Low Ferritin Levels

[Gobbledegeek]

Hi. I was told I had low ferritin levels and given iron tablets just before a Christmas. They were down to 10 when I should be over 30. I wasn’t given much info so can anyone help me with their own experiences? I’m not pregnant but I have had heavy periods for a very long time. I wondered if that could be the reason but I wouldn’t know why considering i’ve got through 2 pregnancies with no probs and I’m 38 now so why should it start now?

Also I was told it might take 3 months to start feeling better again but I think I can feel a slight difference now. It feels a bit like its reversing like i’m going back through the symptoms that i’ve had in the run up to getting the test. RIght now I feel really tired. Is this what happens?

Bump

Mine were down to 5. I was exhausted, breathless had dizzy spells and my hair was falling out. Took about 3 months of 3 X 210mg ferrous fumerate to get back to feeling normal. I need to keep on the tablets though due to heavy periods (perimenopause). I also had v low vitamin d so not sure which symptom related to what.

I did have this, when I was pregnant though. I wasn't anaemic apparently as my haemoglobin levels were ok. It was the ferritin level that was super low.

I have to say I felt awful - just like having jet lag and living in a fog. Also nauseous but that could have been pregnancy related.

I was given iron tablets and it did improve - gave me painful constipation for a while but that sorted itself in the end

Thanks for replying. To be honest I think it’s been on the low side for years thinking about my symptoms but this is the first time a doctor has talked about it. Like Peaspleaselouise i’m not anaemic (although I don’t know why this is significant?!).

I remember with DC1 I guzzled orange juice (litres a day!) and someone has since told me the vit C helps you to absorb iron. I probably needed to do this with DC2 but I struggled to want to eat anything at all.

Hiya my ferritin was 7 in September and now it's 15. I have missed loads of doses of ferrous sulphate and gluconate. However, what I haven't missed is a Spatone sachet every lunch time, the apple flavoured one, put into fresh orange juice.

My Hb was 114 so I may not have been as anaemic as you. I'd recommend Spatone, one a day, and some might be scathing of its elemental iron content but for me I believe 100% of it was absorbed whereas with the ferrous sulphate only a fraction was because my digestive system was so unhappy.

I feel much better, but then the Christmas holidays have helped as I've taken it easy.

Spatone is on Amazon for about £9 for 28 sachets.

And I'm not a shareholder 😂

When my ferritin was too low my Dr told me to eat more red meat and plenty of green vegetable,
I have Haemochromatosis, [iron overload],[ supposedly] yet my ferritin drops sometime and i feel tired and hair has gone very thin,
My consultant ordered blood tests every 6 weeks, and if it goes oer 100, i am supposed to have a venesection, but have refused the last twice because my ferritin is too low for me
You need much higher than 19 to make you feel better i would say at lest 70-80

Sorry supposed to say 10 not 19

Same here OP, my ferritin is very low although my haemoglobin is fine. I was also feeling pretty terrible, complete exhausted to the point I wanted to cry, I barely had the strength to push my 2 year olds buggy, my hair was (is still) falling out and I had terrible pains in my legs.

I’ve been given ferrous fumerate by the doctor and 2.5 months in I definitely feel a bit better, I managed a mile walk with the buggy this week, I couldn’t have done that a few months ago! I’m definitely going to ask for another pack after this one, no side effects from the tablets and hoping for more improvements!

Ah that sounds just like me. I have been feeling pretty awful and my doctor kept saying I just needed some ‘me’ time. It was only when I went to another GP that she suggested some vitamin tests and the ferritin thing showed up. After reading up on the symptoms, I can tick most of the boxes.

Thanks everyone for your tips. I’m on a mission now with the red meat and leafy greens! And also the Spatone - thank you FennyBridges. Actually, i’ve Just read your post again, FennyBridges and you mention an unhappy digestive system which I have too. Do you mind if I ask what was making it unhappy and did the iron help fix it?

No the iron caused it! But I have recurring issues with low ferritin and low-ish Hb so they tested me for coeliac disease. It came back negative, fortunately, so I think it's probably my periods and copper coil. But I missed sooooo many ferrous sulphate doses because of it, and the Spatone was really a marvel. Hope you begin to feel better soon!

Oh yes I see! Thanks for the Spatone tip - i’ve Googled it and will be hot footing it to the chemist tomorrow.

And take llysene too!

Star8181 how are you now. I’m 3 months into ferrous fumerate after a ferritin of 8 back in feb. I’m lots better but like you not 100%. I’m doing more and feel less achy but wondered when I might feel like myself again? Last blood test showed they were rising as it was 41? Any advice please? Xx

Hello, glad to hear you’ve had some improvement. I was doing brilliantly - my hair stopped falling out overnight and tiredness was much better. I finished my 3 month course of tablets and had a blood test and ferritin was 41 like you. Anyway, about 3 weeks ago, almost overnight again, my hair started falling out again! I went to the GP last week to ask about it but she was adamant my ferritin levels are fine now and there’s no way my levels have dropped since the last blood test. So I’m having blood tests in 2 weeks for other things like folate instead. But I’m not convinced, I’m sure it’s still my ferritin. Considering seeing if I’m able to get tablets online as I’m so depressed with my hair being so thin. I dread washing it! When do you see your GP again?

Star8181i posted earlier in the thread,that my hair was getting very thin,i now have 3 bald patches, and getting more,
My consultant says my ferritin is within normal range, but i am not happy, my ferritin gets very low after a venesection, and is continually low, within normal range could be anything from 15 up,
My ferritin drops by something like 100 every time
I have also been having dizzy spells
The last blood test i had my ferritin was 120, so it would have gone down to 20,i refused it
I am refusing to have more until or unless it is proved NOT to be low ferritin,
I cant go out without something on my head, its very depressing
My last visit to the Drs was to a Dr i didnt know as mine was off ill,she tested me for thyroid, and it was clear, she also stopped my Vitamin D
She gave me no advice, so going to see my own Dr, who is back, on thursday,
I am post menopause so expect this will be blamed, but i will take iron if i have to, i started taking it but got told off by the nurse, but my flaking nails improved so i am convinced it is lack of iron
Also, although i was pregnant at the time i had to have iron injections, so cant understand why they say i have iron overload
One Consultant i had to see about something else said he didn;t think i had Haemochromatosis, and i don;t either, i m.ay be a carrier
My eldest son was told he had it, but he has now been told by another Dr that he hasn;t, and his ferritin is normal, he doesn;t have the same father anyway,[from first marriage]
My 2 youngest sons have it, and suffer a lot with joint pains and digestive problems,
I don;t have anything like that, and not on any meds for anything
Totally fed up to be honest
I hope all of you get some help

Not for another few months. My gp actually said that my levels should be a minimum of 70 to ensure good hair and skin etc. He prescribed me another 3 month course! You definitely need more xx

Has anyone had any success with hair growth, i have seen 2 Drs, who didn;t have a clue and didn;t offer any advice, but saw my own Dr this week who is back from having an op, he has given me some steroid lotion to try, just a shot in the dark really, but i think its because i have had a very itchy scalp and i have read of others whose hair started falling out after having an itchy scalp,
Also i am taking livial hrt, and the second Dr said stop taking it,mine said carry on, but he is looking into hrt patches as it could be connected with shortage of oestrogen

@princessTiasmum Yes, I experienced increased hair growth within 3 months of taking supplements. Before taking high strength iron supplements my ferritin level was around 15 and at my recent test it is now 80. It grows about 2 inches in 6 weeks now when it used to take 3 months!