Should I do something about these iron levels - 3 ok, one out of range

[Quangle]

Sorry for boring post but would appreciate a comment from someone who knows about treating things in the round. I go in and out of being mildly anaemic so take floradix. Most recent bloods say:

serum ferritin 16 (10-120)
Serum iron 9 (7-27)
serum transferrin 2.8 (1.7 - 3.4)
Transferrin %sat 13 (16-55)

Obviously only the transferrin level is out of range but the dr has not specified any action (they are a bit useless at my surgery tbh so they never recommend doing anything - perhaps they are right but thought I'd ask for guidance from wise women on here).

Also I always get low scores on MCV and MCH but they always say "that's just you"...

Gluten have be linked to low iron absorption. Also thyroid.

I'm going round in similar circles myself. My ferritin is 18 so officially OK but everything I read points to it needing to be over 100.

I'm on ferritous sulphate three times a day.

All those results are low except for the transferrin, which is mid range.

To avoid symptoms of fatigue, hair loss, poor concentration etc your ferritin needs to be at least 70 and preferably 90/100.

It is appalling that your GP is not treating, but I am not surprised. This is what happened to me. They preferred to diagnose me with CFS and send me on my way rather than treat the obvious problem.

You need iron supplementation as a matter of urgency and you need something stronger than Spatone, which will not cut the mustard with levels this low.

Ferrous sulphate is OK if you can tolerate it - start at one tab a day and work up to three. Ferrous fumarate is an alternative said to be easier on the stomach. Solgar's Gentle Iron is another possiblity. I take a supplement recommended by someone on MN and made by Cytoplan. In an ideal world you should take vitamin C to bowel tolerance to increase absorption.

How timely of you to put this up here, as I was about to start an iron deficiency thread. I have been struggling for a while (three years plus) and just got a copy of my latest blood results, which are generally ok apart from serum ferritin level of 12. so maybe it's not my thyroid after all, and Lack of iron reserves is my problem. I shall follow this thread with interest. thanks to other mumsnetters whose advice I read and took on asking for a printout of my results. I am waiting to hear back from Dr...

Rockin, I'm sure my consultant said my ferritin was 20 at the last appointment. But I don't think I am suffering any of the effects. Well, definitely not the hair loss. And maybe I'd be super-charged with higher levels!

I can't do the Ferrous sulphate tabs. Floradix seems OKish though.

I never had hair loss even with a ferritin level of 2, so don't despair everyone!
My own levels have rocketed up to 16 so of course now they are "good"

those ferritin levels are all crap - try 2 sachets of spatone or floradix if gp is not prescribing

Well it seems I've stirred my GP into action. I've got to go and collect blood test forms for Rechecking my full blood count, plus vitamin and iron levels (only had the serum ferritin last time) and also screening for coeliac disease.

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like I need to stir my stumps and press the dr for more. The last time I went (bronchitis) he told me not to "lie around on the sofa all day as it won't help you feel better" - I'm a single parent of two children under six and I work full time so literally never sit on the sofa let alone lie on it! I was obviously pretty as well as . That's probably why I haven't pushed them for much because they are just a bit useless but it sounds like I really do need higher levels and floradix is not getting me there.

Posh At least your GP seems to be doing the right things.

All we need to do now is get Quangle sorted.

My ferritin level is now 97. I take these:

www.cytoplan.co.uk/Iron-Molybdenum-4070/

Quangle, totally understand you re your GP. Mine had me feeling like crying this time last year, he made me feel like I was wasting his time .

RockinD, do you feel better now your ferritin is back up at good levels?