Serum Ferritin level

[Lockdownbaby2021]

You may have seen me post a couple times before about drastic weight loss post birth with my second baby 6 months ago. I am also extremely fatigued!
I’m not breast feeding.
I have had some full bloods and doc says all reassuringly normal, however I feel like my ferritin levels (which I believe show iron) seem on the low end to me. My result was 12 ng/ml and the averages were between 10-180.
I am still so worried why I’m losing weight. I’m starting to worry it could be something more sinister e.g to do with bowels? But doc says I’m too young at 28. They’re just trying to put it down to being tired and having two kids. But I really don’t feel like myself in my body! I’m being really light headed, trembley, forgetful, weak!
Does anyone have any knowledge in blood tests results? Would you say this iron level is still on the lower end despite being ‘normal’?
thank you, from a very tired, worried mum 😩

Yes it's low. Under 30 is deficient. I feel dreadful when mine gets that low.

@helleborus wow really? Why would they not prescribe me anything with it being so low? Is it because I’m not falling under their ‘normal’ range?

Normally under 10 (in uk) is low. You can buy iron over the counter if you want to raise it.

Weight loss - is it down to stress/ anxious/ appetite/ tiredness.

Hi OP!

I would say a level of 12 is definitely low!

The GP might not consider it low enough to Prescribe iron but should of suggest you buy an iron supplement! I would buy ones, OP! Take one daily (14mg) with a vitamin C drink, like orange juice as it helps absorb the iron and avoid dairy 2 hours before and after taking the tablet (longer if possible) as dairy interferes the absorption of the iron!

Could you possibly be diabetic? do you find yourself weeing or feeling more thirsty than usual?

Correct. Many GPs just look at the range indicated by the lab and although a number of areas have updated the normal range to 30, some still have it set at around 12.
The optimal level that you want to aim for is 100.

As previous posters have said, you can buy iron tablets over the counter at a chemist. They're not very expensive and there are different types you can try.

You might find this medical paper helpful:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8002799/

Get some optifer.... it us heme iron in tablet form. 14mg won't raise your iron. You need 200mg ferrous sulfate taken on empty stomach with vitamin c supplement or optiferv heme iiron.or both?!

Eat steak and avoid tea, coffee and dairy 2 hours before and after supplements as they hinder absorption.

That us very low it's no wonder you feel terrible.

Thanks for the interesting article @helleborus. I was told 10 so will go back to my GP this week, as they made it sound, I was only slightly anaemic.

That's very low! I take 210mg ferrous fumerate daily with high strength vit c supplement and have raised mine. I have heavy periods so this is the reason my ferritin levels drop often

Wow this is eye opening!
I was under the impression they’d see that and think, well this could be the reason she’s so tried/ dizzy! But nope they said it was normal. I’m due a follow up call this week so will bring this all up then.
would it be worth speaking to a pharmacist about what dose/ type will be best to take if I explain my results to them?
I did think it seemed low when I saw the results.
im just so ‘tired’ of feeling so weak and drowsy and dizzy! @Powderblue1 i also get heavy periods since having my second so this could all be contributing! a super plus tampon lasts me an hour So always need a pad on too!
thank you all so much for your help so far!
anyone else had the dizziness with low iron? Every time I stand up it takes me a while to get my eyesight back to normal.
finding it so hard to be an energetic mum to my two boys!xx

@Lockdownbaby2021 Yes, dizziness, breathlessness, palpitations are all signs of low iron. Hope you get sorted soon.

@Persiancouscous thank you! X

@Persiancouscous Whether you are anaemic depends on your haemoglobin level. You can be iron deficient with or without anaemia.

OP, yes definitely worth speaking to a pharmacist. I would also keep an eye on your weight as the low ferritin does not explain your weight loss.
It would be worth discussing with your GP how to manage your heavy periods. Unfortunately with heavy periods, as fast as you are putting the iron into your body you are going to be losing it again. 🙁

This is my battle... every month! Any tips?

Is your hair falling out? I read (on here!) that Ferratin below 50 can cause hair loss.

I had anaemia when my periods were bad and had all your symptoms. REALLY tired. REALLY dizzy. Felt wobbly on my feet, breathless, and often had palpitations. Plus hair started falling out and I was really tearful.

one thing that helped my periods was taking Raspberry Leaf tablets (not tea!) from Holland & Barrett. They’re only like £7. They halved my periods. Before then I was bleeding for 3 weeks with egg-sized clots.

What... ive never heard of this!

Yes my hairs falling out but I am only 6 months PP so presumed this was why.

yes the unexplained weight loss is concerning for me. I’m going to be firm with the GP when he calls this week and ask for further investigation. E.g possibly an at home bowel screening kit? Every time I see another family member they’re saying I’m losing more and more!! I don’t weigh myself as I have no scales but my clothes are hanging off me and I’m dropping down to a size 8 instead of a size 10-12.

I’ll definitely give the raspberry tablets a try! Thank you for the recommendation.

NHS guidelines set the lower limit for ferritin at 30. 12 is very low and very very far from optimal health.

The unitentended weight loss is a health red flag in itself.

OP you need your doctor to run more tests, your age is irrelevant.

Hi guys so an update on this!

still losing weight! But my dizziness and lethargy got so bad. My partner also said I look so pale.
Went back to gp and asked to be prescribed iron tablets which he agreed. So starting 3x tablets a day. Hope I feel more human soon!!
in regards my my weight loss. I emphasised my worry and asked for a bowel FIT test which came back normal. Who knows why I’m losing the weight! Maybe it is just because I’m running after a toddler and carrying my baby all the time x

My ferritin was 12, I had all your symptoms and ended up having a mental breakdown once I’d had a period bringing it down more. I’m now on iron and feeling much better. Ferritin should be over 100 - NHS threshold is much lower and I believe it’s to do with budgets/iron infusions etc. Keep up with the iron it will really help x

@Hellohihola this makes me feel so much better knowing you felt exactly like me with the exact same levels.

everything seems just like a daydream. I never feel like I’m in the room as I just feel so zoned out and so dizzy at random times.

I just want to be more present with my babies.

thank you for responding xx

It baffles me why they they would say all my bloods were ‘reassuringly normal’ and just totally ignored my symptoms. You would have thought that they’d see that and think oh they’re on the lower end let’s see how she gets on if we tried her on some tablets 🙃

@Lockdownbaby2021 demand a FIT test and iron supplements

That's interesting. Raspberries tone the uterus lining. I have lighter periods on them. However Vitamin C on my period seems to make the flow continue IME. Ibuprofen lightens flow. If mine is dragging I take that to make it stop.

Really recommend eating higher protein from meat, fish and eggs. I try and have 45g a day at least from these sources then rest comes from wherever, seeds, yoghurt, beans etc.

My ferritin was good last year after a year of eating higher protein. GP said it was one of the best they'd seen and I've had low iron in the past.