Low ferritin & ferrous sulphate - how long before I feel better?

[Cinderellashoes]

My hb is 110 but my ferritin is 3. I’ve been suffering heart palpitations, hair loss, breathlessness and tiredness. Oh gosh, the tiredness. I never ever feel refreshed and I could easily have a nap every day. Due to the stomach cramps the GP has said to start 1 tablet a day (200mg) as I can’t really manage to keep running to the loo (I’m a nurse) all through the day. Obviously if I could take more I’d feel better sooner but I’m having side effects taking one at night. So anyway my question is how long til I feel or notice a difference? The tiredness is really quite debilitating and people have noticed how pale I am at work!

Have a look at feroglobin liquid, It's supposed to be gentler on the stomach, I had diarrhoea but had my period when I started and nearly always get a dodgy tummy then so possibly that.

Unfortunately it will take a while to feel more human.

In your shoes I would be pushing for an iron infusion. A ferritin level of 3 is below the usual minimum level of 10 that you need to “qualify” for an infusion. It will take you many weeks to feel better taking just one tablet per day. You may have to wait a few weeks for the infusion appointment so in the meantime I would ask to be prescribed ferrous gluconate which is kinder on the stomach. Good luck.

I have tried the feroglobin liquid a while back but it wasn’t making any substantial difference to my ferritin. Thank you for the advice though.

Where can I find it is documented that my ferritin has to be below 10 for an iron transfusion? The highest I’ve ever gotten it was 6 in the last three years. I mentioned an iron infusion when I was pregnant and the consultant laughed at me and said it wasn’t needed.

With exactly the same numbers I started noticing a difference after about 3 weeks. After nearly 3 months I feel almost superhuman - no palpitations, no more dizziness, have started running again! 200mg OD hasn’t caused me any side effects either. Have taken Berocca with it... probably just making expensive wee, but it might help a bit! (I found feroglobin tastes revolting). Hope you feel better soon

The standard reference range for ferritin is 10-150 (roughly) in most hospitals. My local hospital will only consider me for infusion when I dip under 10 (I have chronic iron malabsorption). I would point out to the GP that you are iron deficient and anaemic - you need to get your iron up fast. If you read up online there are various papers saying ferritin should be a minimum of 50 and ideally over 100 for good health. By the time your levels are under 30 you are iron deficient; the lower they fall the worse you feel. By the time I am under 10 I feel awful. You must have been feeling terrible for years!

Your GP can refer you directly for an infusion - no need for consultant involvement.
By the way - has your GP suggested investigating why your iron levels are so low?

Thanks for the replies! I am a strict vegetarian (my diet is pretty bad but I am trying!) and have heavy periods plus pregnancy really dropped me low again. I’ve always sat at the low end ever since I was a teenager and yes, I do feel bloody awful most days. Sometimes I can barely keep my eyes open!! I would love to feel better soon. I’ll take my iron tablets and speak to the GP at my next appt- thanks so much

With ferritin levels of 1-2, I took 200mg supplements times a day, for 15 months. I felt a difference after about a month, but it took 15 months to stabilise.