Blood results help - low ferritin

[BarbieGirl999]

Posting for traffic.
Desperately feeling rough. Recent blood results show ferritin is 16 but GP notes say 'no further action is needed.'

Iron tablets - taken with a source of vitamin c. And a few house before or after diary products.
Your iron level should increase. Ask the GP how much iron to take to raise your levels. Floradidx etc will just keep them at a stable level but are unlikely to raise them - not enough iron.
Also Google ways to increase iron in your diet.
16 is on the low side.

Following as I'm sure I had a similar result (possibly lower) and they said it was fine....

Anyone tried Spatone?

I tried it in pregnancy and it did help.

The iron protocol on Facebook / Instagram is a good source of info.

Go buy some iron tablets, one every other day with Vitamin c.

Think about if there is no iron in your diet usually or are you losing it through heavy periods?

I'm a ferritin 9. The best thing for me is Floradix and then my prescribed supplements.

Floradix makes a huge difference! Sometimes it's 3 for 2 at Boots!

My ferritin never gets higher as my body simply won't absorb it (being tested for coeliac and other things!)

I even had an infusion and my result was fine at first. 2 weeks later back to 9 ☹️

I should clarify - Floradix makes me FEEL better. Doesn't make any difference to the numbers though...

I'd get a second opinion or push for iron tablets/start supplements yourself. Ive suffered with low ferritin for as long as I can remember. There isn't enough awareness of it and doctors frequently (always) dismiss it. The range for 'normal' is very broad. But in fact optimum levels are much much higher than many GPs actually admit. I'd do some research online and go back to different GP if possible.

16 is low. Mine was once 2. Fun times. Yawns repeatedly

Spatone is gentle on the tummy, but is is expensive and doesn't have terribly high iron levels compared to either prescribed tablets (such as ferrous fumarate) or floradix etc.

I would feel horrendous with a ferritin of 16 op. You need prescription strength iron tablets x 3 per day, ideally with vitamin c and avoid tea and coffee for a while before and after. If you eat meat, plenty of liver, beef and venison.

It's a long slog though I'm afraid. Took me nearly 3 months of doing that consistently to get to a decent level.

When that dropped again after a couple of years I paid privately for an infusion because I just wanted a quick fix.

You ideally want your levels to be above 50.

I'm far from an expert BTW. What was your Hb reading? Haemoglobin is your iron level, whereas ferritin are your iron stores. Generally if your stores are low, then your Hb will also soon drop- but you can have low ferritin and a normal Hb.

For context, my ferritin was 2 and Hb 96. I was getting short of breath, dizziness, constant UTI's, fatigue and unusual food cravings- all signs of anaemia.

IF the GP thought your levels were too low, they should have prescribed iron supplements which are many times higher than over the counter ones, or advised an over the counter supplement. Over the counter are for maintenance only- not to correct an actual deficiency. Unlike Vit C supplements where any excess is urinated out, iron doesn't excrete and metabolise in the same way, but builds up. This is why taking iron supplements unnecessarily can be dangerous.

I'm always amazed by people mentioning spatone in reference to anaemia/low iron and don't think they realise how little elemental iron is actual in a daily dose ( 1x sachet).

Spatone- 5mg (36% daily iron)
Over the counter iron pills (often with multivitamins) 14mg (100% daily iron)
Prescribed iron (ferrous fumurate 210mg) which is equivalent to 70mg- 210mg of elemental iron (up to 15x a daily dose)

IF your Hb is low and they do recommend prescribed iron, note that it takes 3mths for red blood cells to replicate- so even with meds, increasing meat in diet, reducing tannins, its not a quick fix. I started feeling better after a month- but my levels were very low.

Did your GP do any other blood tests? Thyroid, hormones, Vit D? What do you mean by feeling rough? Certainly don't start taking iron supplements without medical advice, but go back if unsure or still feeling unwell.

Mine has just comeback as 21 Borderline says about discuss with patient.

Odd how they say different things.

I think I had Hemaplex tablets in the past. They are heme iron tablets. Maybe I will try again but they are very large to swallow. Am veggie so no red meat to increase levels.

You don't need to take prescription strength iron 3x a day.

Modern evidence is that one every other day is likely superior that one a day, and both methods are superior to the traditional 3x a day.

Basically each iron tablet contains more iron than you can possibly absorb in a day. So taking extra just leads to horrible bowel symptoms and people giving up. The alternate day program increases the amount you absorb.

It is a long old slog as it takes 3 months to replenish iron stores and if you keep losing it, for example with heavy periods, it will take even longer.

My ferritin was 12 when I was pregnant and they said that was fine!!

It's now 46 which again is apparently fine, but looking at the Iron Protocol page they say the goal is getting to 125 for 6 months.

I definitely feel like I have something lacking.

What's the best non prescription iron supplement?

I noticed a Better You spray iron supplement any views on that? Have heard good things about their vitamin sprays, but am not that keen on the taste..

As an aside my GP also tested, hormones, thyroid and vitamin D (for tiredness) All Ok except the borderline ferritin.

My levels at my last appointment in Feb were at 2, and I absolutely refuse to go on the tablets anymore, I'm on them so often and have to take the higher doses and the cramps and stomach issues I cannot deal with anymore!

I am now booked in for an infusion later this month to see if this is more beneficial. Time will tell I suppose! I

Mine dropped to 15 in pregnancy and I was given an iron infusion.

I felt dreadful and it was my symptoms that made them test. Within a week of the infusion I felt like I could run a marathon (if I wasn’t 39wks pregnant!).

Tbh nothing else I could buy over the counter touched the sides.

if you are symptomatic I would contact GP again.

Thanks for the replies. Haven't got results to hand right now. Made another appointment but cannot see a nurse for three weeks! Which is why I've ordered some Spatone, as a friend recommended them. Symptoms are feeling exhausted all the time, headaches, hair thinning (been like this since last child), pins and needles in hand, feeling cold all the time.

Relative has recommended Solgar gentle iron tablets

I had ferritin of 16 in November. It's now over 70.

I took a ferrous sulphate tablet every other morning at 5am (I get up then anyway) with a 1000mg vitamin C tablet and a big glass of water.

Then I would wait until 7am for my first coffee of the day.

This was very effective for me.

Me ferritin was 14 and I had the same symptoms as you. I took ferrous sulphate tablets for 3 months and it made a definite improvement. I then had further tests done and my folate and vitamin d was also low so I started taking multivitamins and now I feel back to normal. Good luck op.