Ferritin level of 12. How were you treated?

[TulipsTwoLips]

Hi. My recent blood test has shown I have a ferritin level of 12. I have no interest in everyday life at all. My haemoglobin is fine though at 132.

If anyone else has had similar how were you treated for it? I'm waiting for a call back from my GP.

Thanks

Mine was 10 recently and doctor said 3 x 210mg Ferrous Fumarate for 3 months. Re-test next week will show if it worked or not ...

I kept getting dizzy spells during exercise, my GP seemed surprised when a blood test actually showed a really low ferritin (haemoglobin at lower range of normal). Was prescribed ferrous sulphate which brought my ferritin level back up. I’ve also started eating liver and liquorice more regularly.

I’ve also started eating liver and liquorice more regularly

Not at the same time I hasten to add!

Interested in this too. I have a blood test in May which had a reading of 15, which is right at the bottom of range. GP didn't notice and I only saw this on requesting the full results recently. I've been taking spatone for about a month and seen an improvement in fatigue levels although I'm post viral and so I think it's only part of the picture. According to my nutritional therapist spatone is highly absorbable so a good option. I will ask GP for another test next time I get bloods because I'd like to see if the levels have changed and to increase iron dosage if it's dropped lower or hasn't improved.

Ferrous sulphate or fumarate tablets x 3/day for similar levels.

You need investigations into why so low, heavy periods are often the reason or can be undiagnosed gastro causes.

There is good evidence emerging to take the iron tablets every other day. Avoid caffeine an hour or so either side of taking them and Vitamin C helps absorption.

@MrsFezziwig

I’ve also started eating liver and liquorice more regularly

Not at the same time I hasten to add!

😀

Thanks everyone. Interesting to hear you have mostly been prescribed tablets. I don't tolerate sulphate or fumarate well at all but I seemed to be doing well on glucamate. My level had increased from 12 to 28 over a few months but although I'm still taking the tablets it has mysteriously dropped again.

My GP had mentioned an iron transfusion but I think my HB might well be too high to be accepted for a transfusion? Also, I have shown previously that my body will absorb the tablets? It is a mystery.

I think heavy periods might be the reason.

Thanks for your replies. Hope you manage to raise your levels - it's exhausting isn't it.

@TulipsTwoLips 12 is considered normal in my local trust, so nothing is done! So frustrating! They only treat below 10.

[quote Flatwhite32]@TulipsTwoLips 12 is considered normal in my local trust, so nothing is done! So frustrating! They only treat below 10. [/quote]
That's annoying! I'm sure people must have symptoms well before it gets that low. My hair has been falling out for months already.

What is the consensus on spatone? I am tempted to start having 2 per day.

I was told my iron was undetectable (I assume that means ferritin?). I took iron 3 x a day for about 6 months, I felt a lot better within a month but it's been about 6 months since I finished and feel like I could be doing with them again.

I don't know much about spatone I'm afraid. Some seem to think it has very little iron in whilst others say it may be low in iron but it is easier to digest so at least they are topping their levels up, even if a little slower.

@Mummyofbananas

I was told my iron was undetectable (I assume that means ferritin?). I took iron 3 x a day for about 6 months, I felt a lot better within a month but it's been about 6 months since I finished and feel like I could be doing with them again.

Do you happen to know of which iron you were taking? I'm thinking I should have another go at tolerating the stronger ones.

My ferritin levels are 5! I have awful heavy periods. GP has me on ferrous fumerate but they make my already troublesome IBS even worse. I’m taking 2 x Spatone atm but not sure how else to get the levels up without getting digestive issues?

@ReeseWitherknife I'm trying 2 spatone . Taking on an empty stomach with orange juice. Also trying to eat lots of iron rich foods, not with milk, no tea/coffee at all. We'll see.

I had horrendous periods and a ferritin level of 8. My GP refused to treat as "it's not that low"

I felt like shit all the time, no energy, breathless..... Then I saw a different GP and was prescribed iron tablets. It made a huge difference

Years ago at uni, my ferritin was 3!!! My HB was also low, despite eating meat and not having heavy periods. I agree with reducing tannin high food or drinks (tea/coffee/red wine) and avoiding them when having an iron rich meal. I was given the option of iron injections or tablets/diet. I dont know if they still even do muscular iron injections, but unless they are done via a special Z track injection method, you can be left with tiny, tattoo like marks. I chose the diet/tablet method, but it does take 3mths for red bloods cells to replicate and completely recover themselves.

When I was pregannt, my HB was fine, but ferritan was low. I was told that its my reserves that a low, so was put on ferrous sulphate pills. Sprirulina and other algaes/seaweeds are actually high in iron, so might be an option if you arent tolerating conventional pills.

My levels are actually starting to sound quite high in relation to all of you! I hope you feel better soon .

Hopefully I'll hear from my GP tomorrow. I've done a high-iron shop today 🤣.

Like pp ferrous fumerate X 3 times a day, every day for 10 years. However, it caused horrendous constipation when I first started it.
You could try these, much gentler on the stomach. Taking iron with OJ increases absorption.
www.boots.com/spatone-iron?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--health--Boots-_-UK_Brand_Spatone_Exact&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2or8BRCNARIsAC_ppyZKh7MKya2kFJNgAIlFzxSiZp9gnskccODwXzREvSmCDZ_4LlZmtG8aAiYEEALw_wcB

[quote LadyFannyButton]Like pp ferrous fumerate X 3 times a day, every day for 10 years. However, it caused horrendous constipation when I first started it.
You could try these, much gentler on the stomach. Taking iron with OJ increases absorption.
www.boots.com/spatone-iron?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--health--Boots-_-UK_Brand_Spatone_Exact&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2or8BRCNARIsAC_ppyZKh7MKya2kFJNgAIlFzxSiZp9gnskccODwXzREvSmCDZ_4LlZmtG8aAiYEEALw_wcB[/quote]
10 years!?! 😵 Poor you. Did they find the cause of the blood loss?

Hi,

I've been trying to get my iron levels up for ages, which is hard as I can't take supplements. I can't even eat fortified breakfast cereal, or wheat, which is also fortified with iron, so it was a tricky one.

To try to work on it, I just ate loads of roast beef and bird's eye frozen peas (mised with sweetcorn for the nice taste). At my last blood test last week it turned out that my ferritin level had actually gone above the safe level, so my efforts must have worked.

Or something...

Not sure why it is too high, but I clearly managed to lay my hands on some iron somehow. :-)

I ended up paying for a transfusion through The Iron Clinic after my ferratin was found to be 15 during a private HRT appointment. I think it was around £750.

Yes @TulipsTwoLips, horrendous periods.

I hope you feel better soon.

I've got a ferritin level of 18 and have been told 15 is the cut off. I'm currently pregnant and have been told that my ferritin will drop lower so I'm taking one 200mg ferrous sulfate tablet every other day on top of run of the mill pregnancy vitamins. I hope they give me some more energy! I seem to really struggle in the winter anyway.

I had ferrous fumarate (buy it over the pharmacy counter in England rather than your prescription it's so much cheaper!), but struggled to tolerate it so moved to ferrous gluconate. Less GI side effects but still not easy to take.
In the end I had an IV iron infusion under haematology and my ferritin levels have been fine for the past year. I dont think my haemoglobin was ever low.