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

You need to look into why you aren’t absorbing through food. Check for coeliac first and then work on sorting out your gut health

I keep seeing The Iron Clinic mentioned in Mumsnet threads recently.

An iron infusion is not a face cream and certainly not a botox injection and it’s a bit concerning if a social media agency is seeding these sudden slew of mentions.

If your ferritin and HB are clinically low enough to require an infusion, it will be provided on the NHS or BUPA if that’s your thing); it won’t cost £750.

My doctor told me it’s safe to take a sachet of Spatone at every main meal if you really can’t tolerate tablets (which I couldn’t when recovering from a EMCS).

I second the recommendation to stop the tea and coffee.

@inchyra I think spatone is better on an empty stomach? I have been taking one per day with a ferritin of 15, when I take 2 per day I seem to get constipated. There isn't another explanation in my diet for why so it must be the iron.

In my case I discovered I was coeliac a couple of years ago, there were no bloods taken then so it's possible my iron was low and then never really recovered. Even my GP didn't spot the low ferritin and haemoglobin concentration when I was having bloods done to understand why my post viral fatigue was so severe.

@TiddleTaddleTat I can only speak for myself but I was told medication ought to be taken with meals. I’ve definitely read and heard (on here and elsewhere) that doctors do Spatone down only on grounds of cost. It’s less expensive than Guinness which used to be the post partum anaemia remedy of my mother’s generation.

I had an iron infusion on the NHS when my ferritin was around 5 however it made absolutely no difference to how I felt! Waited patiently for a couple of weeks hoping to feel back to normal but nothing. I’m glad I didn’t pay £750 for it.
I’ve found Ferrograd taken just before bed tolerable. All other iron tablets made me horribly sick.

Mine went under 10 (think it was 7 but honestly was all just a crappy blur) haemaglobin was super low too.

I was heavily pregnant and had spent months slowly starving to death suffering HG. They gave me a heafty infusion.

The only thing that sorted my ferritin levels was being diagnosed with coeliac disease and going gluten free.

Periods much more manageable since I got the ferritin sorted too.

I’m pregnant and recently found out my ferritin is 5, hb 105. I was given an iron infusion as I’m near my due date and the tablets wouldn’t have worked quick enough. No symptoms whatsoever (felt a bit tired but that’s late pregnancy for you!) and the only reason I was tested was I was craving ice, which is a sign apparently. Anyway infusion was a week ago and I don’t feel much different (then again didn’t feel bad to start with), but the ice craving has gone. Levels being retested this week so will see how it goes.

@inchyra
You’re right - the NHS will give you an iron infusion, but only once your ferritin levels are in your boots. I have chronically low iron caused by an autoimmune condition. I’ve had 2 iron infusions via the NHS, and 2 privately (via the Iron Clinic). I’ve paid twice because I am simply exhausted whilst waiting until my ferritin dips under the NHS threshold of 10. I’d rather pay and have a good quality of life. Shouldn’t be necessary, but it is. There’s literature out there supporting the need for ferritin to be above 50 in order to feel well. Until the NHS will treat under 50 then I’ll just have to pay.

Low hb and ferritin for several years here. Several unpleasant investigations have found no cause. I too find oral iron supplements very difficult to take as they make my reflux much worse. Hb dropped to 9.5 and ferritin 7 over the summer and I was referred for an "emergency" iron infusion (took about 10 days to arrange) I didn't feel dramatically better - more a slow improvement and levels much improved. They've started dropping again now so GP is going to refer now for another infusion to avoid levels getting as low as before. For context, I'm vegetarian, peri menopausal, don't have hugely heavy periods (I don't think) It's a pain but manageable with the infusions.

Haven't they said that it might be your vegetarian diet causing your low iron, @Hellvelyn? It must be really hard managing your iron intake nutritionally if you're veggie.

@curlyhaired I'm sure being veggie doesn't help but I try hard to get as much iron rich food into my diet as possible. Never been a problem until about 3 years ago. There's only so much spinach a girl can eat though!

@TulipsTwoLips

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.

Hi, I was ferrous fumerate. I actually found them ok until I had been taking them quite a while then got a bit constipated with them.

I had similar I think and was given ferrous fumerate 210mg three times a day. BUT, I only take one a day. Apparently latest research indicates the body cannot make use of more, so you are just increasing side effects for no benefit. Most doctors don't seem to have caught on to this, but all I can say is that a very experienced consultant has told me that.

Gave up gluten

No one is ‘seeding’ my mention of the aforementioned clinic. I just accidentally found out how definicient I was and decided to sort it out myself. Nothing nefarious going on from me anyway.

Mine was 8 when I finally managed to get my bloods done.

I can't remember which iron tablets I was given but they made me vomit so I ended up with Syton liquid iron to take three time a day.

Mine was 9 in August, was just told to up my iron intake through diet or get ferrous fumerate from the chemist then they'll recheck in 3 months. I've been taking a ferrous fumerate tablet twice a day. Didn't even speak to the Dr, receptionist told me what to do.

Ha, I see I said transfusion when I meant infusion! I've got nothing to take out!

Mine was around 15 and I felt dreadful, couldn’t tolerate tablets as irritated my stomach. Managed to get it to nearly 80 on 2 sachets of spa tone most days over 6 months. Feel loads better!

Mine was 6 and I was admitted to hospital and given several transfusions then put on Iron Tablets.

At my worst my levels were 2.5. Two 200mg a day for six months with a three month check up.

10 years later I still take 200mg a day as it keeps me stable.

Though you're supposed to take on an empty stomach to help absorbtion but it made me feel so so sick so always ate a small bit beforehand just a banana or something to line my stomach
And take with orange juice

@MrsMeg1 did you find 2 sachets of spatone caused you constipation at all? I couldn't seem to manage it

TiddleTaddleTat no I didn’t, no side effects whatsoever compared to the tablets that gave me nausea and flared up previous gastritis!
Perhaps try 1 sachet am & 1 pm, not sure if that would help. I was amazed how it got my levels up alone, although did take a while.

Can someone please tell me the difference between ferrous sulphate and ferrous fumerate, and what dosage per Day for a ferritin level of 5? One dc has been prescribed FS (3 tabs) and the other FF (2 tabs), their levels were the same. TIA