Ferritin levels

[CakeRage]

I went to the doctors after feeling gradually more run down over the past year (fatigue, palpitations, hair loss, nails breaking, etc). I suspected I may be anaemic as I have been in the past, most likely due to heavy periods. I’ve been screened for coeliac a few times but it’s always been negative.

They ran some blood tests, and while my haemoglobin is comfortably in the normal range, my ferritin level is 10. I’ve been told the normal range is 10-290, and as mine is within range, it doesn’t need to be treated. My serum calcium is below the normal range and so the doctor has said my symptoms are probably due to this, but am I mad to think that as my ferritin is literally at the lowest possible end of acceptable that this could be having an effect too? I’m sure I’ve been treated at levels around 10-12 before. Anyone been in this position and can advise?

I would just buy some Iron supplements and take them for 3 months, you can do spatone or floradix or even just get the full strength supplements.

I am always low in iron, I do supplements and improve but as soon as I stop my levels drop again quickly. I used to have a great GP who would just have me in for tests every 6 months but my new GP makes it much harder for me to get the tests.

Now I usually just do the iron myself when I know I am low, palpitations, hair loss, headaches, tiredness, pallor etc. I am vegetarian and have heavy periods so am not worried about iron overload. Regular iron supplements help but I still become anaemic on them. My Mum and brother (not veggie) are the same.

I have ferritin of 12 and GP prescribed Ferrus Fumerate (iron) to take. She considers below 30 deficient. If you have symptoms, I would ask for iron. I was feeling more and more tired. Heart palpitations, out of breath more often, fatigue...just feeling exhausted. Anyway, since on iron a few days I am noticing small improvement. Also, my period came in lighter while on iron. It is normally quite heavy.

Please get the scan.

All the iron supplements will only mask the issue if it is being caused by something like fibroids.
I sympathise, my gp wasn’t the slightest bit concerned either.

However, the issue went on for a couple of years where I felt progressively worse.
I cannot believe how used to feeling awful I became.

In the end I went to a private gynaecologist.
I walked in holding onto a wall so I didn’t fall over.
I left the appointment in a wheelchair and being admitted to hospital as an emergency.
Ended with a hysterectomy at 40.

My GP, was suddenly interested.

I know my situation was a little extreme but it shows that GPs are really not great with these issues.
Also because we are used to periods and we are used to female issues being played down, we often don’t realise that they can become very serious.

Please ask why- why am I feeling this bad, why are my periods getting heavier?

Ok, but that lets your GP off the hook. I think you should ask him (I'm presuming it's a him) for a referral.
I was also told my suddenly heavier bleeding could be perimenopause, but an ultrasound, followed by an MRI showed fibroids.

I'm curious about the pp saying it should be 70 because I tested at 60 and thought it was all good. I have no symptoms, unless receding hair line and thinning hair is one (and not just of being mid forties).

@Gwenhwyfar If you don’t have any symptoms then 60 (or 50/40/30!) is fine.

When discussing my fatigue, my GP suggested starting iron supplementing again, even though my ferittin level was maybe 30 at time. Certainly in normal range. She said above 70 is ideal. But if you feel fine and aren’t anaemic, then of course 60 is great.

Our lower level is 15 not sure if it varies in labs but it is low

I would get an ultrasound to investigate your heavy bleeding. Mine ended up with a chocolate cyst which explained things (although endometriosis needs surgery to be diagnosed in absence of such findings), but there could be other things, fibroids, polyps etc so it is a place to start.

Ferritin is low. The nhs doesn’t look for optimal health just enough for you not to burden them. For example, for your immune system to function well vitamin d level of 100 is recommended and studies show this time and time again, the nhs will say 50 is fine. I check mine privately on medichecks and keep it to 100 and feel much better! There is an increase in calcium absorption with vitamin D supplementation also.

Vitamin D is best taken in combination with vitamin K. Vitamin D3 ensures that calcium is absorbed easily and K activates the protein, osteocalcin, which integrates calcium into bone. The nhs won’t mention this so please research yourself. You must be feeling awful with all these deficiencies but you need to not rely entirely on those barely normal figures.

Mine has also come back as 10. I’ve got the usual symptoms. I’m going to ask the GP for a prescription tomorrow, which is better ferrous sulphate or fumarate?

(I’ve been taking OTC for a while now, they are obviously not enough).

It's so frustrating isn't it? My ferritin has been around 11 for the past 5 years (never higher than 18). I've been supplementing iron but I can't get it higher. My symptoms are fatigue, palpitations, hair loss, brain fog. Doctor says this is all normal! I have no idea what is causing it. I hope you get some answers OP!

Not read the full thread, so apologies if I'm repeating stuff. Your ferritin is extreme low - a lab range is based on the average of the blood tests it runs... so as most people only go to the drs for blood tests when unwell, the range will be skewed by that and not show what an average well person should be at.

Your ferritin needs to be considerably higher - at least 80 - there are some Facebook groups for iron deficiency, but be aware some of them are very, ummm "intense" in their approach, and many offer poor advice on other deficiencies.

Vitamin D is also too low (absolute minimum should be 200nMol/L - I think 250 is optimal, check unit of measure as there are 2 different scales) - you need 10,000iu per day in a soft gel capsule with olive oil carrier. Not tablets. Make sure it's D3, not D2. You also need K2 to make sure the vitamin D is going to the right places and not pooling in your arteries! Magnesium is another cofactor.

If your calcium is low, it is likely it will be corrected by getting your vitamin d level up - mine was.

Definitely check B12 and folate. I was a tight mess - everything of mine was critically low, probably because they all need each other to be in balance. Make sure you don't take anything containing B12 in the 4-6 months prior to the test as it gives a false high. Folate needs to be above 7 to be able to utilise the B12, upper quartile of the labs range is optimal,

B12 is tricky - you can have a high blood result but you might not be utilising it, or it could be a false high due to supplements or low folate levels. B12 via tablets or sublinguals is useless if you can't absorb (if you're eating a diet with even a little B12 in it but are deficient you can't absorb it properly) so you need B12 injections. And you need them for life.

Good luck!

Thank you so much for all your advice on this thread.

I have had more blood tests done today, so once those results come back I’ll know what the GP’s plan is and can then push in any areas he’s missed. And yes, it is a he! Worst case I can plan to supplement myself.

My second lot of test results came back today and my vitamin D level has fallen to 25 so will be now finally get treatment for that. Although calcium levels had risen to just above the minimum level so that’s been marked as adequate now.

The message from the GP came with an option to reply, so I’ve taken advantage of it to ask if they can also prescribe iron supplements, test for further deficiencies and investigate the cause of my heavy periods. Fingers crossed I get somewhere with it!

Hopefully the treatment for the deficiency will help you to feel better.

Very glad you have pushed for more investigation, hope they support you.

Hi OP

I am on the other anaemia thread but just to say my results are similar to yours - Hb of 120 and ferritin of 11.
I wasn't tested for ferritin until second GP saw me. Otherwise they just went on Hb which they said was fine.

I am always very very tired so can't say I have noticed being terrible. That said , for all I know, I live in a permanent state of iron deficiency!

This is being put down to nosebleeds so hopefully, if they ever stop, I'll be fine.