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 .

Hope they give you the infusion soon. When I was diagnosed with coeliac disease they were able to clearly see the damage as they did the endoscopy, the samples were just for confirmation, so if they didn't see anything then likely not that.
So frustrating not to have found a clear cause I'm sure.

I had a level of 10 and am almost at the end of my 3 months of supplements. The GP now wants me off them for 6 weeks before retesting, so levels can be checked without them being raised artificially. But this is just assuming my levels have actually gone up - I’m still feeling tired. There are various issues that could be causing the low levels as I have a few things going on, so I’ve been referred for further checks with gynae (following my ultrasound).

Have they tested u / considered u for pernicious anemia ?

Is your vit d and b12 ok ?

@LovedFedAndNoonesDead

I think so but that’s only based on them only mentioning the ferritin when I had a FBC test in the summer (would that check for those?).

Full blood count doesnt include b12 and vitd

Yes, I’m B12 deficient too but bloods in September were negative for intrinsic factor antibodies - but, apparently, up to 50% of people with pernicious anaemia are negative for intrinsic factor antibodies! I’m waiting for a loading dose course of B12 injections when I can sort out 6 appointments over 2 weeks with the GP surgery!!

@LovedFedAndNoonesDead glad that's over and done with for you !

How are you feeling now ?

Now found out the surgeon is saying he needs the biopsy results back in case they shoe I’m coeliac- even though it doesn’t make the blindest bit of difference to the surgery or recovery 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️

Seriously beginning to think they’re just looking for ways to delay the surgery as long as they can!

Yesterday I chased the surgical team about the iron infusion only to find out they submitted the referral on the 13th but it was immediately rejected (the nurse specialist only found out because of chasing it up for me!) because the blood results used must be less than 3 months old and the ones used were from august 12th 🤷🏼‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

Anyway, they have now re done the referral using the bloods from my GP in October so I should hear from them in the coming days!

Yep - bloods have to be within 3 months

Itis just annoying as the blood results they used were literally 1 day over the 3 months - and they had bloods 4 weeks old they could have used!

Hello everyone, hope everyone is well and or getting the treatment they need .
I've just popped on to ask a question- I had my iron stores and transferritin saturation checked in October and they were still high / normal after my infusion in July - I wondered if I should ask for a re check yet . I am very tired but it's difficult to tell what it is as I still have post viral fatigue.

When was your infusion? I need one every 6 months

Thanks @chatenoire it was July - but still normal in Oct when my GP wanted to check as part of fatigue referral. So I guess sometime this spring might be a good idea?

I'd ask now for a recheck. Sorry you're still very tired.

I would ask for repeat bloods if you’re becoming symptomatic again.

I had my infusions 7&8 weeks ago, was asked to get levels checked after 4-6 weeks but no one will accept responsibility for requesting them - GP surgery say it’s down to whoever referred me for the infusions (surgical team) but surgical team say they’ve not received any feedback from the blood management team so have not been instructed to do repeat bloods so I have to wait for my 3 months post op bloods which isn’t for another 6 weeks. Will be interesting to see what they're like 3 1/2 months post infusion.

Your trust sound like a nightmare! Luckily for me , the hospital who did the infusion wrote to my GP to check bloods which they did at 3 months but I'd rather know soon if I need to start upping the iron again ... it's really difficult to know about my symptoms because I've got postviral fatigue!

Thanks , I feel like this is my life now !

We are doing ivf in a bit

Good feretin is vital

So consultant is probably guna get me another NHS iron iv
Before ivf starts

@Woolycardy i also have low ferritin and seem to be extremely worse when due/during a period. What symptoms do you deal with? I genuinely feel Luke my body is shutting down it's hard to even explain how I feel :(

wonder if i could join you all in search of healthy range of ferritin.
I recently developed an all over body itch where i just want to rip my own skin.
Went to gp who did bloods in hope to find out what causes the itch which came back ferritin 16 so just had a txt (while on holiday) that a prescription of 200mg of ferrous sulfate is waiting for me.
What worries me more that i’ve had this low ferritin last year and potentially longer and forever suffering with fatigue.
I spent the last year going to gp and hospital about heart palpitations worrying if i have a heart problem and this was never picked up but looking at things (maybe i shouldn’t) it says low iron can cause heart palpitations.
So why i’m being given iron??
i definitely feel i’m developing a health anxiety where i just worry about everything and some days i just feel it’s all in my head and put all my trust in gps but then something like this happens and question everything they’ve done.
Should i query why this low ferritin not actioned before?
I also (my mother too) suffer with stomach issues possibly IBS, reflux, heartburn but never diagnosed so worry about taking iron and implications. What’s the best form for sensitive stomachs.
Thank you if you read this far

@Isitorisitnot12morning, hinestly you sound like me..going to drs and hospitals eyc thinking it was heart issues. Always told health anxoety
Turns out my ferritin and things have been on the low side for years between 5-17 but here it says above 5 is normal so I've never known. I also have a hiatus hernia and reflux etc and when I started ppis I fefo think it made me worse aftee a while as other things started dropping too. I wa still being told ferritin normal, it's only because my transferrin dropped that they agreed to give me iron meds
I tried ferrous sulphate and fumarate and made my gastro issues so bad. I kmow some.people thag have been fine but I was ill with it so the dr swapped me to a more gentle one sodium feredetate liquid and have been absolutely fine
I've noticed a tiny improvement but not much. I'm also low in vit d and b12 folate etc all on low side so don't know wjats what to be honest. Hope you're ok x