Symptoms of low ferritin

[Starrr123]

Can people please tell me your symptoms and what numbers your ferritin was at?
i lost alot of blood when i had a baby (18months ago) my ferritin then was 11 (drs wasnt bothered even though had all the symptoms)
im still feel sooo rough dizzy etc. Im gonna take
things in my own hands!

Palpitations, tingling in lower arms, slightly breathless when walking more than 15 minutes.
I took ferrous Fumarate that I bought over the counter.

Is that low iron?
I know mines is low as I have weird smell cravings. Really bizarre I know. The strong urge to smell bubble baths, fabric conditions clean smells. The urge is bad sometimes. I also feel weak no energy. I have an appointment next week for blood tests. What about eating more iron in your diet?

Forgot about the breathlessness and hair loss too

When mine is very low I get v tired, things get tinged a weird blue colour and when it was at its worst (2.5) I had weird black outs if I got overheated

@Partyprofessional i eat lots , but my periods are very heavy i wear about 3-4 maternity pads as i bleed alot. X

Anxiety
Poor sleep
Restless legs
Hormonal acne
General fatigue
Heavy periods (ironically)

At its lowest my ferratin was 4. I had a private iron infusion which has helped massively.

Once your iron and iron stores are very badly depleted it can be very difficult to restore them through supplementation and almost impossible to improve through diet.

Heart palpitations.

I went to the drs because of them and bloods said 11 for ferratin levels. For the past month i have taken spatone and feraglobin once a day. The palpitations have subsided but not gone, which makes me wonder if something else is at play

@dontknowwhatisbest i feel horrible all the time :( its horrible! I eat well, but nothing helps xx

@Bells3032 i feel faint when i get too hot! I also feel like im gonna faint xx

Muscle cramps were my main symptom. Literally couldn’t put my seatbelt on without shoulder going into cramp, couldn’t put my legs straight in bed without them going into cramp, couldn’t sit on the floor without my toes cramping up. I went to the doctor to see what was the issue and low iron was the only issue. She said it’s rare but can cause muscle issues. She asked if I was tired, but I’m a lone parent with two kids so I’m always tired 😂

@KangarooKenny how many did u take? Alot how long did it take to work? X

11 is super low. Iron tablets will take a long time. You need an iron infusion. If the NHs won’t give you this then if you can have it privately.
my symptoms - have been anemic a number of times are:
Low mood
tiredness
heart palpitations
hair falling out
breathless
bleeding easily - eg from cuts and it taken ages to stop bleeding
heavy periods with clots
Anemia is a viscous circle. Your anemic your periods get heavier, you get more anemic etc.
Unfortunately iron tablets take a while to work- and should be taken w vitamin c to aid absorption. So with 11 your best bet is a iron infusion. They are so great. A couple of days afterwards I felt like a new woman. But it’s recommended usually to keep taking iron tablets to keep your levels high - and check your levels after 6 months

Tiredness
Shortness of breath
Pica
Angular cheilitis

When I last had a blood test a year ago my ferritin was 25. I didn't realise st the time that that's on the fairly low side- doctor told me it was normal. 've not had it tested since but I've recently had angular chelitis and a different doctor asked me if I've ever had low iron. Going to try and get a blood test next week. Other symptom was struggling to shake off virus and feeling cold all the time.

My ferritin was 6 at a recent test. Restless legs are the worst symptom for me, followed by shortness of breath. My hair has also got thinner. Caused by heavy periods.

I managed to take 3 a day, I also ate loads of red meat. I felt better in weeks.
Mine was caused by heavy periods, a Mirena coil sorted it.

@KangarooKenny my periods are awful! I wear 3-4 maternity pads the first 3 days! I feel soo weak! Xx

You need to sort that out, you can’t carry on like that.

@KangarooKenny ive been going to the drs for
it for years :(
i went last week and a new dr has referred me tk gynaecologist! Hoping they will
help. And with taken iron tablets ill feel
better xx

May have been mentioned above but you may want to consider an iron infusion. Costs a lot privately but does the trick.

Ferritin is just a measure of iron stores, did you test as being anaemic? That’s the thing that’s going to cause you symptoms.

When mine was down to 11 my hair started thinning, I had aching in my chest/feeling out of breath, and my tongue was constantly sore.

The heavy bleeding during periods could be a sign of undiagnosed fibroids which could in turn decimate your iron levels. There is plenty of scientific evidence that high dose of Lycopene can curbs the bleeding caused by fibroids (it's worked for me). And high concentration of Vitamin C will increase Iron absorption within the first few days of taking the supplements.

That's not strictly true. It's perfectly possible to suffer with low ferritin symptoms even while not officially being anaemic.

I had an iron infusion on the NHS when my ferritin was 7, my hb was about 9. They will only do an infusion in my local NHS if ferritin is less than 10 and hb is less than 12, AND you can tolerate oral iron. I have a stomach condition and don't absorb iron properly so got one. My GP tried to send me again when I became symptomatic again. but my ferritin was 12 and they refused as I didn't meet their criteria. The hospital put me on high dose folic acid tablets for a folate deficient which also really helped alleviate symptoms. Same symptoms but difficult to tell what causes them.

My main symptoms when it was very low were breathlessness on any exertion at all and extreme fatigue.

That was meant to be CANNOT tolerate oral iron.