Low iron in 13 year old

[elmleemum]

Has anyone got any experience if this? My dd had a blood test as she had awful headaches breathless and was pale and it showed that her iron was 12. Not quite anaemic but low. She’s been on ferrous fumarate for 3.5 weeks and is getting slowly better but she’s still not back at school. She’s barely been in since the holidays. Headache, fatigue and now awful tummy aches and cramps, breathlessness. I imagine school probably think she just a bit tired but it’s so much more than that she can’t make to go in. I know th iron is likely upsetting her tummy / any tips on that or if you’ve experienced this how long these symptoms may last. It’s so awful to see her suffering

Have they tested her b12, what were the results?

Is it her ferritin which is 12?

All we got back from the blood test was she was low on iron and vitamin d. The gp said her iron level was 12 which was at the low end? Assume they would have said if low on other vitamins too?

I'd ask for the full blood test results to be sent to you so you can see them properly.

Take the iron with orange juice to help absorption. What type is she on? My dc don't get any stomach issues with sytron. But my dd has now switched to better health spray which is supposed to be absorbed before it hits the stomach avoiding the nasty side effects.

Also did they do a celiac test?

We have been giving the iron with juices / she’s on galfer syrup. She’s had problems in the past with sluggish bowels and gut motility and I ahve wondered if it’s something linked to gut and absorption. I assumed the iron would bung her up but it’s having the opposite effect! She has 10 ml and I did start splitting it into 2 to try and not cause stomach pains but I read tonight that may be worse

I was anaemic as a teen, I think it’s quite common after starting periods. I took iron for a couple of years and it improved, haven’t been anaemic since, including through 4 pregnancies and breastfeeding.

We do use those sprays but not sure for the iron if it as strong as the syrup she had been prescribed

She’s not started periods yet…..

Yes the sprays are typically only 10mg and she will need more. We did a mix of both for a while.

I too suspect the GP means her ferritin is 12. An iron level (Hb) of 12 is normal- yes the lower end but still normal. (12.0–15.0 g/dL for a female) If you could get the actual results, we could advise.

It takes 3mths for red blood cells to fully replicate, so taking oral supplements is not a quick fix. What is her diet like? Does she eat meat? If she hasn't started her periods yet, are they doing any further testing to see if she is bleeding from somewhere? There is a blue green algae called spirulina which also provides iron and you can buy online or from health food stores. Its not a replacement for prescribed iron meds though, but can be used alongside them.

Whatever you do, don't listen to people that suggest floradix or spatone are 'easier on the stomach' or 'gentle iron'. That is because those supplements contain such little iron, you get more in an over the counter multi vitamin from a supermarket! Those are barely enough for maintenance and in no way would correct an actual iron deficiency.

Definitely ask for her full blood count results
As ferritin and iron stores are recorded differently as well as her blood cell count
Also need to check her b12

Liquid iron is gentler on the tummy, look for Spatone in boots or amazon etc. Can neck it and follow with orange juice chaser or mix into a bit of orange juice. Tastes... iron-y lol

Ferrous sulphate might be better
I've also read ferrous glycinate (sp?) Is much gentler also

You could look into private iron transfusions
Takes ages to get iron levels up
Lots of beef kale etc
Could she not do a part time school timetable for a while
Speak to her GP re school and her extreme fatigue

Lol not me with the spatone recommendation after previous comment 🙈 they are lower but I think good alongside stacking diet and iron tablets
I wish they'd offer transfusions more readily. Nhs is so low level wise

My DD is the same and has been on Ferrous Fumerate for a few months now. It does take about 3 weeks to start working. Make sure she doesn’t have anything dairy in the 2 hours before or after her meds as it affects absorption. I also buy Spatone sachets to top her up during the day if she’s particularly tired. The plain ones are awful, Apple flavour is fine. She takes a few sachets to school with her too.
And I’ve upped her iron in dinners, she’ll let me blitz spinach into a few meals now as long as she can’t taste it.
Go back to the GP if it keeps upsetting her stomach and they can prescribe different meds.

