low iron

[ballofworry]

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 ...

I've just been diagnosed today, low iron (8 I think) and low ferritin. Lots of questions about my bowels! I've had ibs for years so things have always been .... Erratic. Periods aren't particularly heavy. As there is no explanation my gp is sending me for a camera examination of my stomach and bowel - is this standard?! Wouldn't she do a stool sample first? Am going for second blood test tomorrow am to check the readings are about the same.
Apparently my nan was always anaemic, so I'm hoping it's just a hereditary thing.
My gp didn't give me any iron tablets though - is this normal at first?
Can you tell I'm panicking slightly?!?!

My coeliac bloods were negative and I was diagnosed by chance through an endoscopy.

It's the pits feeling exhausted all the time. Hopefully the tablets will do the trick.

I would image they will do a biopsy for coeliac tin when they do the endoscope. Not the nicest procedure so ask for sedation and you won't remember much.

I was starting to feel a bit better but got a UTI this week which has necessitated antibiotics, so Im feeling sorry for myself again.

Im getting worried now reading about how all of you suspect coeliac disease. Perhaps I should ask my GP about that worry worry

i have a....how to put it.... "delicate" digestion but I would not class it as IBS.

Theres always Settlers/Gaviscon/Peppermint oil capsules etc in the cupboard but I dont touch it for months in between, then I will need it for a bit. I thought it was just normal, but now Im worried!

Hi all , gosh sound like were all the same ...
Tin , i to have ibs diagnosed 5 years ago now had stomach scans , sigmoidoscopy bloods , im 42
i have eratic BM to ... maybe i should be re tested also was always told because of my anxiety this is now the norm for me , i must say mine havent changed dramatically, still same as were 5 years ago , depending on my stress levels ,
i had low iron back then to , im never higher than 15 , in the past thats good for me ....
the reason i thought could be coeliac is i read about it and looked up on NHS symptoms seem to fit , specially the low iron ..
i have appointment next week with my GP so will ask more then.

feeling pretty exhausted today , just doing house work head dizzy when leaning forward then back up ....thought pills were kicking in ...but maybe not ....

Oh no ballofworry - be careful and rest if you feel like that.

Is anyone else vegetarian, or vegan?

Good quality licorice is good for iron.

If anyone is vegan, Panda licorice is vegan I think, plus imo the nicest licorice!

I had ferritin of 6. I felt awful. I had bowel issues for years. My coeliac blood tests were negative but my genetic test suggestive (HLA markers) so they did endoscopy which proved coeliac. I'm officially sero negative coeliac.

Because of the diahrea I couldn't tolerate the iron tablets (they made it worse) i was also lacto intolerant. I had 4 iron infusions at the hosp which took my ferritin to 167!! I felt fantastic!

Before I got diagnosed I succumbed to another auto immune disease that was horrid.

So relieved to see this thread. Have had iron transfusion and awaiting more tests. I have had the tinnitus for years! Had no idea this might be connected. My bloods came back negative for coeliac although I have had dodgy digestion ever since I can remember and frequently get sudden bloating / intense cramps. It would be a real inconvenience to have coeliac disease but it would explain a lot! I'm interested in the HLA markers MissSmiley - can you explain more? I have the HLA-B27 marker, discovered when I had uveitis.

Hi - have been taking iron for quite some time and recently had a hysterectomy so no further blood loss. My HB is at now at 13 but I was told my iron stores were low at 27. I am suffering from really bad hairloss and also tinnitus. Des anyone have experience of these linked to low iron and either reassure me or tell me what to do. Am taking iron tablets 3 times a day at the moment.

OMG. My gp on seeing my ferritin had gone right up to the massive sum of 12 declared it "completely normal"
and said he couldn't "put me through" any more blood tests to see where it was a few months later despite my symptoms coming back with a vengeance. I let it go because I'm moving soon so will hopefully have a better gp

Hi, can I join you low-ironers?!

I am aware that I have suffered from low iron for about 8 years since I started perimenopause, but actually it could be longer as I have always had pretty heavy periods, but they got much worse till I went on HRT. My level was 9 again a couple of months ago, but I have got it up to 21 with 3 gentle iron tablets a day. I can't tolerate the ferrous sulphate - gives me terrible constipation and bloating, but they are a bit better. My iron stores are in lowish end of the normal range.

I eat a very healthy diet, though very little red meat (keep trying to remember to buy it) and exercise a lot, but I can feel exhausted quite often. My hearing is crap, but not tinnitus as such - probably not related!

No hairloss, but terrible nails, which have improved a lot as my iron levels have gone up again. Brittle nails are linked to low iron.

dotty, the last GP I saw (just have to see whoever at our practice) told me I had to eat more red meat. I am not a veggie, but my friend who is was outraged! I just keep forgetting I should be eating it as I rarely cook it at home.

What I meant to say is, some GPs are crap!

hopeclearwater I too have the hla b27 marker initially picked up from an iritis attack - now diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis because of the additional back and joint pain etc. Hoping smiley will come back with info about her marker as I've been having dodgy bowel issues too (wonder if there's a link). My ferritin has been low but now rectified through taking iron tablets for a year (still on them) but hairloss still continuing along with ringing in right ear.

Thought I'd already posted on here but obviously something went wrong.

Despite knowing for years that I am prone to iron deficiency, it's only now that I'm starting to think that maybe I've spent the majority of my adult life deficient!! I'm on ferrous sulphate 210mg just now but about to finish course. Had to reduce to 1 tablet a day instead of 2 as they didn't agree with me. Planning on going back to same (thankfully lovely) doc to have a full discussion about my recurring need for supplementation. Bit gutted at thought I might need to take supplements for 18m to see any real changes!

I suspect like one poster above, past supplements have maybe only taken me to 12-ish & so I'm constantly falling under after a while. I have crap nails, thinning hair & interestingly, similar digestive issues to a lot of others on here. Was tested for chron's/coeliac years ago but wondering if it time for another check? I didn't know though that the blood test could be neg but not know until a chance endoscopy .

My grandpa had pernicious anaemia. Anyone have a clue on how this gets passed on through families? Was my dad's dad.

how are you feeling now u32ng ...iv had low iron constantly on and off feritin ranging from 8 to 15 being highest in about 10 years ....
digestive issues for 6 stress ibs ...going to see consultant this week to talk through my symptoms hope may get some answers ....

ballofworry

I feel ok on the whole...just occasional dizziness (a proper faint at work is what led me back to docs this time), easily puffed out from little exercise, tinnitus (though thankfully I'm not always aware of it), thin hair that seems to constantly be shedding, weak nails, & IBS-like symptoms, mostly gas & bloat, that are so variable I've given up trying to do anything about it!

I think I sound quite similar to you tbh! I don't know what my exact figures are as I've not been given them. Going to ask what they have been in the past & now when I go to see doc. So impatient though as I can't get a double appointment with the doc I want until after I return from my holiday in late aug!!

yes you can get a print out , not that i can make head nor tale of the figures on there bt least i can keep and compare for next time ...iv got appt thursday with gastrologist ....so hope will get some answers ...

u32ng, my colleague was diagnosed with pernicious anaemia almost a year ago. It had an extremely debilitating effect on her until it was managed properly, but she is just about back to normal now. If you suspect it, push for tests!

Hi OP, how r u feeling?

Just about to start my next course of iron tablets and am booked in for a double doc appointment in a months time to have an iron levels discussion.

Want another blood test then so will be interested to see what, if any, difference has been made in the last few months.

i have blood tests in few weeks see if mine gone up or change , am starting to feel less tired so think thats a good sign ....
hope you are to

Marking my place...too tired to do anything else!