Can someone tell me about these results please

[prettyanddainty]

I had my ferritin level checked because I am having hair loss, my ferritin levels are 16, is that low? Dr said they are normal.

This is an americain site, but suggests your levels are at the low end of normal

Can you try and increase your iron intake naturally through diet, and also maybe take a multivitim or iron supliment off the she;f from the chemist?

You don't say where you are or what the reference range is, but where I live in the West Midlands the range for a woman is 15-150. Based on that, your level may be within range, but it is very very low and certainly low enough to make you feel unwell and cause hair loss. No way is it 'normal'.

To avoid hair loss, your ferritin level needs to be at least 70-90.

Also, your GP should not ignore your ferritin levels on the basis that your haemoglobin levels are OK. Ferritin is iron stores and you need these to be at a good level in case you use up your haemoglobin. With levels at 16, I was told I was eligible for iron infusions, although I wasn't able to get them in the end and had to rely on ferrous fumarate tablets to start to raise my levels.

If your diet is good and you don't have hideous periods, your GP should be carrying out other tests to establish why your ferritin level is so low.

My ferritin is 2. My GP said 13+ was ok but they prefer 30+

rockin I am also from the west midlands. Is it ferrous fumerate that is hould be taking? because I have bought ferrous sulphate. My Dr was hesitant to even give me some ferrous sulphate. Have you got any idea why my ferritin levels are low?

My periods aren't really heavy, and my diet is crap, so I definitely need to change that.

The other thing I noticed on blood tests the other day ( had a print out of everything) I noticed that I had been tested positive for H pylori back in 2009, but I didn't have any treatment for that, I asked the dr about this, she said if it isn't causing you any problems then you don't need to treat it, is that right?

rockin would you be able to tell me what good supplements to take for low ferritin? thanks, I am glad I asked for a ferritin check.

In relation to the H pylori do you have any issues with your stomach/digestion etc? Do you get heartburn or indigestion?

I have H pylori in my twenties. I used to suffer with indigestion and couldn't eat spicy or acidic foods. I was treated with 2 different antibiotics and Nexium. The difference was amazing, I was able to eat anything I liked and my health in general seemed to improve.

I think H.Pylori should always be treated, even if a symptomatic, as it is classed a carcinogen. It also associated with the development of peptic ulcers.

www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/h-pylori-cancer

Can you get a different GP to look at all of this?

Bugger.

www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/h-pylori-cancer

peach I used to get heartburn but not that much now, they put me on lanzoprazole for acid reflux, I only get a bit of a heart burn if I eat spicy, or fried foods.
doit yes I am going to go to another doctor on Monday and talk to him, I always thought h pylori had to be treated as well.

I've been tested for h pylori as part of investigations into why my ferritin is so low - from what I understood, it can cause slow internal blood loss, so would cause a drop in iron stores. I'd say it needs addressing! (My test was neg so still no clue what's causing my probs sadly )

dotty that sounds scary and serious, I think I will go on Friday and get it sorted.