Low ferritin, zero energy

[Energee]

I have a ferritin level of 13. I am permanently exhausted with little energy, struggling to wake up in the morning and have been for at least 20 years. I’ve only just realised the average person has far more energy than me. Would ferrous sulphate or fumerate be best and are there any other tips to help increase my ferritin levels or just general energy?

An Iron infusion is the quickest way to increase your levels.
Also find out what it has happened and take steps to resolve that.

I was slightly anaemic and had a ferritin of 5. After 3 weeks on 200mg FeSO4 a day I felt superhuman! No side effects & it worked a treat. HTH

(Should add it took 3 months of tablets to get ferritin back into mid-teens, but I felt masses better after only a few weeks)

Have just been diagnosed with anaemia- have suffered on and off for years. Have very heavy periods, have been put on the mini pill with the idea to reduce or stop periods, been given strong iron tablets, prescribed. If levels no better after a month I'll get an iron transfusion.
Speak to your gp, ask for a blood test and ask to check everything, b12, thyroid and liver as well as iron levels. At the very least my iron tablets had to be prescribed. Good luck, I also feel exhausted and have for years, am sick of it.

Ferrous sulphate is the usual route. If that irritates your stomach then try ferrous fumarate.

My ferritin was 0 last year, after a year on ferrous sulphate (3 x 200mg a day) it is now 8. I have just gone privately for an iron infusion because I am sick of feeling so awful and the NHS won't help me

Every second day of taking strong iron is better than every day according to studies

Don’t forget if you do decide to take iron tablets to try and take them with orange juice and to stay away from dairy for an hour or so after to get the max benefit.

@clarepetal I’ve had all those things checked and they’ve come back fine

@PrincessPaws I can’t believe you’ve only had an increase of 8. I’m wondering if I should just go the private route too? My ferritin has been like this for so long and so much of my hair has fallen out and my periods are extremely heavy.

Does anyone else have any thoughts on pushing for/paying for an iron infusion rather than tablets?

Mine is usually between 6-9 depending on how long I take ferrulous sulphate for. I’ve had a few infusions but it still drops again. It’s worth looking really closely at your diet as that makes a massive difference.

@PrincessPaws

My ferritin was 0 last year, after a year on ferrous sulphate (3 x 200mg a day) it is now 8. I have just gone privately for an iron infusion because I am sick of feeling so awful and the NHS won't help me

What's the private route to iron transfusion? I'm almost bald with my low iron levels and being on 200mcg of ferrous fumerate aren't helping with the hair loss slowing down :(

www.theironclinic.com/

You need to understand the reason for the low iron- heavy periods, fibroids, coeliac etc please get them to follow that up if you haven’t already

I have iron level of 17 despite taking iron tablets. Is that considered low?
What else can I do?

I recently had an iron transfusion and it worked wonderfully.

I had iron deficient anaemia last year - think my ferretin level was just below 12. I was fatigued and getting chest pains and dizziness. I took high strength iron and Vitamin C supplements for several months, as well as trying to eat more iron rich foods. After about two and a half weeks I just suddenly felt better. I've been feeling a bit rubbish lately again - maybe it's the same thing. Perhaps I should get back on it.

@cheeseisthebest

I have iron level of 17 despite taking iron tablets. Is that considered low? What else can I do?

Yes, I think anything below 30 is low, but I'm not a medical professional! Check with GP if unsure. x

Thank you. I'm booked in for a phone call with Dr, in 4 weeks time!

What's the difference between ferrous sulphate and ferrous fumerate?

I have this too - my level was 13 when I had bloods 10 weeks ago. I had been feeling a bit rubbish but only really noticed something was up when I spotted patches at my temples, the sides and one side of my parting have so little hair now. I’m feeling lots better, no change in the hair yet but I understand it’s early days and is likely to take months to recover. So I’m trying not to panic about that!
Will ask for a blood test once it’s been 3 months to track any progress. Im taking ferrous sulphate, I can’t tell if it upsets my stomach as I have IBS issues anyway (being investigated - probably the cause of the low ferritin!).
Try and eat plenty of iron rich foods, protein, and everyone should be taking a vitamin D supplement from October to March in the UK.
I know what a horrible feeling this all is.

@Energee hey! How are you? X