Low ferritin

[Twoweekcruise]

I have very low ferritin levels and have had for some time now.
My ferritin is just 5.
I feel like crap most days.
The gp’s at my surgery don’t seem to take me seriously. They say it should only cause a bit of tiredness but when I look up the symptoms I have many of them (obviously tiredness but more exhaustion at times, I am weak and shaky, have low tolerance to exercise, tinnitus, breathlessness, dizziness especially when standing up from a crouching position, terrible anxiety and a sore tongue).
They prescribe ferrous fumerate or ferrous sulphate but they absolutely wreck my stomach as I have IBS. I have also tried many off the shelf ‘tummy friendly’ iron and they upset me too. The last gp told me that I have two choices, get my iron levels up and put up with a bad tummy or don’t get my levels up!!
I am on a FB support group for low ferritin and many on there have infusions at my level but a gp at my surgery said she wouldn’t refer me as in her words ‘infusions are far from a pleasant procedure’.
I have had enough, I feel like I’m wading through concrete.
I have a telephone gp consultation this week and want to insist something more is done as this has been going on for two years or more and I am fed up of feeling like crap.
BTW the source of my issues is because of very heavy periods caused by uterine polyps. I waited for 14 months to have them removed. They were removed 4 months ago and my periods are heavier than ever! I have another gynaecologist appointment at the end of the month when I will discuss having a uterine ablation which I hope in the long run will stop the periods but the waiting list could be up to another year.
Has anyone managed to raise their low ferritin and feel better? How did you do it?

I take 30mg x2 a day

I sympathise OP. Ive been fighting this for years. I have lost most of my hair and feel like crap. My ferritin hovers around 11, sometimes a bit higher but never higher than 16. My GP won't recommend a transfusion because my iron is normal! I don't have heavy periods and my celiac test came back negative. Good luck - I hope you find a solution.

Hi OP, I've had an infusion, well strictly speaking it was an IV injection and u can honestly say there was nothing really unpleasant about it in my experience.
It was just having a cannula placed in my inner elbow then the nurse covered me in a plastic apron and slowly injected the iron solution over about 5 minutes. Only side effect was a bit nausea later that evening.
Mine was ordered by my neurologist as I have severe restless legs. I had tried tablets but had abdominal pain and they weren't well enough absorbed to increase my ferritin to a good enough level.
Oral iron is notoriously poorly absorbed and taking it constantly reduces absorption. If you want to persist with the tablets maybe try alternating days, if not I would push for an infusion. Hope.you get sorted and feel better soon x

Can you increase the numbers of spatone sachets you take, if you tolerate them? I've managed to raise my ferritin from 11 to above 30 by using about 9 a day, every other day, mixed with fruit juice. Tried the tablets but yeah, not pleasant.

Coeliac disease