian. They work really quickly with none of the usual gastric side effects.

Well I am wondering if a range doesn't mean 11 -you're grand... 10- you're at death's door.

Given I am right at the bottom of the range and experiencing negative symptoms, maybe supplements?

Ugh this drives me nuts. I first got flagged as low by blood donors and GP declared me normal - my ferritin was 34. I was checked last year again and it was 14. I felt bloody horrible, constantly exhausted. I've read since that really you need to be over 75-100 to be "iron well"! However all it took was an iron supplement and I was feeling better within a week- just order a good one now! I like nutrition geeks iron energy +.

Also: my supplements cost the same as a prescription and cheaper supplements are available. Just buy some, it's worth it.

Take a supplement.

It is low. I’m under the Newson clinic. My ferritin came back at 27 which my GP told me was in the normal range. Newson Dr said what the NHS class is acceptable is too low, it should be at least 50, ideally 80-100. In her advice, I’m taking ferrous sulphate alongside vitamin C. You can buy this over the counter.

Take supplements then! You are in the acceptable range for the NHS but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take accountability for your own health. If it’s lower than YOU would like, do something about it.

You want the GP to prescribe supplements?

As others have said just buy your own.

Okay thanks, I think I am going to go for OTC supplements then.

In answer to a few questions, I eat quite a lot of dark greens such as eating cavolo nero or spinach most days, often raw. Also pulses/ legumes.

However I also train quite hard, so hard circuit sessions with plyo/ jumping, heavy weights or long run most days. Dr Google reckpns a high impact trainjng load requires more iron.

I'll look at Three Arrows and Nutrition Geeks, thanks!

I'd just take a supplement and see if things improve.

IME things do pick up very quickly if low iron is the problem.

Supplements are cheap.

Did you get your B12 checked at the same time. Low levels of that can make you tired and hair fall out too

No I want the GP to advise on whether 18 really is just grand or might in fact be responsible for my adverse symptoms.

Obviously I can buy a supplement like anyone else, but if a supplement is not the right answer then I want to know what is causing my hair to fall out. Surely

Just looked on my NHS app and mine was higher than yours when considered abnormal

Try spatone and beetroot juice. I raised mine very quickly with this combination - I was very low and trying to avoid an iron infusion. (I managed to avoid it). Three spatones a day with beetroot juice.

You don’t need a doctor to increase your iron levels to a a reading that makes you feel better. Over the counter supplements (taken with vit C for absorption) and diet will do the job.

Ha @OriginalSkang that is useful. Surgery was quite clear "nothing to see here" but didn't show any concern to find out what might be wrong.

https://www.boots.com/spatone

Spatone is great, it's naturally ironised water so it is more bioavailable than standard iron tablets. Normal iron supplements can make you constipated too.
The original does taste like you're sucking on a penny but the Apple is ok