Ferritin level 5 - advice please :)

[LuluRay]

Hi,

I've just joined this site as I googled ferritin levels and time off work, which sent me to this site. I have read a previous thread about a lady's ferritin levels of 7.

I am wanting advice as I've been off work since Friday, as have got no energy at all and have literally been led on the sofa for the majority of those days. The doctor has given me Ferrous fumarate (210mg) twice a day (since Friday), but I don't seem to be getting any better.

My hair has thinned a lot and is worrying me quite a bit. I'm just wondering whether anyone can advise me of whether they've tried these tablets and if low ferritin levels have led others to take as much time off work? (I feel bad on work but literally got light headed and faint when tried to walk around morrisons!)

Thank you very much :)

I had ferritin of 10 when I had mine first checked as an investigation into thin hair. Don't expect rapid results from the tablets, it's probably too early. I was on iron tablets for 12 months and they only got up to 70 after a year! My hair was also thin and whilst my levels have improved my hair hasn't (though we have a family history of thin hair). Have you had your thyroid checked as it could be that? Iron levels will improve but it takes months rather than days, especially as you need to increase yours so much.

Thank you for the advice.

I don't think I've had my thyroid checked but maybe it's worth looking into when I go back.

I'm not sure whether its because I jog quite a bit and don't eat red meat often, but was quite alarmed when the results came back as 5.

Sorry to hear you had the same problem, but I guess like you said, at least in time the levels do gradually increase.

Thank you :)

Drinking orange juice at time of meals helps you to absorb the iron.
Why do they think you are low in iron?

Thank you, that's a good tip!

I'm really not sure - I think it might be due to jogging and maybe not eating enough iron in my diet. My periods can be quite heavy also, but not really sure to be honest.

It's lucky the doctor took me seriously second time as the first time I said my irons were low, he just did the generic full blood count test, which came back ok. Then a few months later when my hair was thinning and falling out at the front did he check the iron store levels (last week) which came back as 5. It's a little frustrating as this could have been rectified a few months back, but there we go.

I think I might have to take the week off as I'm pretty much good for nothing - it's amazing how it knocks you for six!

Thank you for your reply :)

Mine's also 5 but is up from 2 so that's good
My GP has carried out loads of tests and has come up with no explanation. I'm currently on ferrous fumarate and the doctor has said maybe I should just take vits with iron from now on. He has no idea at all why my ferritin is so low. I think I've just got used to the exhaustion now I'm afraid

Hi there are better supplements that you can take to get the iron. In you. the iron will absorb better and so you will feel better quicker. there is some information on the internet about female endurance athletes/runners and iron deficiency, there does appear to be a link. You need to aim for ferritin of 50 or more.

are you anaemic too, or just iron deficient?

having been in similar situation back in the summer I now feel so much better, my energy is back in the normal range, and best of all my hair is growing back (even if I do look a bit like I have a fuzzy frizz issue going on at the moment, who cares! baldness is not around the corner for me.) I had to do my own thing though as not anemic just low ferritin of 12, was told the dr would not prescribe iron for me but they hopefully will agree to blood test in January like they said they would. I found a good supplement in my local health food shop called hema-plex.

I would just take the time off sick, I know how I struggled to do anything, and your result is far worse than my level of 12.

Thank you both, that's really helpful.

Penny I will try the supplement as I think anything is a bonus! I will also check out the information about the runners and iron deficiency too.

I think similar to yourself it's just my ferritin levels that are low, so like you said, taking the time off to get better.

Glad to hear your hair is growing back too, us women pride ourselves on that! :)

You're anaemic, and that will make you feel dreadful. I was anaemic and vitamin D deficient last winter, and I secretly suspected I was dying! You need a good supplement - a liquid iron like Floradix is absorbed better - and you need to eat iron-rich foods. If you don't want red meat, dried fruit is also good, esp unsulphered apricots. So are nuts, spinach and tofu. With supplements, you'll probably start to feel better in about a month, but sadly you probably won't start to feel really well again for several months.

I would also have blood tests done to see what our thyroid levels are like because that may be an issue. Supplements are all well and good but you also need to find out the cause of these problems to begin with.

If your periods are heavy then I would seek a referral to a gynae re possible fibroids.

If your ferritin level is 5, then it is almost certainly well below the reference range and instead of looking at building it up through supplements, which can take years, your GP should be looking at referring you to your local hospital for iron infusions, which will bring your levels up quickly.

Once that is done they can start to look at why your iron stores were so critically low in the first place, be it an allied thyroid condition, gut issues re malabsorption, heavy bleeding or whatever.

Thank you for your advice above. I think I need to go back possibly next week as Im still on the sofa good for nothing.

The doctor didn't even make reference to why I'm feeling like I am (the cause of the low ferritin), or make any other referrals to explore further. Maybe I need to go back again next week.

I will try the suggestions made, thank you - my dad has just bought some beef pieces for later, and ive been eating lots of spinach, so hopefully be feeling brighter by Christmas!

Thanks again ??