Low ferritin/anaemia - any experiences??

[Oldisthenewblack]

I'm suffering from overwheming fatigue, plus hair loss and other issues. Am on a mission to try find out what's wrong. One line of enquiry is my iron levels, as I know that low iron levels can cause fatigue.

My ferritin levels are very low. Two years ago it was 11ug/L, the range being 11-307. So, as low as it could go whilst still being considered 'normal'. I've been taking iron tablets for the past two years, and my latest ferritin levels are 30ug/L. I can't help feeling like that's not much of an improvement!

I don't fully understand the relationship between low ferritin and the Haemoglobin count, but apparently my Haemoglobin is normal at 13.8 (range is 11.5-16.5). This is exactly the same as two years ago.

My GP says that this level of ferritin is "obviously normal for you" as "the body takes what it needs". She did say that I could increase the Ferrous Fumarate tablets from one to three a day if I wanted to, if I don't get any side effects. She sees no cause for concern. Does anyone have any experience of anaemia, low iron levels? Any experience of doctors telling you you're "normal" and then finding out that simply isn't the case??

Obviously, I'm aware that low iron may not be the issue at all here, but I'm committed to pursuing every line of enquiry as I just can't live like this any more.

Thanks in advance!

I had something similar for a couple of years. My levels were 30 ish. I kept taking g tablets but it never really resolved. I'm a coeliac but didn't feel it was diet related. Turns out I had H.Pylori - might be worth ruling out.

aargh - clash between calcium and iron supplements ! Never realised ( thank you Clarella) .

Is it really too much to expect prescribers to mention this ?

They should really - mine do. I think it's on prescribed iron leaflets?

I have to take both iron and calcium 4 hours after thyroxine so I'm used to it!

What's the link with constipation Clarella?
I ask because I am chronically constipated and my hair has gone very, very thin. Always been anaemic but not been tested since I was pregnant with DD (who is now 3!) Not been to see GP about my hair yet (- not sure if it's worth it?)

Constipation is a symptom of low thyroid - I can tell if I'm on the right dose by my stools (sorry tmi!) also link to thinning hair. Obv constipation can be other things too or just how you are! And some find iron tablets make them constipated.

I spent a year or so being horribly constipated To the point I was using glycerine pessaries almost constantly and developed awful piles . Went to gp who said she'd have liked to have seen a better thyroid result on my last test - not sure what it was at that point, but a few weeks of a higher dose and I was MUCH better!

Thing is I was always constipated as a child - however I do wonder if my thyroid was always a tad low; periods were quite late at 16, and hypothyroidism started at university a couple of years later, worsened by the pill.

I also once found a research paper that found low ferritin can be a result of hyper or hypo thyroidism. (A percentage of people with conditions also had struggling ferritin)

www.btf-thyroid.org/index.php/thyroid/articles/hair-loss-thyroid-disorders