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 .

Has anyone looked into the cause of your low feretin ?

Have u had a Qfit test / poop test ?

Ask gp for one if not.
And a celiac test

I've had a test for celiac disease and it was negative.

Definitely ask 4 a poop test // qfit test

You could have benign polyps that bleed in your colon - i had that

Is there no standard across the board? My GP told me it should be 'nearer 80' for thinning hair - I'm in the 50's - so I was prescribed ferratin sulphate. There's been no follow up (I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do next really) seems like you have to pester and pester to get things like this (ie non urgent) problems sorted out.

I'm not in the Uk but my GP doesn't seem to care about hair thinning at all. I went to a trichologist who said that ferritin must be over 70 for hair growth but I am at a loss at how to achieve that! Had blood tests done this morning so I will be back to the doctor to pester for something other than "take an iron supplement"!

Thank you - am working myself into a right state - am speaking to GP again on Friday .

Good luck in Friday. Don't give up!!

Just jumping back into this. My ferritin has been 6 for over a year but I have finally been referred for an infusion. No idea how quickly it will progress.

Great news ! Can you leave it a week for the ref to go through and then phone the dept and see what the waiting times are ?

Wooo woo woop

Ace news

With feretin of 6 - they should be in a big hurry to get u in urgently

When mine was 8 - gp phoned me etc

Do actively chase it

Depends on where you are but I'm waiting for mine and told me 1 year backlog!

H I've been low iron for years and had a iron infusion 5 years ago, my levels started to drop the start of this year , so have been taking supplements from the gp last blood test said 13 which is apparently good for me, I have had absorption issues in the past and digestive issues , so not sure how I've managed to get them back up, still feel like death, headaches , dizziness, knackered, I've an appointment today and I'm going to ask that everything is rechecked as I'm not happy to still be feeling so wiped out:

You will feel amazing four weeks after that, you'll wake up one day with the tiredness and brain fog , gone.

@Natsku that's interesting that poor absorption is a key to getting another u fusion, I will mention that today, because that was the reason I had my last one. Thank you for the info x

Tell a GP about your symproms

My local hospital always has iron in

You shouldn't have to wait that long

It's a hospital department that I contacted. Ferritin is 5 and hb lower than average.

Contact ambulatory care at hosp
Ask if they have referal
Tell them your feretin number

Sometimes referrals get lost or over looked or incorrectly triaged

Thank you @johnson39 really hope so. Had thought the brain fog was just my general incompetence at life 😂 but will report back as to whether I improve as a human afterwards!
The hair loss, slow thinking and chronic fatigue are so disabling that anything which improves them slightly is welcome. I also hope I will then have energy to lose weight as it's a vicious cycle!

Iron iv will improve your energy and many symptoms

Will do, thanks

I just got back my ferritin and it is 35!! I'm amazed as it has been around 12 for years. Looks like the supplements are finally working.

Have u done q fit test ?
Celiac test ?
Absorption tests ?
Do u have heavy periods ?

35 still isn't ace

So my most recent blood results from yesterday are back

• ferritin 8ng/ml
• Hb 114g/L
• b12 157ng/L
• calcium 2.31mmol/L
• intrinsic factor antibodies result is outstanding (probably won’t be back till next week)

I have a history of poor response to oral iron supplements so now need to have an appointment with a GP to discuss what’s going to happen going forward.

I am also due to have surgery next month to resolve bile reflux (the bloods in August were done as part of my pre-op assessment) so I also need to forward the results to the hospital team for their opinion.

B12 and feretin both need to be higher

Have u done a qfit test ?
Have u done a celiac test ?
Dya have regular heavy periods?

Yes to qfit and celiac - both normal. What's an absorption test?