Low Ferritin, not anaemic but feel really awful

[LowF]

Hello

Has anyone else ever been diagnosed with low ferritin (I haven’t been given number yet) but not anaemic? Would you only feel symptomatic if it caused low haemoglobin also? I feel so horrendous but trying to figure out what’s causing what as have also been ill with post viral problems

thanks

I haven't, but my friend had low ferritin. She started taking spa-tone sachets which is a gentle iron supplement. Best in orange juice as it helps absorb it... She swears by it.

Yes there’s a thread here you may find helpful. Lots of us in a similar boat.

My ferritin is 9 and I have been prescribed iron tablets. I feel exhausted all the time so you have my sympathy!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/general_health/5079896-low-ferritin?page=1 Here

I take a Feroglobin tablet every evening. Have always been anaemic but also allergic to iron tablets! I notice if I run out, I feel exhausted after a few days.

Floradix is also an iron supplement. It's worth trying an OTC preparation while they're trying to sort you out.

Thanks everyone! I’ll have a look at that thread mentioned. Thank you

My ferritin was 7 and I just received an iron infusion to help with the situation. Made me feel horrible yesterday and this morning, but apparently it is very effective

Is there a cutoff number for the infusion?

My ferritin went to 3 during my last pregnancy, I had monthly iron infusions for 4 months which worked a treat after about 3 weeks from the first. Having monthly bloods for (prescription!) drugs I take I'd say below 30 is low, below 15 is very low, below 10 is "I can't do anything other than exist" low.

@LowF I don't think so, in my case the GP prescription pills first but that didn't help, so she suggested we try an infusion.

Interestingly, I had no symptoms in spite of my critically low ferritin. I discovered it totally by chance when I had blood works done for something else!

@wheresthebigcarrot lol your name yes that’s exactly how I feel I just exist 😴

I had ferritin of 7. My hair was falling out, I was exhausted. My nails had ridges and I had weird food cravings. My GP prescribed 3 months of ferrous fumerate tablets and left me to get on with it. No follow up, no attempt to find the cause.

www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/low-iron-levels-resulting-from-infection-could-be-key-trigger-of-long-covid
This is an interesting article.

That’s fascinating thank you!

Okay so just read level of ferritin, it’s 14, would that cause any symptoms?

14 is low. Personally for me 14 felt ok, I couldn't do much but I felt alright. 30+ is where I've always felt properly normal, can do all day to day activities etc. if your iron is low in general and your ferritin is that low then I'd say you would feel rubbish. I'm pretty sure 24 is classed as normal in the UK.

Agree, mine was 5 last Christmas and HG 83, I felt like death. NHS were useless, I had an iron infusion and then a blood transfusion early this year (privately). Permanently on ferrous fumarate daily now. It's such a horrible feeling. I was anaemic though.

• In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms a diagnosis of iron deficiency.
From the NICE guidelines on interpreting ferritin levels - see cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anaemia-iron-deficiency/diagnosis/investigations/#interpreting-ferritin-levels

Thanks all

@Q2C4 most GPs don't use the NICE guidelines when it comes to ferritin. Mine was 13, then 9, then 6, then 3 over 2 months and I had to complain to my NHS trust and PALS before I had infusions, even when I was pregnant.

@wheresthebigcarrot 2!!! You must have get dreadful. Iron metabolism seems to be poorly understood by U.K. GPs at least. My hospital consultant (for an unrelated condition) was a bit more on the ball & checked for pernicious anaemia etc.
Did the transfusions help?

*felt dreadful, not get dreadful

Sorry it was 3 but was still super low. I felt like death but iron infusions really helped! I also have ulcerative colitis so am more prone to anemia / low iron conditions hence having monthly bloods.

Mine is 10. I’ve been on ferrous sulphate twice a day for a month so far - with another two to go. Mine is linked to peri, and recent very heavy bleeding they think. I had been feeling exhausted, but as I hadn’t been sleeping well I thought it was just that.