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 suffer with low ferritin and my last blood test my level was 4.4… I don’t know how I was functioning I feel like I’m so used to feeling like rubbish it’s the normal for me! Going to start back on the ferrous fumerate AGAIN as I’m really struggling energy wise and waking up feeling like I’ve not slept in a year 😂.

@rubyslipperss your GP should call and take this seriously. I am iron deficient without anaemia. Ferritin 10, no obvious reason why.

My GP was fab, has put me on iron supplements for 3 months and ordered a stool test as the low iron stores are unexplained. Following that stool test showing bleeding in my digestive tract, I need to be checked for bowel cancer so am on urgent referral.

@ladybirdsanchez ah interesting- are you still taking normal dose of lansoprazole or reduced? Have they mentioned low iron stores as a side effect?

I'm still on the normal dose of lansoprazole and I'd be scared to reduce it, because I had horrendous gastric reflux before I started taking it. However, I read in the news that lansoprazole shouldn't be taken long term - the GP never told me that. I also wasn't aware until quite recently that it affects iron stores in the body. I think I need to have a chat with the GP about it tbh and consider coming off it - or at least come off it to see if the gastric reflux has improved. Apparently, it's just another one of those lovely symptoms of peri-menopause 🙄

@ladybirdsanchez yes it wasn't explained to me either. I've been on lansoprazole for about three years following horrendous gastric reflux. I probably need to have an endoscopy and I think that's the next step but I'm dreading it. My GP did recently ask if I was happy to turn over to the 15 mg once a day dose which I'm waiting for at the moment and I've got a review with her at the end of June. My ferritin has always been a bit on the low end of the scale. Highest ever was 48 and in comparison to some of you 28 seems very very high, I really feel for some of you replying. Thank you so much for replying though I will persevere with the GP and I've ordered some gentle iron and actually bought some Ferris fumerate over-the-counter yesterday. I'll definitely just start taking them but pursue the GP.

Hi all,

I just thought I'd give you an update and ask how you are all doing with your symptoms...I ended up taking FF every other day , and had a couple of really bad bouts of explosive diarrhoea and cramping every day so had to stop but actually had more energy . I was just in hospital with food poisoning unfortunately but mentioned fatigue and they found my trans ferritin was abnormal ( no idea but guessing related !) and gave me an iron infusion ! I think because I can't tolerate oral. It freaked me out slightly ..any one else had one and how did you feel afterwards ...I'm guessing I should still be on form of supplementation ?

I had iron iv at hosp last year
Took mine from 8 to 252
And i felt much better

To the poster whos just had iron iv - they normally tell u to get your feretin tested 3 weeks after youve had iron iv

My ferritin level is 11.

I can't take ferrous fumarate due to the horrific gastric symptoms but this and "diet" are literally all the GP suggests.

When I dare mention infusion I am scoffed at and told I'm not anaemic because my haemoglobin is in normal range.

Stuck and sick of it.

Mine is 33. Told it was normal. Gp not interested, sigh.

OP, how have you been since the infusion? I can't get one because my HB is 121. My ferritin is 6. I am going to try the private route.

@bobbleb wow that is so low! I've had some other stuff going on since I had the infusion. I had it when I was in hospital with a bowel infection and I'm still suffering from that so it's difficult to say how much of a difference it's made.
But I can definitely feel some difference. I feel more awake, and I know if I didn't have this other stuff going on I'd probably feel ok ! ..but still quite lethargic. My ferritin has gone up to over 200 so actually a bit high at the moment !

Just to say when I had the infusion as well my HB was 126 - maybe you should get a second opinion . My Hb went up to 137 .

That doesn't seem like much of an improvement to me! I'd have expected a more dramatic increase after an infusion (but I know nothing, clearly 😆)

I had a second blood test in June and my ferritin had gone from 8 - 21. I do feel a bit less tired and I've been taking sea kelp and biotin to help my hair. As it's now the low end of normal the GP can tick that box and forget about me (and has). Ho hum. I'm still on Active Iron and will stay on it. Due to my IBS I won't be trying anything stronger as I can really do without any explosive diarrhoea!

@bobbleb sorry my ferritin went from 28 to over 200!

My HB wasn't really my problem. I had low ferritin without the low HB. finally managed to get a GP appointment in October to talk about all of this. I've got some bowel stuff going on as well so I'm assuming that the two are connected ..

I had many bowel polyps when my feretin was low

@worldwidetravel2017 how were they found ? Did you have a positive fit test & have colonoscopy?

That's a decent ferritin level. Mine drops to 4 frequently. HB has to be below 80 before they will give you a blood transfusion.

Yep.
Positive q fit
Then 3 x colonoscopies over a 12 month time period

I had low iron and had a positive fit test and multiple polyps found. I'm 51.

It sounds like you might have Coeliac disease. Have you been tested? My DD’s ferritin levels were 10% of normal when she was diagnosed with Coeliac disease.
She was breathless on walking 50 yards and had joint pains and pins and needles as her main symptoms. She didn’t have bowel symptoms but you don’t always - it’s a whole body autoimmune disorder.

Hi Op, your story sounds a lot like mine! Have now been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis which is definitely affecting my iron absorption. Found after a positive fit test and a ferritin level of 4. I had tablets for about 6 months and felt much better but have been off them for two months and I can feel I am sinking again. Blood tests booked for next week. Push for a fit test and colonoscopy to see what is going on. You can be fairly symptom free but it still impacts how you feel in yourself!

www.coeliac.org.uk/information-and-support/your-gluten-free-hub/home-of-gluten-free-recipes/healthy-eating/iron/

@worldwidetravel2017 hi! You helped me so much with my colonoscopy! Thank you.

This, take on empty stomach 2 hours after tea coffee and food. Take 3 x day and avoid taking before sleep.

I really suffered and Dr's didn't do animating, I had to figure this out myself.

My ferritin was 3.7! Migraines constantly and felt suicidal, researched and took ferrous sulfate in that way and started eating steak daily. Up to 52 now, still suffer but80% beyter

Ps I also cut out gluten which helped a lot!