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Original poster

low iron

108 replies

ballofworry · 05/07/2014 16:06

hi , iv been feeling so awful for months , so have been to the doctors bloods done discovered i have low ferritin of 9 said my red count 124 which she said wasnt to bad ...what ever that means ....
put me on iron tablets for 3 months ....

anyone els suffer with this or similar ...

OP posts:
springbabydays · 05/07/2014 19:26

Yes I had this after my ds was born. Was on iron supplements for around six months. Returned to normal now (well, iron levels have - there's other stuff happening now instead!)

Original poster
ballofworry · 05/07/2014 20:52

thanks , i feel truly awful ...so tired in morning especially get a little better as day goes on , but in need of an afternoon nap most days ...

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Spinaroo · 05/07/2014 20:57

Yes I have a few times- though not as low as 9. I can now usually tell when I am low ( heavy periods) and get it addressed. The first time it was diagnosed outside of pregnancy was a revelation. I started to feel much better on taking the tablets without having realised I felt quite so bad- I had put all the individual symptoms down to various other things.

Original poster
ballofworry · 05/07/2014 20:59

im on ferrouse farmate 210mg 3x a day for 3 months [hm]

im awaiting results for a celiac blood test or gluten intolerance , i have had IBS for years , and i think there may be a link

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MrsSpencerReid · 05/07/2014 21:00

Me me me!! My ferritin is 8!! I'm on iron tablets and am taking spatone too, have been for about 3 weeks now, can't wait to feel better! My blood count was ok too

Original poster
ballofworry · 05/07/2014 21:02

yes i knew i wasnt right either iv had it at 8 few years ago so knew i was feeling bad , but just kept thinking maybe im just hungry low sugar etc as felt faint , dizzy , we have had a stressful time to so put most of my symptoms down to that ....

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krazipan · 05/07/2014 21:02

I have a ferritin of 5 and a Hb of 111 so also feel shocking. The dr has just prescribed me ferrous fumarate.

NickNacks · 05/07/2014 21:02

Yes me. Didn't realise how dreadful I felt until I started to feel better. I would warn you that it can take a while on the iron tablets to feel much of a difference, up to 3 months I would say.

I've actually just come off them and need to have a blood test again in 3 months to check I've not dropped again.

Original poster
ballofworry · 05/07/2014 21:04

gosh pleased to know not only one thanks all ....how did you feel Mrsspencer ?
im utterly shattered most of the time ....tearful at times to as hate having no energy ..Sad

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Original poster
ballofworry · 05/07/2014 21:06

oh gosh Krazipan similar to me then , mine is 9 HB 124..

and prescribed same iron pills as you i take 210mg 3x a day , only on day 2 ....

how you feeling ?

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Original poster
ballofworry · 05/07/2014 21:08

thanks nicknacks , hope you continue to feel good Smile

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krazipan · 05/07/2014 21:09

I was only prescribed them yesterday ballofworry. I cannot wait to start taking them properly and (hopefully!) feeling better! I'm only in my early 30's and feel like an old woman. Have they helped you?

NickNacks · 05/07/2014 21:11

Yes I was also on 210mg x3 a day. Take with a glass of orange juice and expect it to upset your tummy a little bit. (In either direction!)

Good luck

dottyaboutstripes · 05/07/2014 21:13

I agree, takes about 3 months to feel better. My ferritin was 2, which explained why I was feeling so dire Grin. My last test showed it had gone up to a whopping 9 and the gp decided that was ok. Hmm. Recently I've been feeling the dizziness again and really just spaced out so I think it's time for a trip to the doctor

Original poster
ballofworry · 05/07/2014 21:14

ok well your just a day behind me then lol ..
iv taken only 2 days so no change as yet at all , iv stocked up on greens and nuts and seeds supposed to be high in iron wll try anything to feel better ...feel so rough ...rested today had 2 naps ...
are you on similar dose to me ?
im 42 have had low iron always and was 8 few years ago now ...but just crept up on me again ...just hate feeling so tired and low , and iv lost some hair to thinning round the hairline ...

OP posts:
krazipan · 05/07/2014 21:15

I don't understand the massive range for ferritin dotty. The gp told me 'normal' is 10 to 300!! Shock

krazipan · 05/07/2014 21:16

I am ballofworry. I've also tried to increase iron rich foods, fresh orange for vit c and reducing my tea intake which is possibly the hardest bit! Grin

Original poster
ballofworry · 05/07/2014 21:17

dotty- i feel very spaced out , specially in the morning ....so tired fogy feeling ....and when im out in air walking dogs i feel bit whizzy , oh and really cant turn round quickly feels very odd ....

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Original poster
ballofworry · 05/07/2014 21:19

yes krazipan i was told 13 was low anything above that was ok ...and yes up to 300 ....

i have spatone wonder if i can take that to ..maybe should check with doctor first ....

OP posts:
dottyaboutstripes · 05/07/2014 21:19

If I stand up too quickly I fall over! It's not good!

Original poster
ballofworry · 05/07/2014 21:21

yep dotty similar here to ...

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Original poster
ballofworry · 05/07/2014 21:23

doctor think mines because of periods someone of my age etc ....anyone the same ?

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MegTheCat · 05/07/2014 21:23

Me too! My ferritin was 3 back in March. I have been on the ferrous fumarate for nearly 4 months. I still get tired very easily & have good days and bad days. I'm having an endoscopy in a couple of weeks to check out what may be causing it. I also have IBS type symptoms and GORD, otherwise they would probably have just put it down to periods.

dottyaboutstripes · 05/07/2014 21:24

I had a load of tests last year and they couldn't find any reason so the doctor said it must be periods - but they really are not heavy at all so who knows?

DdJames · 05/07/2014 21:24

I had a ferritin of 4 a couple of years ago, no wonder my hair was falling out in great clumps and I could barely get out of bed! It's up to 47 and I feel fine now, I think! maybe still a bit more tired then necessary but I work long hours and am studying so always put any tiredness down to that.

I didn't have any problems with the iron tablets but I know they can make you constipated. Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron but the tannic acid in tea inhibit the bodies ability to absorb iron as does calcium and coffee.