Low iron levels but GP says I don't need tablets any more?

[Indecisivelurcher]

My serum foliate levels are 'up' to 13.4 ug/L from 10, and the GP says I can now stop taking ferrous fumarate tablets. Can this be right?! A previous GP had advised getting levels to more like 50 in order to feel better. I don't feel better. I feel like old socks.

Argh - I’m so sick of GPs expecting us to function on horribly low iron levels! It’s absolute bollocks.

Demand a second opinion, or just buy your own tablets. Ferrous Fumerate are cheap as chips and available over the counter without prescription.

I didn't think it sounded right. Surely if I just stop the tablets, they'll drop down below bar again anyway. I don't know why my levels are so low in the first place.

Over the counter tablets, presumably they're not as strong?

Have they investigated the cause?

@user191245365

Have they investigated the cause?

No. I don't have periods due to having a coil fitted so it's not that. Suggestions when I pushed was that I don't eat enough red meat, but I have eaten a lot more the last month (which I'm a bit uncomfortable with ethically).

My platelets are also low.

When I was subscribed ferrous fumerate by the GP, the pharmacist told me that it was cheaper to buy them over the counter than to pay the prescription charge. Why not just buy some yourself? Don't forget to drink a bit orange juice or something with it.

Over the counter tablets, presumably they're not as strong?

At my chemist (Lloyds) they come in 210mg tablets, or 345mg. How strong were the ones you were prescribed?

It might be ug, not mg, but you get the idea :)

@MacbookHo

Over the counter tablets, presumably they're not as strong?

At my chemist (Lloyds) they come in 210mg tablets, or 345mg. How strong were the ones you were prescribed?

The ones I was prescribed are 322mg. Have been taking 1 a day. Possibly I can just buy them then!

Folate isn't a marker of your iron levels, did they check your iron levels too?

@Glitterbubbles

Folate isn't a marker of your iron levels, did they check your iron levels too?

I've got a pdf of results... That's the only thing irony sounding.

Serum foliate level (45U5) - 13.4ug/L (>4.0)

Other things listed
Serum vitamin B12, haemoglobin concentration, mean cell volume, platelet count, total white blood count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, monocyte count, eosinophil count, basophil count, red blood cell count, haemotocrit, mean cell haemoglobin level.

Platelets are low at 137 (normal range 140-400)
Eosinophil is high 0.55

It's my stored iron that was low at first test and needed rechecking.

There aren't any markers of iron there - your haemoglobin level is normal too, which is good, but if you're worried about iron id have another chat with your GP :)
Folate is a separate vitamin which if low can also make you anaemic

Sorry I didn't realise you said platelets 137 not haemoglobin!

Goodness knows what's the point of what they've checked then. Thank you. I'll just ring them again.

Try to get a different doctor, and approach them prepared with your specific questions. Sounds like you got your results and the questions came into your head afterwards, and then you thought 'Oh, hang on though..?' when it was too late. Make sure you come away with answers that make sense to you, or referrals. It's not ok to be left feeling so crappy and simply dismissed.

You need your ferritin levels. Foliate levels have nothing to do with stored iron levels. If your GP has advised you to stop supplementing iron based on foliate levels, he or she is quite simply wrong. Seeing as you are still not feeling well,
I would continue taking the iron supplements for another 3 months (provided other causes for your symptoms have been excluded!), then go back and ask for ferritin levels to be checked.

@glitterbubbles thank you for that, rang the doctors back and after quite a bit of discussion, they gave tested the wrong thing. I had to read out a definition of serum folate and serum ferritin as they were insistent. Then the the penny dropped.

Back for another blood test I go!
Really struggling today with heart racing and can't concentrate so I know it's not right.