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 .

@djfjfj - My understanding is that 15 is the cut-off level which is why my bloods were reported as ‘normal’. However alongside my symptoms which include lightheadedness, palpitations, periods of tachycardia, exercise intolerance etc, I suspect that my levels are suboptimal. I’ve started an over-the-counter supplement and try to include iron-rich foods in my diet, but I’m not sure if that’s enough to help.

I’d agree - those are the symptoms I had. Have - I’m not feeling much better after a couple of months of twice daily supplements. I hope they test again.

@landofgiants You have very similar symptoms to me. The exercise intolerance is really kicking my arse and making everything worse.

@Woolycardy yes I agree it’s rubbish. Really frustrating!

Endoscopy and colonoscopy booked in for the afternoon of the 11th. Now just waiting for the paperwork with the instructions and “prep” to arrive which should be in the next couple of days. All I know so far is that I’m to stop iron (that I’ve not even got the prescription for yet!), and possibly other meds, 7 days before the procedure so I’m going to have to wait till after then to start them. I also don’t have the details for having the B12 injections done yet.

My sister is coming down over the weekend beforehand to take me. There will be some issues with the children and school the day of and after the procedure but I will chat with their teacher about it after half term.

.

Colonoscopy wise- the prep mix means the day before youll need to be near a loo
And may feel weak

You need to change what you eat right before it too - only certain very bland foods - like crackers , rice , tuna etc

No fruit etc

No yogurt with fruit bits in etc

Hope all goes well. I found the prep stuff was marginally more tolerable when mixed with gatorade powder.

I remember the first colonoscopy I had when DD was a newborn, I had to use one of her nappies for the journey to the hospital because I was still needing the loo all the time in the morning and didn't dare risk going without some protection!

I’ve had my scan. I didn’t think they would tell me anything there and then but they did give me a run down. Overall everything looks ok but they did see something that they said they’d never seen before (!) which they want to run past a doctor! They did say they don’t think it’s anything to worry about though.

This is something that worries the most about the days in the run up - my diet is the complete opposite of what I’ve read you should eat and what I’ve read you should have is not exactly healthy!!

So, for breakfast I usually have an apple, orange and pear; lunch is homemade soup with carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, onion, cabbage or whatever vegetables I have in the house, with garlic and stock done in the soup maker on smooth setting, then I add grated cheese. Then my evening meal is meat, chicken or fish and salad or vegetables. I don’t eat white bread, if I’m having bread it’s seeded protein bread or bagels, don’t eat biscuits or crackers unless it’s a treat; avoid pasta and rice unless I’m having risotto. I drink plenty of tea (it’s the only thing I have milk in) and do like sugar free squash or cola. I’m not big on eating yoghurts or other dairy products so missing out on them won’t be a big problem.

Oh that's aggravating that they told you they saw something they'd never seen before but then didn't tell you what it was! I'd prefer they not say anything and just pass on the information to the doctor if they can't actually tell you what they saw, rather than leave you wondering and worrying.

Yeah, not looking forward to the journey as it’s more than an hour each way!! I may look to get some tena silhouette as I’d rather that than an accident in someone’s car!!

Lime cordial! Slurp of prep and then swill it down with lime cordial. Takes the taste away and helps to keep the fluids up. I tried lilt but the fizzy made me burp and the taste was of the prep so not nice.

It sounds like it’s something to do with a surgical scar in the area (from years ago). Google comes up with what they were describing to me and says it’s a defect that could have been causing the issues with periods that I’ve been having! But it’s only coming up on US sites, no mention on the NHS/ UK sites. So this could possibly be a reason for extra blood loss/ low ferritin!

Thanks; I’ve got a bottle of lime cordial in the fridge so I’ll use that.

I was expecting the letter with the prep and instructions in it to arrive today but it has not so now it won’t be here till Monday - not great when I don’t know whether I need to stop any other meds I regularly take or if it’s just the iron (which I still don’t have!)

Another day of the dizzies 🤣 when does this bloody stuff kick in?

🦵🦵

Hope all okay.

My partners friend has just been diagnosed with bowel cancer

He had a colonoscopy and ct

It has not spread
His surgery is soon

Sorry about your partners friend but good it was diagnosed before it spread

Can I join in?

My doctor has just told me I have low ferritin with a result of 18. He said this isn't classed as an iron deficiency though. I've tried to google an answer but I've ended up more confused.

Can any of you offer any information? My vitamin D was low too and I've got a prescription for that too.

@worldwidetravel2017 really sorry to hear that .

Are you a female that has regular periods ?
If so - id argue that as your feretin is below 30 - its an issue.

For females who have reg periods - you want feretin over 50 - nearer 100 - for good quality of life.

Do u regular eat iron rich foods ?

Do you have any colon or bowel or absorption issues ?

Id be asking them to investigate the cause of your low feretin

As a minimum - id be asking gp for a poop test / Qfit test

Benign colon polyps that bleed - can be a reason for low feretin
So can bowel cancer and various things

I dont expect you have bowel cancer
But with low feretin - its very important to investigate the cause. And do a Qfit test

I had 3 colonoscopies
All removing benign polyps

Sorry @worldwidetravel2017 hopefully a smooth recovery and good prognosis

Thank you
Theyve caught it early so hes being very positive

@worldwidetravel2017 thank you for your response.

I am still having periods but entering the perimenopause, the gp checked my hormone levels at the same time as ferritin levels being checked. The gp wants me to go back to repeat the hormone test in December.

I don't really like red meat but do eat other iron rich food.

I've had a history of anaemia but previously diagnosed based on my HB count. The gp said I couldn't be classed as anaemic this time but I need the iron tablets.

The reason I went to the gp this time is because bone aching tiredness and for the first time in my life I am constipated. I'll tell them I want a poop test too.

Oof I've felt so unwell today. Tight head and jaw, burning hot face, dizzy, nausea. I've noticed there's often a correlation with stomach pain/gas. I've been taking iron supplements for 3 weeks and was feeling a bit better but wonder if it was a little bit placebo. I've got to do a 1 hour drive for work tomorrow morning and I'm already feeling panicky. Never bothered me before. I hate this.

Endoscopy and colonoscopy done yesterday and absolutely no obvious cause found for the positive qfit test or for the anaemia - as, and I hate to say it (but I bloody well will tell the surgical team that have put me through this unnecessary, and unpleasant, procedure) I said would be the case! The endoscopist did say he thought one of my medications might be the cause, but I was anaemic with a ferritin of 6 long before that medication was started so it’s not the root cause of the issue, though it may not be helping!

The endoscopist did find 1 very small polyp which he removed and also took gastric and duodenal biopsies to check for coeliac (as that’s the only route they’ve not been down yet). The results will take 6-8 weeks to come back but I doubt they’ll find anything in them either,

I have sent a copy of the results of both to the team who referred me, with a stilted comment that I expect them to now proceed with giving me a date for the surgery that should have been next week. And, when I speak to the nurse (if he bothers ringing me this week), I will ask about the possibility of an iron infusion when I’m in for surgery (I don’t want to wait for that to be done before I get a surgery date, as I just see it as delaying tactics, and it will save me an unnecessary 100 mile round trip!).

I also have to speak to the GP surgery about getting booked in for the Vitamin B12 injections (6 appointments over 2 weeks) or about them giving me the stuff so I can just get on with it myself at home.