anaemia very iron deficiency

[bunface]

Just wondering whether someone can explain to me my blood test results. Two of mine have come back abnormal. The receptionist said that I am iron deficient and anaemic. She said that these were the two abnormal results. She said the ferritin was 8. Can anyone explain because I thought these two were one and the same. Also is 8 really bad? Thanks all. Feeling a bit anxious!

[ballofworry]

ok back , ferritin now 33 and HB 134 so a vast improvement on last tests so thats good .
i bought some floradix to try as got iron and B vits to help fatigue and low iron , anyone els tried this as a boost ?

Doctor said i can still take the iron tablets 3x a day around my period to help replace my loss , and going to do bloods again in 3 months time to see how its going .

[ballofworry]

also need to seriously look at my diet as at moment greens maybe once a week if lucky need to eat much healthier ....

[RockinD]

That's good news. Everything's going in the right direction, but remember you need that ferritin to be at least 70. If I were in your position I would be keeping on with the iron tablets, not just around my period, but every day, until my levels were up there.

Have you been told that taking iron with orange juice increases absorption?

If you've got iron tablets, I wouldn't bother with Floradix. I found it completely ineffective and quite unpleasant to take.

[ballofworry]

thanks rockinD i was thinking same as regards to tablets , cant do any harm surly ...i still do feel tired and bit whizzy ...

my highest has only ever been 15 in the past so she was quite pleased as up that high ....

i do take with orange juice to , i have spatone maybe thats better than floradix ?

how you doing ?

[RockinD]

Well it took me 4 years to raise my ferritin, but now it's over 100 and all is good.

I think what helped me as much as anything was my periods finally stopping (menopause). I think my ferritin deficiency was probably caused by 14 day periods, but the NHS was not prepared for some reason to engage with that.

[ballofworry]

thats really good than , did you feel like i did/do ?

[RockinD]

When my ferritin was down at 15 or 16 and the NHS were telling me it was 'normal', I couldn't walk more than about 200 yards on the flat without being breathless. Stairs and slopes were out of the question. On top of that I was permanently exhausted and had severe hair loss.

[ballofworry]

sounds familiar RockinD , my i have hair loss also my hairline is so bad i have no fringe but considering having one to cover up the loss
do you take iron now ?

[bunface]

Hi all. I've been on tabs for a week now and it may be psychosomatic but I had the best day ever yesterday. I walked home from town up a steep hill and got straight on with the ironing! I would normally have to sit down for half hour first. Don't think it's possible to feel better after only a week though! How are you doing Ballofworry?

[RockinD]

I take a maintenance dose now (2 or 3 times a week) and get it tested every year.

I have to ask for this and remind my GP that I have had previous issues!

[bunface]

Rockin I'm not surprised you need to remind them! It is worrying sometimes how little notice they take. Been out for the whole day today and feeling knackered! Lovely day in Cornwall though.

[ballofworry]

Did your hair grow back once levels were back up RockinD ?
think the 3 a week a good idea did you ask your doctor first ?

im ok bunface , still do get tired but not having to have a nap every day at the moment after work which is really nice how have you been ?

[YeGodsAndLittleFishes]

Hello!

I have low iron anemia and hypothyroidism. Took about a year of treatment to get back to feeling better. I still need to take extra iron before period and for exercise (even just a long walk) or I feel spent . (Last test, irion was around 29).

I had an US to see if fibroid but nothing much there. It was the anaemia. Periods much bettwr now. I try to get a few walks/runs per week now which also helps.

[ballofworry]

hi , how do you feel now ?

[bunface]

ballofworry, I feel OK at the moment. Still tired but not as bad although don't think much will have changed! I'm on holiday so OK but I'm back to work in a week's time and my job is full on. Do you feel much better now your levels are up?

ye god's I think I will be the same and need to take iron regularly. Periods are very heavy. I need to have an ultrasound to check for fibroids. I had begun to feel that life was on hold tbh. Just couldn't do much at all. Horrible!

[YeGodsAndLittleFishes]

Yep, it crept up on me over the years but it was seriously limiting my life, and I was depressed, cold, forgetful, achy and exhausted much of the time. Still get the odd but of that (usually evenings) but nothing like as bad as bwfore.

[bunface]

Yes! Very achey and brain turned to mush. Very whooshy in the head if I turn round quickly. Palpitations too. Lovely! I feel like an old dear!

[ballofworry]

SOOO glad you said that bunface ," brain mush "and" very whooshy if turned round quickly ..." and pulps ....gosh exactly how i feel/ felt still do at times ....i cant turn round fast either and find it a bit on round abouts if i go wrong way and have to go back round again .....and if im out in the fresh air if i look down not so bad but looking up sometimes i feel whizzy or as you say whooshy , just not right , i get panic attacks also specially when have my period , i was in the shopping mall the other week with DC , and had my period , felt drained at home but thought id be ok , but was awful , everything seemed to be moving fast and louder than normal , kids were great we sat down had a cup of tea and cake and went home ...
this low iron would seem effects so many things , iv also found iv very low tolerance to alcohol , have never been a big drinker , but went out some weeks back with a friend , only had a few drinks , felt ok went home cup if tea off to bed , next day was so bad ,so very tired foggy thinking , as if i had had way more than i had ....wonder if was because of the low iron ? or just getting old and cant take it lol ... as i dont drink hardly at all .

morning ramble over lol thanks for listening , couldnt sleep ...

[ballofworry]

not with me as yet quakerbaker ... hair thinning iv heard other posters say takes months for it to recover ..

but would think will be helped with supplements ..

[YeGodsAndLittleFishes]

My nails are stronger, but I can't grow them long as they crack and break, or peel. Hair still frizzy, brittle and dry, but I could probably look after it better.

It is worth checking out autoimmune diseases, such as hashimotos/graves (thyroid) as this can creep up too Symptoms for low functioning thyroid (Hashimotos) are thin brittle nails and hair falling out or breaking, as well as feeling low generally and cold.

[bunface]

Ballofworry yes it's good to know that others feel the same. I understand what you say about the panicky feeling. I get that too. In fact when I went to the docs about all this she said she thought I was suffering from anxiety and depression and gave me a number to call. So I do think anaemia causes these kinds of things too. It really does affect your whole life doesn't it. My hair falls out loads but I have masses of it so not a problem. Nails seem fine though. I slept so badly last night so feel crap this morning. Hope you're OK today.

[bunface]

Quaker, hair loss bad but nails OK if not a funny witchy shape! Hope you're OK.

[ballofworry]

hi , back home from work , seel ok tired but resisting a nap ...going to cook tea then can chill , dodnt sleep well last night so hope will tonight ...i have my CD funny cold thing so feel slightly fluey and generally rubbish ...
liver and bacon for me for tea tonight ....other family members pasta ..as not a fan ....
suppose to be full of iron so going to try ....

[bunface]

In bed now as feel absolutely awful. Terrible palpitations and bad aches. Had not much sleep for the last two nights so feel exhausted! Sorry to hear you're not great tonight. I love liver and onions! Bloody fed up of feeling like this. The iron tablets are making my stomach dodgy and a bit "loose"! Nice!