Low iron - experiences and treatment

[Okaaaay]

Hi all - would love your insights and experiences. I have had a suite a bloods done which has showed low ferritin (acceptable NHS range is 10 - 337 - my result is 15). So not diagnosable as anaemia but low enough for the GP to suggest iron supplements. My questions;

• what is the most effective way of taking iron - I want to feel better but also have digestive issues (diverticulitis and reflux) so worried I’ll upset everything. I’m erring towards medical grade iron via a liquid as I’ve seen recommended here

• did you ever get to bottom of what was causing your issue? My GP doesn’t seem worried to want to look at root cause.

As an aside, I have a whole host of other health things going on. Chronic infections, IBS type issues, skin issues, anxiety, tiredness - it genuinely feels like something really isn’t right and that I have some inflammation in my body that I’m not coping with. I’m early 40s, pescatarian, average weight and work FT with two children.

Are you digestive issues on ya record ?

Push 4 iron IV

My feretin was 8

Iron iv made it 252 - i felt amazing for a week - til they found positive q fit test.. then polyps removed from bowel in urgent colonoscopy

Have you ever done a qfit test? Poop test ?
Ever had a colonoscopy ??

Yes - fixing feretin is important
But - WHY is it that low - why does gp think its that low ??

My stomach was checked 4 bleeds

Polyps removed from bowel

Id definitely ask for a qfit test / poop test..
Asap

Some peoples bodies are poop at absorbing iron - mine is

Nice guidelines say it should be over 30 so with digestive issues - definitely ask 4 iron iv to be considered
.if they say no and if u have the means - consider private iron iv...

Did u have vit d and b12 checked too ?
There are some conditions where people are deficient in all 3 ^
Many brits vit d deficient in winter/ now

Def look at getting b12 and vit d checked if they havent been

Cereal high in iron - saltana bran.. .. also
Wheatbisks.. etc

To abdorb iron u need good vit c.
I take oral iron spray with orange juice
Aa per dr instructions

Lotsa raisins - apricots - peas 2 snack on

Ibs type issues can be b12 deficiency - mine was
Def ask 4 b12 blood test - tell them frequently upset tummy

Ask 4 Qfit poop test

Thank you - yes, poo test is pending (both FIT and a general test). I don’t think but B12 has been checked. No iron IV mentioned or any further investigation.

Maybe further investigation for now is poop test - they tend to do that first - they want any chance of bowel cancer ruled out - part of that is poop test - those results willl be within 2 weeks of u sending it off..
Depending on that result - you may have colonoscopy.
Have u ever had a colonoscopy?
Got bowel cancer in fam or no?

The best way to get iron is from red meat. The iron in vegetables is a different form, and not easily absorbed. Many people struggle with the tablets, and can't absorb it either. Beef steak and mince, liver etc. Are all high in iron that can be absorbed and used by the body.

Thing is tho - if op is found to have bowel polyps - red meat is not gd 4 that

Diet before pills.

Eat high iron foods with foods high in vitamin c to aid absorption. Avoid tea as it stops iron absorption.

Eat a slab of good meat every night for a week washed down with a glass of pure orange juice and you'll feel so much better.

Going forward switch to a higher iron diet eg spinach, eggs, red meat instead of white or fish, dark leafy veg every day. Cut tea and replace with citrus/berries. Snack on satsumas & berries.

Blue berries are good 4 iron

My ferratin was 6 and felt terrible - I would guess caused by heavy periods.

I take 2 spatone sachets a day and they got it up really quickly. They don't seem to have as much iron in as the tablets but it's much better absorbed so works better even though it's a smaller amount. I never had any digestive issues with them though I did with the iron tabs from the GP which is why I wanted something different.

Have them on an empty stomach and not near any tea / coffee to get full benefit.

I'd also start eating red meat as you'll not be getting much heme iron in your diet but that's up to you obvs!!

Thanks for all your advice - will read through the detail. I don’t eat meat which is a major issue (both from a cause / resolution perspective). Will look at spatone sachets too.

Iron infusion was literally life changing for me. I went from in the floor with tiredness to bouncing.

Do look into the causes as PPs say, but if you just need to get the levels up and then maintain them I’d seriously look into it.

