To ask if anyone has ever had low ferritin levels?

[ImaHogg]

I have suffered from anaemia on/off for years due to heavy periods. Over the last 5+ years I have developed uterine polyps which I have removed but they grow back (I’m 48 and probably in peri so my hormones are probably unbalanced), unfortunately these are making my periods heavier which is probably further pushing me into anaemia.
My test came back last September with HB of 9.9 and Ferritin of 5. GP put me on ferrous fumerate but as an IBS sufferer these cause such awful issues that I’ve had to rely on Spatone which isn’t helping much.
Last week my levels came back the same, gp says she doesn’t have anything else to offer other than the ferrous fumerate and to continue to take the Spatone until I get a hysteroscopy appointment with gynae (I’ve been waiting for this since October last year to have polyps removed again and this time insertion of a Mirena coil, but it’s been put off due to Covid!).
Has anyone had low ferritin levels? What were your symptoms and how did you get your levels to normal?
My symptoms are I am cold all the time, tiredness even after a good nights sleep, tired after climbing stairs, intolerance to exercise, anxious ALL the time, sore tongue, tinnitus, vision issues and just completely knackered and weak tbh.
I feel like crap every day but I’ve been anaemic for so long that I’m not even sure what it feels like to feel ‘normal’ so not sure if my symptoms are due to the low ferritin or not!

@duvets; that was from quite a recent blood test, GP wasn't that concerned, I have coffee after meals if I fancy it now!
Still eat lots of spinach

@DorisLessingsCat - I did. hard to tell if it worked, as I have no idea how heavy my periods would have got without it, but after about a year, with iron levels not improving, I had DVT, which the A&E consultant immediately attributed to the TA. SO it does clots blood efficiently = but not always helpful!

@EveryDayIsADuvetDay thank you!

Yes, I had fibroids and eventually had a hysterectomy but had very low iron for , in hindsight, probably years. I was always knackered, breathless, terrible hair, always cold and in the last year, an insatiable desire for carrots which turned out to be pica! I was so orange I glowed.
I took Floradix and it built up my reserves very fast.

@EveryDayIsADuvetDay I've been on tranexemic acid and iron supplements for a year and it's been a life saver! Periods much reduced and iron levels now stable. I also have B12 injections.

I guess it's not for everyone but it's worked for me. I'm also near OP's age with fibroids.

I've got a mirena coil fitted, no periods. My ferrous iron levels went down to 10 last year, back up to 30+ now after taking tablets 6m. Has anyone else had such a dip for no reason?

Mine's 13, I don't have heavy periods, but I don't eat much meat so that could be it, I don't know. Everything else seems okay, just low ferritin. I might see a functional health doctor at some point.

Mine was 5. Eventually had iron infusion.

Made a huge difference. Was done privately.

I had those exact symptoms with low ferritin (8) caused by heavy periods, also had low B12 at the same time, i had to take ferrous fumerate for around 6 months but also had mirena fitted which stopped my periods, dont think the tablets would have done much good alone without stopping the bleeding - good luck, its miserable feeling so rough

@DorisLessingsCat - Yes, I was similar age and issues!
TA must work for someone, otherwise they wouldn't prescribe it! - but for me, in addition to the DVT it lead to two years of ill health, and one medication after another that caused more and more problems, including needing a brain scan, being bumped backwards and forwards between gynae and oncology.... I'm probably hypersensitive about TA!

Floridix with iron, taken with a little orange juice is magic stuff.
Within 10 day the difference I felt was enormous.
Dried apricots are good to take a few of everyday and a mouthful of orange juice everytime you eat meat to aid iron absorption.
Green veg, particularly spinach is great to add to your diet.

Mine was even lower than that, 3.2- only thing that helped were iron infusions. GP seems to be reluctant to refer for them, I had to see a gastro consultant to be referred. (I also have terrible IBS). Good luck OP

Get your b12 tested. Do not take b12 tablets as they will give an inaccurate result. All your symptoms sound like b12 deficiency to me

Spartone isn’t good enough for your condition. Would prune juice, water, apple juice enable you to take the iron tablets?

You need to join the iron protocol on Facebook. Really detailed information on what you should be getting and taking. Take time to sit and read it. Stop with spatone simply not enough iron. I'm currently taking gentle iron with a 1000mg vitamin c supplement. In addition I take heme iron available from Amazon. The heme iron is easier on the stomach and can be absorbed by the body without the vitamin c.

Given your levels are so low you probably need an iron infusion. I'd get back in touch with your gp. They really don't have much knowledge in this area.

GP in my experience is useless. My ferritin was 25 no where as low as yours but explained symptoms I had such as hair loss. But GP didn't worry about it and deemed the level normal.

