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Original poster

Ferritin level of 12. How were you treated?

73 replies

TulipsTwoLips · 09/10/2020 15:37

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

OP posts:
TiddleTaddleTat · 15/10/2020 20:55

@MrsMeg1 ah ok, it might just be me then. Constipation was awful, I will ask the GP. I feel less fatigued after a month of 1 sachet per day, but then I'm taking other new supplements for other issues so my iron could still be low.

MrsMeg1 · 15/10/2020 21:14

That's frustrating as they really made a huge difference to me. I had headaches, awful brain fog & tiredness, pins and needles and was thinking today even my Reynaud's has improved massively.

dahliaaa · 16/10/2020 00:03

I've had issues on and off for years (heavy periods).
The tablets always caused me stomach problems. Dr said spatone wouldn't be strong enough to make any really difference but I tried it for 3 months and made a really significant difference.

LadyFannyButton · 16/10/2020 17:38

@Letsgetgoing123

The different forms of iron in supplements contain varying amounts of elemental iron. For example, ferrous fumarate is 33% elemental iron by weight, whereas ferrous sulfate is 20% and ferrous gluconate is 12% elemental iron
Elemental iron is the total amount of iron in the supplement available for absorption by your body

LadyFannyButton · 16/10/2020 17:40

@TiddleTaddleTat
2 x spatone also cause me constipation. I take a fybogel at night to sort the problem.

Original poster
TulipsTwoLips · 19/10/2020 13:54

My GP has advised only taking the iron tablets on alternate days. He says there is a lot of research which shows this aids absorption.

OP posts:
LadyFannyButton · 19/10/2020 15:37

Did the GP tell you to double the dose Tulip?

In order to provide the same total amount of iron with alternate day dosing, twice the daily target dose should be given on alternate days as total iron absorption from a single dose of 200 mg given on alternate days was approximately twice that from 100 mg given on consecutive days

I’m going to give it a go, I hadn’t been told about doing alternate days. I hope that doesn’t mean double the constipation!

CottonSock · 19/10/2020 15:43

I went on fummerate and contraception. I don't think levels in spatone are going to cut it. It's hard to even find the info on their website.

tofuschnitzel · 19/10/2020 16:27

I had very low ferritin levels and my GP initially prescribed iron tablets. Unfortunately, they didn't have much of an effect on my levels and in the end my GP referred me to the hospital for an iron infusion. I have Functional Bowel Disorder so the transfusion was the best option for me as it did not aggravate my bowel issues. It did help to increase my ferritin levels long term, but it has had no effect on my energy levels.

For those experiencing constipation due to taking iron tablets, you could try Fybogel or Laxido. I have laxido on prescription, but I think you can buy it over the counter too.

Original poster
TulipsTwoLips · 20/10/2020 09:18

@LadyFannyButton

Did the GP tell you to double the dose Tulip?

In order to provide the same total amount of iron with alternate day dosing, twice the daily target dose should be given on alternate days as total iron absorption from a single dose of 200 mg given on alternate days was approximately twice that from 100 mg given on consecutive days

I’m going to give it a go, I hadn’t been told about doing alternate days. I hope that doesn’t mean double the constipation!

No, though possibly because I struggle to tolerate double the dose on a single day. It all seems to be trial and error.
OP posts:
aureliacecilia · 20/10/2020 10:53

My midwife has given me iron tablets due to low ferritin (normal haemoglobin). It's not as low as some of yours at 18 but is expected to drop further during pregnancy. I've been told to take ferrous sulfate 200mg every other day. I didn't know my levels were low before my routine blood test and I'm not sure if it's made much of an impact yet.

Whitney168 · 20/10/2020 13:38

I've just got results back from my 3 month re-test. Irritatingly, there is no separate ferritin reading this time, by haemoglobin has gone up from 115 to 133 and everything showing as 'Normal', so assume it's functioned OK.

Not really sure whether I"m now meant to continue with the ferrous fumarate or not. Hey ho, will do battle to get to speak to a doc eventually, but in the meantime I might swap from 3 a day to 2 every other day (as per above posts on the gap making it absorb better), try and stick to reduced tea levels, and see how it goes ...

