Low Ferritin

[rubyslipperss]

Hi I've read through a few threads on here as I have low ferritin - it's 28 , it came up in my NHS app.I think it's always been a bit on the low side but feeling really fatigued , going to bed after work, can only work part time etc ,not able to socialise unless I've had a rest , day off etc . Palpitations , hair thinning, headaches. Feel generally rubbish . So fed up, I cried when I went into surgery to ask for blood tests.

I've called my GP surgery to discuss but the receptionist said it might not be looked at for a week. I'm worried it will be dismissed . All other bloods fine including thyroid , though they didn't do full screen , and Hb, folate, B12 all ok just the pesky ferritin .

Should I start taking iron supplements anyway ? I've seen some gentle iron on Solgar website.
I've read on here that you should only take iron every other day . Can anyone advise ? Thank you .

I have low ferratin but not anaemic.lots of fatigue and hair loss. My dermatologist recommended 'ferrograd c' tablets which aren't on prescription but I got from an online pharmacy.

can I join the low ferritin gang? I’ve always been low in iron.

my last ferritin count was 4.

its ridiculous.

I can’t get in with iron tablets so I’ve started taking a different vitamin. Think they’re from Vitabiotics, gentle iron, b12 and folic acid. Probably take ages to get my levels up but at least I can take them!

What number is your feretin ?

Normally after iron iv id say no - dont take it

Remind me - how recent was iron iv

You could be iron deficient
Rather than anemic

Also - after your iron iv - what number was your feretin?

If iron iv was jul
Youd expect your feretin to still be ok

@worldwidetravel2017
Ferritin 292 with saturation of 50% both of which raised
Interestingly, my folate is only 5.2 which is at the low end of normal ..
Yes iron infusion was July - I guess hopefully when and if the Post viral fatigue passes and I start to feel tired again I'll just go ask for a recheck .

That's low !!!
Is that the gentle Iron from solgar ? It's very good but quite low dose . Have you tried spa tone ? It's supposed to be more easily absorbed from what PP have said here .

I def wouldnt take iron anything with it that level

Mine was 287 after iron iv

I dont need to worry about iron for at least 5 months now

Also - anyone with low folate - do any of u have pcos ?

It’s these ones… I have tried spatone but a long time ago

@worldwidetravel2017 good to know thanks .
Have lowish folate but still in range ( just !) so may take some folic acid . Not diagnosed with PCOS .

Did you find anything out about the high Urate ?

How do you all feel with this? For a while I was scared I had a heart problem as I feel so weak, does anyone else feel weak as a kitten?

I should know more early next week re that

My friends dad is a retired gp - he just said drink lotsa water and re test in 2 weeks

But yeah - il find out more soon

Feeling weak = low feretin

I struggled with hills and 3 floors of stairs last yr wheh my feretin was 8

I can’t walk up a single flight of stairs in my house without getting out of breath; can only walk 2-300 yards round the shops in town without having to stop and catch my breath; hills are an absolute no no - and I live in Cornwall which is renowned for its hilly terrain!! I get tired so easily even just doing a bit if housework.

Problem is, I’ve been blaming these symptoms on being overweight; being unfit; being asthmatic; being menopausal and suffering with insomnia; even blamed having surgery last summer to remove a mass from my plural space (though the pre op bloods showed my ferritin was 6 so it was an issue before surgery!) for the eternal feeling of fatigue.

I expect to hear from the surgical team
at the hospital on Monday with their plan - I am
due to have surgery for bile reflux on 21/11 and don’t think there will be time for anything other than an iron infusion to have any beneficial effect as I haven’t responded to oral iron supplements in the past. I just hope it doesn’t delay my surgery as I’ve been on the waiting list since last December and it’s been an ongoing issue since I was oregnant with my twins 5 1] years ago!! also expect the GP surgery will want to speak to me about what’s going on and how they want to deal with it - which, no doubt, will be ferrous fumerate or sulphate - I will be asking them about whether a qfit test and coeliac screen are needed as the next step as per NICE guidelines.

Poor you.

Definitely tell them you want the cause of low feretin looked at .

Do push for iron iv - you more than qualify 4 one

Do stress your symptons and poor quality of life to them

I got out of breath walking up the stairs or up hills. I just thought I was out of shape though as I didn't have time to workout as I had gone back to school and was so busy with school (which was half theory and half quite physical practical work) and then studying in the evenings. Once I got my blood test results I suddenly understood why I was so tired all the time!

@LovedFedAndNoonesDead
Definitely push for infusion pre surgery. As it will undoubtedly give you a better recovery surely ? I'm thinking in terms of energy post op and getting up and about.

@Woolycardy I was feeling much more tired than normal ( that's tricky as normally very tired anyway !) and not able to do my normal stuff - especially in the evenings I was exhausted and couldn't go out . Hair was falling out etc .

Agree about infusion prior to surgery, its another indication for opting for IV iron instead of oral.

Thank you; I will!

Its daft but my background is in healthcare (former children’s nurse) and I never knew the effects low ferritin could have on you.

I’m most concerned that my surgery next month will be delayed by them wanting me to take iron for at least 4-6 weeks and be tested again before the op - while also knowing it’s unlikely to make any difference to my levels!!

Yes, I think recovery will definitely be enhanced by having better ferritin levels; I can only ask them can’t I - and they can only say no!! Just annoying that the original bloods were done in August and now I’m 4 weeks from surgery and no further forward due to them waiting to repeat the bloods twice!!

Thanks - it will definitely be at the top of my list of questions for both the clinical nurse specialist tomorrow, and the GP, when I inevitably have to speak to them!!

They really should give u iron iv

If a consultant is involved re the surgery - they can push 4 iron iv 4 u

Other thing you can do is speak to gp secretary team and get them to communicate with gp re you

They can be very empathetic

the thing is i can cope with tired, not saying it’s good but i can get by but i hate this weak feeling. I’ll be out and it’s almost like i can’t get from A to B suddenly or it feels impossible. I find it a scary feeling!! Does anyone know what I mean?