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 .

Have you tried optifer from amazon? It's heme iron, i take it now daily. Its different to synthetic iron. Worth a try, easier to digest. Being iron deficient is,awful, I'll always post to try help people with it. I hope it helps x

Boots sell a product called spa tone

( gentle iron water )

You put it in orange juice

To get your feretin up re diet

Suggestions

Dried apricots regularly

Strawberries and blueberries daily

Broccoli at least 3 / 4 times a week

Eggs = good for you & iron in

Wheatabix = good for iron

Beef ( sunday roast )

Corned beef

Etc

On amazon theres a 3 bean soup that's high in iron

Thanks for info about Coeliac @FloralGums I think I might be. I have been tested before and everything was fine, but I could ask for another check. I spoke to a nutritionist who said that I still could have intolerances even though they're not coming up as positive on blood tests. Certainly since my food poisoning I haven't been able to tolerate gluten. Ive been having bowel issues for years plus body aches which are getting worse at the moment .
@Lowironrightfedup also I've thought about this but my fit test was negative. Hope you feel better soon .
I feel like this is really good suggestions on here for an alternative to Ferris sulphate from the GP . My DD also has low ferritin and is on it - she's struggling to take . She has two autoimmune disorders already ( one is Pots which has associated abdo issues ) .

*ferrous - sorry haven't got glasses on .
I'll check to see if DD has been tested for coeliac too .

Going through this at the moment. It's incredibly frustrating. I don't appear to absorb iron very well.

Theres very little follow-up from the doctors apart from to prescribe me iron tablets each time my blood test results come back but nothing really gets any better.

I've started pushing for iron infusions, as the last three months of high dose iron tablets only raised my iron levels by two. I'm still very heavily iron deficient and have had to push for a referral to the haematologist now to see why this is still happening.

Do you have heavy periods or any bowel issues at all because that's the first thing they will look at before, they refer you for anything. I don't see why your GP wouldn't prescribe you tablets in the meantime.

My GP said similar - I'm sure in needed to be 80+ for optimal effect with thinning hair. (My hair has thinned since menopause), and I've been tired all of my adult life!
She prescribed Ferrous Sulphate but it did make me feel slightly nauseous. Can't say I've noticed a huge difference but she didn't ask for me to go back and be re-tested - and it's such a bond to keep trying to make an appointment. Im wondering whether there is a home test I could try.

Body aches can be low vit d too
Have u had that ruled out ?

Boots sell feretin tests

Mine is 40. On the NHS app it says normal range starts at 10.

If I take iron supplements will I feel less knackered?

If your body absorbs the iron yes

But always good to eat iron rich foods too

I'm on omeprazole. Does that mean I don't absorb iron at all, or just that I need more.

Have you asked nhs gp to give u a poop test / q fit test ?
Push for them to find the cause..
You dont just want symptons treated

Have u ever had a colonoscopy ,
?
You might have benign bowel polyps that bleed and need removing

I take Omneprazale.

I make sure not to take iron with it. I take it two hours after taking iron.

Interesting reading the thread. My ferritin level is 6.1 and the reference range in our area is 15-200. My Hb is 117 (RR 118-148) and my Vitamin B12 is 178 (RR 190-883) the Drs have decided I need bloods doing for anti intrinsic factor antibodies in case I have pernicious anaemia but aren’t interested in why my ferritin level is so low. I’m 52 and 1 year post last menstrual cycle. I don’t feel great but I have awful insomnia so assume the tiredness is due to that; am asthmatic so assume the breathlessness is because of that. I also have RA so put joint pain and poor mobility down to that.

As a child I was investigated for coeliacs and another condition called congenital sucrase isomaltase deficiency but tests were negative.

Looks like I’m going to have to have a frank discussion with the GP surgery as a few other blood results were out of whack when they were checked as part of a pre op assessment last month!!

Do you eat iron rich foods daily ?

Ask nhs gp 4 poop test / q fit

To look at source of low feretin

U may have benign bowel polyps

I eat leafy green vegetables and plenty of broccoli regularly.

I’ll ask about a q-FIT test as well as asking why they’re not interested in anything but the B12 and Hb which is almost normal 🤷🏼‍♀️

B12 can be low if not enough b12 rich foods in diet

Mine went up when i ate more eggs and more potatoes

When my feretin was 8 - i had iron iv

Concerning re your feretin of 6 ...

Daily iron rich cereal would be good.
And strawberries and dried apricots

Apple juice has iron in

I eat loads of eggs - at least a dozen a week as they’re an easy and quick source of protein and a good snack option between meals!!

I do eat potatoes but not every day as we try to have rice, pasta or none depending on what else we’re eating.

I don’t I drink fruit juices as they’re empty calories, only drink water, tea, occasional coffee and couple of cans of sugar free soft drinks a day.

I don’t eat cereal as I don’t like dairy, except milk in tea, preferring fruit or eggs for breakfast but do eat strawberries. Dried fruit are high in sugar so I avoid and only eat fresh - usually have apples, pears, nectarines, oranges, strawberries, melon; sometimes grapes and bananas.

Nectarines have iron in

Raisins also do..

Do you eat red meat ?
Or chicken?

I'm 59, my ferritin was 5 at its worst, hg 83 and iron 4, transferrin saturation 5%. This was a year ago almost, felt like utter death. I went from ultra running 50-65 mile events to being unable to walk a mile, exhausted, no focus, ringing in my ears, like a zombie tbh.

I've had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, CT scan, lung x ray, PET scan (unusual but was done privately to rule out things like pancreatic cancer as nearly all maternal side were dead from cancer by 60). Had an iron infusion and blood transfusion earlier this year (again privately, NHS bloody useless). Felt fantastic after the blood transfusion!

Ferritin has now dropped back down to 45, HG 126, iron 13 and transferrin saturation 25%. I feel a lot better but nothing like my old self. Taking 630mg of ferrous fumarate daily with Vit C. I know people say take every other day but fortunately I tolerate it fairly well and will never stop taking it unless my iron goes back up to where it was about 5 years ago.

It's been such a hard and frightening slog to get help, still feel down that a lot of my old life has gone but no one can find out why. Now waiting to have a pill camera test. Solidarity to you all, it's tough xx

Sorry to hear

I had 3 x colonoscopies in a 12 month time period
And 2 x mris and ct scan and liver scan within a 3 month period

I know how draining and scary it can all be