Royal college of nursing would disagree. <a class="break-all" href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.rcn.org.uk/-/media/royal-college-of-nursing/documents/publications/2019/may/007-460.pdf%3Fla%3Den&ved=2ahUKEwj7g7eqvOjvAhX3gP0HHer8CaMQFjAAegQICxAC&usg=AOvVaw1pdkRGfD0ZmCgARclIJskI" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=www.rcn.org.uk/-/media/royal-college-of-nursing/documents/publications/2019/may/007-460.pdf%3Fla%3Den&ved=2ahUKEwj7g7eqvOjvAhX3gP0HHer8CaMQFjAAegQICxAC&usg=AOvVaw1pdkRGfD0ZmCgARclIJskI

I'm feeling so much better after taking iron supplements for a few weeks. Hopefully you can get sorted too.

@ImaHogg

DonGray no, I haven’t had those checked, I will ask about that. HazeyJanell gp hasn’t even suggested those, I will definitely ask. Gerla thanks, I’ll have a Google. Yessun I would love iron infusions but my referral was returned by haematology 18 months ago!

I have infusions which are done medical day unit.

You aren’t absorbing what you need from your food.

If you have gut issues that is the place to start. Supplements are a great idea short term but longer term you need to get to the root cause

@EveryDayIsADuvetDay and @DorisLessingsCat...do you mind me asking about the DVT?

I take tranexamic acid for heavy bleeding....and have some concerns. I'm also not sure what the alternatives are (avoid the pill as it has led to a blood clot scare and severe headaches in the past)

I'm 51 and was supposed to have an early menopause....just want the bloody bleeding to stop!

@roonerspismed How do you go about investigating gut issues? My dr prescribed a test for gluten intolerance and it came back clear. He said case closed!

My ferritin level was 0 at the end of my last pregnancy (June 2018). The wonderful anaesthetist doing my C section noticed and immediately arranged for an iron infusion as I my on the table! “I’m a vegan, I get the every 3 months” she told me.
My levels shot up to 250 - felt amazing - I think it’s the main reason I really enjoyed the newborn months second time around compared to my first baby where I was completely wiped out - also ended that pregnancy on 0 but was just prescribed ferritin which I didn’t tolerate very well.

DD2 is now nearly 3 and I’m fairly certain ferritin will be 0 again as am feeling shattered, heavy arms, generally wiped out. I went for a blood test about 18 months ago and ferritin was 30 ... that was apparently fine despite dropping from 250 in just over a year so the trend was pretty clear. I begged for an infusion but they wouldn’t let me have one. The gate keeping is enraging!

Must organise own privately as feel like shit 😩

@Ailurusfulgens I'm on that FB group but find the dosages impossible! How much gentle iron do you take?
Spatone is the only thing that has ever increased my levels. It may be gut/stomach absorption related for me- I do have gluten sensitivity or celiac (inconclusive) and avoid gluten entirely.
Can you link to the heme iron you take? I haven't been able to find a U.K. supplier.

@TiddleTaddleTat I agree that the dosages do seem massive. I don't follow it to the letter so currently take two gentle iron in the morning with 1000mg vitamin C. I skip breakfast to help absorption. I then take two heme iron tablets at lunchtime. I got some from amazon brand name OptiFer. Not ideal according to the Iron protocol as they also contain folic acid (although my levels of this are low too) and some fillers they're not keen on. According to the protocol I'm still short but I think its making a difference. My mood is so much improved and I have loads more energy and my hair has stopped falling out. Hope it works for you.

Very interesting reading some of the experiences on here. I have been suffering from fatigue for over 4 years, also get breathless and occasional palpitations. Have had a couple of blood tests where I was told all my levels were fine. New year's resolution for 2020 was to get it sorted and not take "there's nothing wrong" from the Dr but then covid happened. Just had a look at the print out if my blood test result from 2 years ago and my ferritin level was 21, low enough from some of your experiences to be causing these issues. Feeling rather angry right now with my Dr!
Has anyone had their levels tested with Superdrug? I see you can be sent a kit to send them some blood and they test it, it's £40 so I don't want to waste my money but probably quicker than seeing my GP.

@Ailurusfulgens ah ok, I do the same with the morning iron but am on a single pill which is 27mg, may need to double that. Taking 5 pills was like poisoning myself !!
I saw OptiFer but can't take that due to fillers (am also dealing with MCAS following long covid) might start on liver if I can find a decent supplier.
@Elefant1 I used Thriva for online blood tests and they were really good, lots of discount codes knocking about and they can test a range of things for £40

@Elefant1 not used Superdrug but Thriva is an excellent service

@Elefant1 I think the challenge will be getting your doctor to actually do something even with a low result. Mine was 12 and I'd lost half of my hair and my doctor was still saying well 11 is when we would start to worry but 12 is fine...