Original poster
TulipsTwoLips · 20/10/2020 15:15

Good luck both of you 🤞🏼

OP posts:
HoxtonBonnet · 20/10/2020 16:23

Hi OP - I found out my ferritin level was 6 in January. My hb level was 11.1, which I don't think is too bad (?). I found out because I had blood tests done after a horrendous period that lasted two weeks. The funny thing is I was walking around thinking my low energy and brain fog were down to stress and lack of sleep and that I should be able to manage my life better!

I have been taking 1 Ferrograd tablet every evening with orange juice and also have two weetabix (they are fortified with iron) and OJ in the morning. In March I had a blood test and my ferritin was up to 26 and hb to 13.6. My brain fog has disappeared and I am finally able to string a sentence together! I will keep taking the tablets for the foreseeable as I have had a lot of hair loss. I think the optimum ferritin level is 70-100.

As a result of the blood tests I also had a scan and discovered I had fibroids. I then had an endometrial resection (like an ablation) and haven't had a period since July!

Life would be perfect if I hadn't suddenly started experiencing perimenopause symptoms!

Original poster
TulipsTwoLips · 20/10/2020 17:08

@HoxtonBonnet

Hi OP - I found out my ferritin level was 6 in January. My hb level was 11.1, which I don't think is too bad (?). I found out because I had blood tests done after a horrendous period that lasted two weeks. The funny thing is I was walking around thinking my low energy and brain fog were down to stress and lack of sleep and that I should be able to manage my life better!

I have been taking 1 Ferrograd tablet every evening with orange juice and also have two weetabix (they are fortified with iron) and OJ in the morning. In March I had a blood test and my ferritin was up to 26 and hb to 13.6. My brain fog has disappeared and I am finally able to string a sentence together! I will keep taking the tablets for the foreseeable as I have had a lot of hair loss. I think the optimum ferritin level is 70-100.

As a result of the blood tests I also had a scan and discovered I had fibroids. I then had an endometrial resection (like an ablation) and haven't had a period since July!

Life would be perfect if I hadn't suddenly started experiencing perimenopause symptoms!

Nothing's ever straight forward, is it! Hopefully the perimenopausal symptoms will settle.

Good news about your levels though, I didn't realise something like weetabix would work so well.

OP posts:
zatarontoast · 20/10/2020 17:17

I went through 6 months of feeling like I was dying and weird cardiac symptoms that my gp kept saying was anxiety Hmm It especially discovered that my ferritin level was 2 (but hb not low). I had an iron infusion and felt amazing the next month.

HoxtonBonnet · 20/10/2020 18:24

@TulipsTwoLips I think it was probably more the Ferrograd than the weetabix that worked but it's definitely something useful to add to your diet.

Flatwhite32 · 20/10/2020 20:52

I'm pregnant and just had iron tests as I'm feeling awful, and it looks like a serum ferritin wasn't done. I'm gutted as my haemoglobin has come back normal (albeit right at the lowest end) so I can guarantee they won't do anything.

Flatwhite32 · 20/10/2020 20:52

Posted that too early. I thought a serum ferritin would have been done as standard, but clearly not!

Original poster
TulipsTwoLips · 21/10/2020 12:10

@Flatwhite32

Posted that too early. I thought a serum ferritin would have been done as standard, but clearly not!
Very frustrating. Hopefully they will test it for you now.
OP posts:
TiddleTaddleTat · 02/11/2020 11:32

A little update to sing the praises of spatone. I've been having one sachet a day and my ferritin has gone from 15 to 34 in a month.

What2do2 · 02/11/2020 12:13

I had ferritin levels of 5 caused by heavy periods. I took slow release iron tablets (but can only take one per day on these ones) but find them ok on the stomach op. My levels went back up as I had another blood test months later.
I’ve recently felt exhausted again , just wondering if you’re supposed to take them forever regardless of whether your levels increase? I hope you feel better soon op , it’s exhausting especially if you have so much else going on. I didn’t notice a dramatic change though even though my levels increased, I often have low energy ...

Notanothernamechanged101 · 24/11/2020 18:30

@What2do2 my low iron was also caused by heavy periods so I was on prescription iron for 13+ years until a hysterectomy solved my problem Wink
If you are feeling the same again it would be worth requesting a blood test and asking the question about staying on iron.

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