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 .

My feeling is before the gastro infection I already had long term IBD issues which could be to do with the ferritin in some way .

Have u seen a gastroenterologist? If not - ask for a referal for one

I don't really know! I'll ask her. I know she has pretty long periods, like me - 6-8 days. I also have a tendency to anaemia and/or low ferritin. I've resisted taking iron in the past because it messes with my stomach, but I recently started taking a Woman 50+ supplement that has iron in it, and definitely feel better for it.

Dd takes a multivitamin and mineral supplement, but maybe she needs to try a more heavy-duty iron supplement. She has a less sensitive stomach than me! She had her ECG yesterday and they don't seem to think there's anything to worry about there.

@worldwidetravel2017 no I haven't seen one apart from when I was in hospital. I feel like the food poisoning issue has really confused things.
When I was discharged the gastroenterologist that I saw ( she came in for advice - I wasn't under her care ) said that if my bowel inflammatory markers were still high then the GP should refer me to discuss this and the low ferritin , I just feel my GP is going to be resistant to referring as they have had the results of the bowel inflammation for a month and haven't made the referral.

@AllProperTeaIsTheft I'm glad your DDs ecg was ok

Hi all - I've had my iron checked again this morning and transferritin it's 3 months since I had the infusion and am so scared it's going to be low again ... I saw my GP this week who said that they are referring me to Gastro to investigate the original low ferritin & that last months ferritin was likely high due to inflammation still being present in my body from the food poisoning ... all so mixed up !
Also I'm still feeling exhausted. My HB was fine a month ago - if my iron is low again today should I request another FBC ?

Also having coeliac test when I can tolerate gluten for the test

Can anyone help with these results ? Not speaking to GP till next week but obviously anxious ! My transferrin saturation is high ( I think that means the iron infusion has worked ?) but my serum transferrin is low . Iron looks ok . I'm working myself up into a right state !

Hi op, I can't help but want to just say I know how awful it is. My time of the month ruins my already low levels, in Bath with a headache i know is going to turn into a migraine at some point.

Keep fighting good fight for yourself, post and keep me updated. I'd love to know how if goes. X

Now I've been switched to the mini pill because the patch was giving me migraines, I'm bleeding so much again that I'm worried I'll get anaemic again. Had a period when I finished using the patch and a week later got another one that is pretty heavy and is getting heavier all the time rather than starting heavy then getting lighter :(

If your anaemic due to heavy periods get an iron iv ?

My feretin = 287

But now my urate is abnornally high

I think theres corolation there

I had two in the summer and got my levels up nicely but if the bleeding stays heavy like this then it won't stay good I'm sure. The whole point of going on contraception was to deal with the heavy periods, not make them worse!

Ferritin. 287 is amazing! Mines 42 atm.

When did you have your iron infusion again @worldwidetravel2017 ? I was wondering when it starts to level out . I think my ferritin is in the 200s now and that correlates to my high transferrin saturation I think but I don't know what the lower out of range one means . My GP doesn't seem too worried !!!

Is Urate to do with Uric acid ? Does it go up with high ferritin ?

Had iron iv late sept

I think theres a link
Urate high and feretin high

Iron iv was about 18- 20 days ago

I had to push for 4 months 4 it

How low was it before you got it? Mine was 3.7 but all I they did was prescribe iron sulfate. It now hovers at 42, I still suffer but supposedly that's acceptable.

I thought average was 100!

Mine was 40 in May

They ( gp ) wouldnt give it then

So i suffered 4 more months

My fertility consultant diagnosed me with a condition starting with M
Linked to heavy periods

He and my consultant gastroenterologist pushed 4 it 4 me

As im old and childless and have pcos and miscarriage history

Need good feretin 4 conception and pregnancy
And we concieved lasr yr when my feretin was over 100
But then early miscarriage

Now its all got way more complex
As on oct 1st
I had a private hyfosy
( tube flush with foam)
Both tubes very likely blocked

So ivf beckons.

Life is better with feretin over 100

If periods are mega heavy - getting diagnosed with heavy period related conditions can help

I have absorption issues too - my colon keeps making benign polyps that bleed

My feretin wasnt tested June to sep

So dont know how low it was but was below 40 as had periods since May reading

I feel you. Ife been getting really bad migraines but Dr won't test ironcas it was tested in April lol. Madness! Glad you had others to push for your case.

You can get your iron tested privately in a clinic

Or complain to drs surgery - ask for manager ( thats got me iron help b4 )

Or ask for another gp or a second opinion

I wish I could get a transfusion. I have been supplementing with iron for 5 years and ferritin has never been above 18! It's so hard to find a dr who even considers it important.

Do you have anyone managing your iron deficiency anemia ?

No. I was just told it didn't matter! Last week I went back to the GP and said, this is ridiculous. I still feel awful, I still have really low ferritin, what else can I do? I have some more blood tests tomorrow and hope they will lead to something else.