Low ferritin

[Bebeted]

I've had bloods done due to losing hair. I'm also breathless on and off, not on exertion just comes on then goes. My blood results we ferritin 16 the doctor said should be between 12 & 300+ has anyone else experienced this with low ferritin. Replies would be much appreciated

I had breathlessness, tiredness and joint pain. Tests shows ferritin and b12 at low end of normal. I’ve started taking a daily feroglobin tablet and that’s helped

I have low ferritin. I’ve been prescribed several things but I don’t absorb them and it’s never got above 20.

I’m also deficient in b12 which I don’t absorb and have regular injections at the doctor which makes a huge difference to my energy levels and I don’t have any problems now, been on it years now.

Have you had a full lot of bloods done? There may be other things that are low that can be treated meaning your ferritin isn’t as much of an issue.

I have low ferritin and an auto immune disease.
Ferritin is also linked to inflammation - it is possible that as the medicine I take acts as an anti inflammatory that is what is responsible for lowering my ferritin levels.

I get fatigue, bruise easily and have experienced hair loss, although i have very thick long hair which helps. It falls out in the shower, when I brush it and quite badly if I the it back as it's very brittle.

Sorry, falls out quite badly when I tie it back I meant!

I've been stated on ferrous fumerate which I take 3 times a day. Been on them about 3 weeks but not noticed much difference. The breathlessness scares me. Just comes over me then goes. Weirdly it gets better if I start cleaning or potter about.

Keep going with the ferrous fumerate OP. I went from 11-64 in 3 months on it and I feel loads better. The breathlessness has gone and I’m far less tired.

I felt shocking on 11 but lots of people seem to cope fine on that.

Do you know what caused it? Mine was stupidly heavy periods.

Is ferriglobin better than. Ferrous fumerate do you think

Feroglobin is good for maintenance apparently but my fumerate dosage was 100 times what I would have had from the feroglobin.

The starting range of 12 is RIDICULOUS. How can they justify that two people with a level of 12 and 300 respectively are both normal?! The difference is massive.

People have symptoms way above this.

Get your ferritin at least halfway through the range OP.

Mines the same, really heavy periods and I'm also vegetarian so I don't think my diet helps. Thank you for taking the time to answer. Makes me feel a bit better my symptoms are the same as someone else. I was expecting to feel loads better after 3 weeks

Mine is 4 and I am shattered. I find when my overall level of iron is normal I can cope with it but when that drops ( as it has now) I am wiped out.
I’m breathless walking up stairs, my hair has been falling out, my muscles ache & my joints are painful. On top of that my heart rate becomes affected. It’s not nice!

I have supplemented with B12 and vitamin D all year and that has helped a lot. I’m going to have an iron infusion soon so I’m hoping to get some relief from that also. It’s a pain OP and I totally get where you are coming from. Very hard to get the ferritin levels up.

Would my B12 have been checked when my ferritin was does anyone know please

You need to also take llysene with iron (500 mg a day) to absorb it. With vit c ( 500 mg) and not close to drinking tea or coffee

Ps mine was 5 and is now 40 ish

Anything below 50 is lowish and can cause symptoms. I have a haematologist and have my bloods taken every four weeks. I have iron infusions every six months but while they look at ferritin, iron and haemaglobin (as well as all macro and micronutrients) they only take serious notice when my haemaglobin drops to 7. My ferritin was at six for a couple of years but by the time they infused my ferritin was at two and iron at 3.

@Bebeted only your doctor can tell you if they tested your B12

Apologies for crashing your thread OP. I have had low ferritin for a very long time. It hovers between 8 and 11. I am not aware of any specific symptoms. My hair is thinning but that could be down to the menopause. I was
prescribed Ferrous Fumerate but I can no longer tolerate it ( it causes nausea and vomiting) and it didn't improve my scores much anyway. Should I wait it out and hope the situation resolves post menopause or go back to my Doctor and push for alternative treatments? My B12 is fine.

I would go and see your GP and ask if anything else can be tried. Im.okay with ferrous fumerate. Get a bit of stomach ache but generally okay. I'm gonna try the other vitamins that's been suggested to help absorb it. My diet not great for iron with being veggie, I'm a shift worker to so my body in day mode one week Nightshift the next so any suggestions will be helpful to aide it working. Thankyou all 😊

My DD (16) was dx with low ferritin (9) and low B12 (134) in March. She's had the loading dose of B12 and then one follow up injection 12 weeks later, and she's been taking over the counter Spatone (double dose). Her ferritin has now gone up to 21 and she has a lot more energy and her mood is better.

She had previously lost a lot of hair around her hairline both front and back. We didn't really realise how much until it started growing back. She's now got a strip about 3cm wide across the nape of her neck that's come back and was previously completely bald. She's also got one large patch on one of her temples that's fluffy and short.

She's still got one circular patch on the top of her head and one on the back that is completely bald. They are only about the size of a 20p piece.

The spatone was recommended on here because the Dr didn't prescribe anything for the ferritin. It hasn't caused her any side effects and it seems to be working (or it's possible the B12 injections have caused her ferritin to rise - not sure if it works like that)

Anyway Spatone might be worth a try if you can't tolerate the stronger tablets?

Thanks. I will try the Spatone. Interesting that your daughter experienced such an improvement so quickly kick.

Sorry , you didn't actually mention the time period I just assumed! Over what period was she taking the Spatone?

Colour it was over about three months. This is the thread where it was recommended. Her recent blood test was done end of June.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/general_health/3216023-16yo-with-low-b12-ferritin-and-vitamin-d

I had no symptoms but my ferritin at my annual medical was too low to register (below 3). Had iron infusions and we're back to normal, also tests via my hematologist to see what could be causing such low ferritin (extensive blood tests, stool samples, scan etc) but no cause found. Worth finding out if fibroids or a blood condition is causing this.

Where would I get the spatone from is it over the counter in most chemists. Did you daughter experience breathlessness and was her hair brittle. I've also have a lot of hair loss. It's all really getting me down now 😔

Spatone is readily available from anywhere like Boots.