Ferritin levels

Thegroaninggurner · 2022-10-08T18:55:14+00:00

A few weeks ago I had a stack with of blood tests done as I was completely drained, everything came back ok but Ferritin levels came back low at 10 is that really low? Now I was prescribed ferrous sulphate 2x200 a day but to be honest I'm not sure it's making me feel great but at same point I am going through the menapause, have Graves Disease as well as overactive thyroid and GERD. I'm sure it's because my thyroid might be out if sinc but they will not test my t3 or t4 I am sure that the thyroid or menapause is also causing the Gerd, not sure what to do as I am having rather weird symptoms.

ploopypleepy · 08/10/2022 20:13

Mine was 9 a few months ago and I felt really drained, irritable, fluttery heart and breathless. Although I am pregnant too. I feel much better now I'm taking it.

Original poster

Thegroaninggurner · 08/10/2022 20:21

ploopypleepy · 08/10/2022 20:13

Mine was 9 a few months ago and I felt really drained, irritable, fluttery heart and breathless. Although I am pregnant too. I feel much better now I'm taking it.

Could I ask how much your taking please?

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Septemberintherain · 08/10/2022 20:32

Mine was 2. I I felt like death warmed up. My GP kept prescribing me iron but as I have awful IBS it wrecked my stomach but the GP still insisted I take them. In the end I pleaded for an iron infusion which I did have in February this year. It’s raised my ferritin to 153.
I feel a bit better. I can climb the stairs without seeing stars but still feel crappy but I think I may have thyroid issues. I’m having a series of blood tests next week.
I am 49 and think I’m in Perimenopause and think that’s not helping either.
Its so frustrating, isn’t it?

Original poster

Thegroaninggurner · 08/10/2022 20:54

Septemberintherain · 08/10/2022 20:32

Mine was 2. I I felt like death warmed up. My GP kept prescribing me iron but as I have awful IBS it wrecked my stomach but the GP still insisted I take them. In the end I pleaded for an iron infusion which I did have in February this year. It’s raised my ferritin to 153.
I feel a bit better. I can climb the stairs without seeing stars but still feel crappy but I think I may have thyroid issues. I’m having a series of blood tests next week.
I am 49 and think I’m in Perimenopause and think that’s not helping either.
Its so frustrating, isn’t it?

It certainly is frustrating, ask to have your thyroid tested, I believe hypo thyroid can cause low ferritin and I'm wondering if perhaps I am being overmedicated on Carbimazole and that's s what's causing all these issues.

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whatdodos · 08/10/2022 21:15

That is very low! Ive been told unfortunately it can take up to 6 weeks for the tablets to work because your iron stores need to be filled again. I heard that between 15 and 200 is "normal" for iron but around 150 is ideal. Mine were below 5 a few weeks ago and I'm on week 3 of tablets. Still feel like absolute shite and by Friday I'm barely standing 😭

CreatingHavoc · 08/10/2022 22:04

Mine was about 10 and I the side effects from the tablets were so awful I had to stop taking them. With ferroglobin and floradix I've got it to about 15, which is still far too low. I'm waiting for some iron bisglycinate to arrive in the hope that it'll work better.

ploopypleepy · 08/10/2022 22:07

@Thegroaninggurner I'm taking 2 a day of 200mg tablets at the moment but to be honest the midwife told me there is only so much you can actually absorb. I'm lucky and have no side effects from the iron.

KangarooKenny · 08/10/2022 22:08

I was prescribed ferrous Fumarate for low ferritin. I found it gentler on the stomach than sulphate.

BobaTea · 09/10/2022 09:14

I'm low on ferritin but have normal HB. What does this mean? An I still iron deficient?

crazyBadger · 09/10/2022 09:30

Mine was 8 so on two tablets a day now.. I just feel exhausted all the time .

the shortage of butterfly needles have left me with huge bruises on my hands ,( I don't give up my blood easily) so won't be going for another blood test until they have some in.

Hopevoyager · 09/10/2022 09:59

Yes I take 2x 210mg if ferrous fumarate every day. I find this much easier to handle than ferrous sulphate which causes all sorts of stomach issues. My level was 11 in July and my GP wants to review after Christmas.
just out of interest, have you had your b12 and folate checked? The three go hand in hand and balance each other. Also do you know if your MCV is lower than normal as this often happens with ferritin deficiency. Even if they have told you it’s ok, the lower ranges of ‘normal’ in uk trusts is renowned for being far to low compared to NICE guidelines and even though they say your fine, quite often treatment is needed.

Original poster

Thegroaninggurner · 09/10/2022 14:10

Hopevoyager · 09/10/2022 09:59

Yes I take 2x 210mg if ferrous fumarate every day. I find this much easier to handle than ferrous sulphate which causes all sorts of stomach issues. My level was 11 in July and my GP wants to review after Christmas.
just out of interest, have you had your b12 and folate checked? The three go hand in hand and balance each other. Also do you know if your MCV is lower than normal as this often happens with ferritin deficiency. Even if they have told you it’s ok, the lower ranges of ‘normal’ in uk trusts is renowned for being far to low compared to NICE guidelines and even though they say your fine, quite often treatment is needed.

Thanks b12 is actually good, iron levels are ok they checked the MCV that's ok I've just checked and its just the Ferritin.

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Original poster

Thegroaninggurner · 09/10/2022 14:14

I have been taking a vitamin d supplement everyday though as my vit d was a little low at 44.

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NewNameNeededNow · 09/10/2022 14:17

I’m also on 2 x ferrous fumerate per day.

Ferritin needs to be above 70 to support hair growth I believe. I’m hoping mine does start growing and gets thicker again.

Original poster

Thegroaninggurner · 09/10/2022 19:03

NewNameNeededNow · 09/10/2022 14:17

I’m also on 2 x ferrous fumerate per day.

Ferritin needs to be above 70 to support hair growth I believe. I’m hoping mine does start growing and gets thicker again.

I lose quite a lot of my hair through bit d deficiency, graves and low ferritin saying that it's not as bad as it was a few months ago.

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AlwaysTired87 · 11/10/2022 09:28

Mine was 5 last summer with a low haemoglobin level too, I felt dire. This summer it had gone up to 22 with a higher haemoglobin level. Anything under 30 is iron deficiency though. I've just bought some heme iron supplements to try because I can't tolerate the strong doctors stuff, especially not ferrous sulphate- that gave me raging diarrhoea!

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 11/10/2022 09:40

Mine was undetectable a few years ago. I had 3 blood tests to check it was right, nit a sampling/test error. I took ferrous sulphate supplements 3 times a day for a year, with blood tests every 3 months (this is the lifetime of a red blood cell), until my ferritin got to the bottom of normal levels (o think 50 whatever the units are). As my ferritin increased each blood test, there was no concern that I wasn't absorbing it eg: coeliac disease.

About 5 years on I still take ferrous sulphate daily to maintain levels. I am veggie, and try and eat plant sources of iron.