Coeliac disease. My daughter was being investigated for something else and they found low iron. A very astute GP recognised that low iron is often a sign of Coeliac disease and she was diagnosed off the back of that.
1:100 people have Coeliac disease but only a third of them are ever diagnosed.
It’s a serious autoimmune disease and really important to exclude as continuing to ingest gluten ultimately causes cancer in people with Coeliac disease. You don’t have to have any bowel symptoms (my daughter just had joint pain and breathlessness from being anaemic).

https://www.coeliac.org.uk/app/uploads/iron-and-iron-deficiency-may-2024.pdf

She doesn’t eat loads but she does eat meats and a fair bit of variety of things that contain iron. She has grown quite a bit recently so that’s the only thing we can think that’s caused this. I am going to try and get her to school if only for part days but it seems to now be the headaches and stomach upsets that’s more of an issue than the fatigue. She has improved - the week we took her to the GP she was being woke in the early hours with crushing headaches. I find it hard to believe it’s not actually anemia her symptoms have been so bad. I will try and get her full blood results - I only got a text initially saying iron was low go collect this prescription and no advice or follow up or anything! I did call last week as she wasn’t improving much and she has another blood test next week now

https://www.coeliac.org.uk/about-coeliac-disease/symptoms/

Iron bisglycinate is easier to absorb than ferrous fumerate. DD found it upset her stomach a lot less (it's the unabsorbed iron that causes digestive problems).

DD also went on the pill and runs several packets together without a break, so as to skip some periods - this reduces the iron lost through bleeding.

Iron can take months to build up with suppplements.

Thanks for all these bits of advice - I am going to ask about celiac as we used to wonder if she had celiac or IBS or similar with her tummy troubles before all this. I have wondered about giving some gentler iron alongside to supplement what I’m giving her in food but have also worried about overdosing her! It’s a balance of not wanting her to have the upset stomach but wanting to get iron in her asap!

Headaches, fatigue and stomach upsets do sound very much like Coeliac disease. Any pins and needles? Mouth ulcers? Rashes?

No - no pins and needles or rashes or ulcers. GP said headaches were the low iron as blood vessels swell to get more oxygen round the body. Stomach upset and pain has only come on after a couple of weeks of the iron

Mu ferritin has been slowly decreasing over my Dr said 10 yrs, getting to 13 a few months ago. The symptoms over the last few years have got increasingly debilitating. Pins and needles in arm, hair loss, brain fog, breathlessness, exhaustion that doesn't let up after 16 hours sleep. Honestly it's horrific. I'm early 40s with a pre teen, and I've felt it impossible to work full time and parent.
At Christmas I was at my wits end and suggested an iron infusion to Dr, she said "It will make you feel better instantly, but NHS don't provide them"
So at the end of my tether feeling nothing left to loose, spent £1700 on an infusion last week as well as 2 consultations. Spent hrs and hrs researching, and low iron can make you feel really ill, your daughter will be feeling dreadful, especially in the throws of growing and puberty.
It will take months and months to get increased ferritin at 12 on oral supplements. Only a week in and feeling a little better. The years of pins and needles in arms has subsided a lot already. Consultant said full effects in 3-4 weeks. Honestly cried when I left the initial appointment and he just said "Its simple, you need an infusion and you'll feel better"
If you can afford it please look into an infusion. Not sure the protocol regarding children though. I can't afford it but worth every penny on the credit card if my health improves!
Also I need to find cause of deficiency as of not the work of infusion can be undone 😞 Do the Drs know why you daughter is so deficient?
I absolutely feel for her and understand her pain x

If you have the NHS app you could review her blood results yourself.

I too have awful stomach issues - interesting seeing celiacs mentioned.
Sorry for the long post, low iron and its effects have dominated my life for months!

Funnily enough @Florencelatsymy de said yesterday can’t they just inject it into me ! As she hates the taste too. It is a bit depressing reading that it can take months to feel better so maybe infusions are worth a look although she may be too young. No discussion of why other than she’s a growing teenage girl… but if she starts her periods soon that’s going to set her back too