low ferritin? feeling awful

[bigarsebelinda]

I've had bloods done recently and my ferritin was low 5. And HB 113.

Gp who I have a good and trusting relationship said I was only slightly mildly anaemia. Gave me some iron supplements which after only one day I am finding hard to tolerate. Feel v sick.

Quite frankly always feel shite, have really bad hair loss, chronic migraine, I'm already really constipated, dehydrated (despite drink sound 2l each day). I struggle to do much. Trip to supermarket takes me out for the rest of the day.

Would you be concerned about ferritin this low ?

I'm not convinced the iron tabs are going to help or quick enough without making things worse.

My symptoms are, exhaustion, dizzyness, hair loss, really bad palpitations and I have skin tone that wouldn't be out of place in the Adams Family.

magnesium byglycinate is very good for restless legs.

Some of you women on here sound like you are peri menopausal. very similar symptoms

Goodness, ferritin of 5 would make me feel like utter shit. The ‘normal’ range is 13-150 but in reality over 50
Is much better.

I had low ferritin levels found from my booking bloods. I was prescribed Galfer syrup as tablets made me gag. It has a minty taste so much more bearable than most and I didn't really get any side effects from it. My 28 week bloods showed levels back to normal range so I'm no longer prescribed it but found you can get it without prescription. Its 140mg/5ml of ferrous fumarate and I was taking 10ml a day.

CallarMorvern I got these from Nature’s Best. They are only 20mg and the tabs are too big for me to swallow but I contacted them and they said they can be crushed and added to a small amount of orange juice.

Those are enormous! I pride myself on being able to take massive tablets (long story) but those look a challenge !

@ReeseWitherknife they look like something you would feed a horse!

I agree, I struggle to swallow my teeny weeny vitamin d tabs, these would just lodge in my throat! Luckily I have also purchased a pill crusher.

They are 2cm long. Dh says I’m being a whimp and he could swallow those with ease. Of course 🙄

Looking at the comparison to the prescribed ferrous fumarate, which are 210mg they do look ginormous.

Your FF tabs look exactly like mine.

I've had better luck with the side effects/ symptoms today. Day 5.

Hi OP. Did the doctor do a full blood count? My iron is very low and I take supplements but I also have problems with B12 and thyroid. Might be worth a check as these can have similar effects. I had to have 12 B12 injections over 2 weeks. I feel your pain with the migraines - mine are finally tapering off as I hit perimenopause!

The b12 and thyroid and folate weren't done this time but I did do them via thriva in May. All ok then.

And also at that time the ferritin was 13. It's gone from 13 to 5 in 4 months.

B12 is it the total amount or the free amount we should worry about ?

Update - I started feeling better about 5/6 days after the iron infusion (after 3 days of feeling quite deathly). I’m now 8 days after. I wouldn’t say I feel much less tired than I did before the infusion but I’m not getting the thudding heart or breathlessness, which is a definite improvement! I also think my skin looks a healthier tone. And it’s still early days! So far I’d recommend

@Sandcastles55

Update - I started feeling better about 5/6 days after the iron infusion (after 3 days of feeling quite deathly). I’m now 8 days after. I wouldn’t say I feel much less tired than I did before the infusion but I’m not getting the thudding heart or breathlessness, which is a definite improvement! I also think my skin looks a healthier tone. And it’s still early days! So far I’d recommend

Thanks for the update. I'm so glad you are feeling better after the infusion now.
Good to see there are signs of improvement too with the thudding reduced. Please keep us posted.

The thudding is now waking me in the night 😐

@Sandcastles55

Question on the infusion itself. Did it make you feel unwell during the actual procedure or just a while afterward?

Wondering about a) throwing up during the process (embarrassing!) and b) whether I can drive myself or need taxi

• that's if I can sort it out

@bigarsebelinda I felt absolutely fine during and after the infusion. The only thing I felt on the day was swollen and hot hands and feet?! It wasn’t until about 36 hours after the infusion that I started feeling unwell.

Thanks Sandcastle