I got it on the NHS (I was pregnant), but even though it’s pricey privately, I wouldn’t hesitate to pay if I needed it.

If you don’t eat meat then that’s likely the cause then. The NHS aren’t great at looking into things in my experience. I have low ferritin and B12 and “it’s just one of those things”!

Take the iron with vitamin C and avoid caffeine for 2 hours before/after. I used to take 3 tablets a day but not sure how often you can take the liquid.

Skip spatone sachets - they don’t contain that much iron and are eyewateringly expensive.

Eat dark leafy greens, dried apricots, lentils, beans, legumes, eggs. But definitely don’t rely on diet alone to increase levels!

This

Has your vit d been checked ?
Have they ruled out conditions linked to b12 deficiency?
I refused to take ' its just 1 of those things '

I echo the dried apricots are good

@worldwidetravel2017 no history of bowel cancer and I haven’t had a colonoscopy. Could be on the cards as some fairly significant issues in last three months.

I do have private health insurance. Not sure if the GP would refer me for a private infusion given I’m not technically anaemic. But this is very tempting.

Your number is,below 30 - shouldn't be hard to get privately

Spatone sachets contain 5mg of iron but can upset your digestive system. I've been using a mouth spray that contains 10mg with a Vit C tablet taken just before (can't drink immediately after) as I struggle with tablets. You can get a Vit B12 spray as well. My iron and Vit B12 rose quite dramatically after 3 months of taking. Boots, Superdrug, Holland & Barrett sell them.

https://betteryou.com/products/iron-10-oral-spray

Low ferritin and IBS type issues - you should be checked for coeliac disease

I also have diverticulitis and reflux, and am vegetarian.

In the summer I went to the GP with tiredness, three months post Covid. My ferritin was 17.8.

He told me to take ferrous sulphate (200mg) which I have tolerated well. Although the leaflet in the packet says to take a tablet 2- 3 times a day, he said recent research shows 1 per day, or every other day, is as effective.

A month later my ferritin had increased to 29. I don’t know what it is now.

I haven’t seen ferrous sulphate recommended on MN but it was OK for me. When I (or DH) go to the pharmacy to buy it they always ask why I want it, but when I say the GP told me to take it they are happy with that.

(The GP referred me for a colonoscopy, which was clear apart from diverticular disease, which was already known.)

Just following as mine has come back as 30 which is the lower limit (I noticed you said acceptable range is from 10? My result says normal is from 30
My B12 was high though ... 900 and something 🤷🏻‍♀️
I do have coeliac and IBD
GP advice has been a bit waffly- re if I need a supplement/strength and when to take.
Anyone know why B12 would be high and iron low?

Reading all with such interest! The exact note from my GP by text;

Blood tests all ok. Your ferritin (iron stores) is just within normal range at 15 (abnormal is under 10), so a short course of multivits with iron would be a good idea.

Very relaxed about it all and at odds with NICE which suggests anything below 30 confirms diagnosis of anaemia!! I am an awful patient and find it really hard to advocate for myself (feel like a near-constant nuisance). Would it be reasonable to go back and ask for the plan around understanding the root cause?

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anaemia-iron-deficiency/#:~:text=In%20all%20people%2C%20a%20serum,be%20less%20reliable%20in%20pregnancy.

My b12 was high when i had glandular fever

Id wait 4 Q fit test result// poop test result first - theyve asked u to have that - thats potentially ruling causes in / out

The root cause of my iron deficiency was coeliac disease. It’s a simple blood test that your GP can do.

I have similar gastro symptoms to yours, my ferritin was 4 and I felt dreadful. I took (still take) sytron which worked fairly quickly. I couldn't handle the tablets. An IV was offered but I wanted to see how quickly I could get my stores up with the liquid first. I have been on a few courses of it but as soon as I stop it nose dives again so I'm now taking it daily to maintain.

I had incredibly heavy periods (perimenopausal) which was noted as the cause but I'm not too convinced of that being the only cause now given my IBS, reflux etc. I've been referred for upper GI investigations and nothing to note. It was suggested I cut out gluten as I was asked to keep a food diary and identified that at a symptom trigger. I did but now it seems can't be tested for coeliac as no longer eating it. So just something to bear in mind.

Good luck on getting your levels up quickly, you will feel so much better