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.'

That's interesting about the infusions. My ferritin has been low since I had all this bowel surgery and I think might not be taking it in properly. But there has been no guidance despite having a large amount of an organ removed (due to adhesions) apart from a surgical follow up to check it was healing properly.

It's been low for years but because the other readings were OK was not given much advice like others, also had depression and tiredness for years and given antidepressants, got Shingles again and again and left with neuralgia from that..

mentioned to the GP that Shingles seemed to happen when low ferritin and this is why they checked this time, but although it said contact patient about the ferritin being 'borderline' no-one has been in touch.

If supplements don't work can the GP refer you for the infusions or does it have to be a specialist? Thanks.

It's really useful to hear about others experiences with this, sorry to hear about the symptoms though

Mine is 0… yes .. 0
my gp has told me that 0 isn’t serious just yet 🤦‍♀️
I have another appointment for April, soonest I can get in.
I'm exhausted all the time. I can’t remember what it was like not being tired and achy, yawning like a crazy woman, wearing a mask isn’t helping (legal requirement still where I work) also my concentration is seconds long some times
I've always had low iron level. I’ve tried the pills. I have woeful side effects that require hospital stays.
I can get a transfusion but they cost over $1,000 plus I would have to drive 3 hrs return

and yes, I eat iron rich foods everyday - or when they’re in the supermarkets

This looks useful, might give this to the GP if they don't do anything

www.rcpjournals.org/content/clinmedicine/21/2/107

As well as the NICE guidance

I have sent them the NICE guidance for something else which was not being monitored and they did respond positively and start the monitoring.

Says should aim for a target of 100,

TheAustralian that sounds terrible, sorry to hear. Hope something can help. Have you tried different types of iron? I have heard some good things about Hemaplex which you can get on Amazon.

Try Ferrous Fumerate NOT Ferrous Phosphate as that causes nausea. A pharmacist can order it for you. It helped me

Any thought on Heme iron supplements?

DH had 11 on his ferritin level but he has autoimmune diseases

Might that limit his absorption Tina? Has he IBD?

Considering the heme iron being better absorbed, but put off by the high price and it being bovine (am vegetarian)

Ulcerative colitis. That was a while ago when he was heavily flaring so would hope it is better now. He has regular bloods done for his medication too.

Ah right, yes hopefully.

I have got some of this Gentle iron (bisglyclinate I think it is called) however even taking that first thing in the morning as recommended gave me a tummy ache.

It is meant to be absorbed better or something. Might try having it with food.

Me again. Still feel awful and to make matters worse I had Covid recently. Blood test missed Vitamin D so that was done and it is 62 nmol/L, with 50 being the lowest parameter. Apparently this is considered adequate for most. I still feel soooo tired. Where do I go??!

Could it be post viral fatigue after covid I wonder adding to things?

Have you talked to the GP about the ferritin? I made a appt with mine although it took several weeks to get one, to chat about it

She said the gentle iron tablets sounded a good plan and is going to test in again in 3 months. Also going to test some other things like B12, folate and celiac, but she has put something about being due to previous bowel surgery? Not sure.

Hi Oranges, these symptoms have been dragging on for months and as far as I know this is the first time I've had Covid.

How do people take vitamin c with iron pills? I don’t drink juice, could I take a vit c pill?

I take a vitamin C 1000 with my ferrous sulphate first thing washed down with a splash of orange juice as I hate it. Iv definitely felt better since adding in the Vit C 1000 for the past 3 weeks.

I had low ferritin results for years with a good haemoglobin. I also had a low folate. I couldn't get them to go up, whatever l ate.
Years later the haemoglobin result dropped a lot and l was quite anaemic. Like a PP, l was then tested for Coeliac disease and was positive. I just wasn't absorbing it.
I had none of the so called classic symptoms of Coeliac.
Since going gluten free I've been fine.

My ferritin was normal but as I felt so tired and lifeless I bought iron tablets from Healthspan. In a matter of weeks I felt so much livelier it was unbelievable. I took them until my periods stopped.

How odd op. I was told below 50 is low. I was 20 and they prescribed iron tablets.

I posted this before but you can buy 200mgs over the counter - you should start on them as soon as possible with vitamin C. Have you seen a different doctor yet?

@mainsfed also not a fan of juice here so I buy dissolvable vitamin c with zinc from Boots, it's really nice.