Does anyone know anything about ferritin levels?

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I've had bloods recently as I've been tired, hair thinning, generally feeling awful and run down. Suspected low iron but Gp said all normal.
I've had a look at the actual numbers on NHS app and my ferritin level is 39ug/L when the normal range is listed as 15-300. So I'm assuming although I'm in the normal range I'm in the lower end and could still benefit from an iron supplement or is that not how it works? All GP will say it's it's normal so doesn't matter.

And this is why the numbers need interpreting with a bit more information than the average MN poster has. Not everyone is the same & some of us do get on just fine with really low iron stores (my ferritin’s been about 10 for a couple of years, I work full time, exercise and have normal hair). Not all people fit the normal rules and tests do need to be interpreted in the context of the whole medical picture, particularly when so many things cause exactly the same symptoms that iron deficiency causes.

My infusions and blood transfusions are arranged based on my Haemoglobin levels. Even post iron infusion it will only break double figures at the time of testing a month later, then back into single figures until my Hb has dropped enough. It was at 2 when I was infused last week.

Iron bisglycinate is what you're after. Minimal digestive side effects with that one. Ferrous sulphate/fumarate are awful. You also need a much lower dose as it's absorbed much better. Good luck with it, I've been low for years. I keep meaning to try a coil as am also peri with v heavy periods. Just need to get over the anxiety about it.

Could you go back to the GP and ask why they deem this to be normal.

My concern is your GP is putting you and others at risk with their lack of knowledge.

Also, if you do look on the iron protocol fb page, take it with a pinch of salt as they advise very high levels of iron that could actually be damaging. As you're not technically anaemic, I would say just taking a decent iron bisglycinate supplement with some Vit c would be fine.

My ferritin is 16, is this low then? It was 36 at the start of my pregnancy and I’ve recently had bloods taken at 7 months post partum and the gp said it’s normal. My hair is thinning but I presumed that was normal after pregnancy. The same with tiredness!

Everyone is different. My “good” is 24 but I’ve been down to 6 and that’s when I feel awful!

Ferrous fumerate made me constipated but a different version was better so try it and if you don’t get on with it, speak to the pharmacist.

I Had my B12 tested for as well and this came out as normal range as well (see attached pic)

Ds recently had a big operation so beforehand they checked all his levels. His iron was ok but his ferritin was low and good vitamin D was crazy low.

The consultant said to use a low level of the Better You Iron spray - just 5mg/day - to bring up his background iron levels, knowing that he was going to be losing lots of blood in the op and also the Better You Vitamin D spray - apparently they have found that they are a really good way for people to absorb vitamins effectively.

in the past I’ve always used the spatone iron water as a gentle way of increasing iron levels without getting constipation or having other problems with iron supplement tablets but this spray is more gentle and more effective than spatone even. They have higher levels of iron too for people needing a higher dose than my son had. But for anyone wanting to try a high level of iron that’s not too hard on their system, this is definitely a good one to try as it has decent evidence to back it up plus the advantage of being absorbed directly into the bloodstream rather than needing to go through the gut!

Oh and we also came across some research that said that bizarrely iron seems to be absorbed better if you have it every other day rather than every day, so dc has been trying that and that also seems to have held true.

My endo says bare minimum is 60 for women to feel well in her opinion. I feel like shit when mine is under 30.

No supplements seemed to make much difference for me, but taming my hideous periods with the minipill (which I did after reading a Mumsnet thread on the subject, come to think of it) has really been life changing. Both for my vastly improved energy levels, and for trying to live my life without leaving a trail of horror-film-worthy bloodstains in my wake.

Not a solution for everyone, obviously, but thought I'd mention it.

I can't find where I read it but I thought B12 should be 300 and above. The lab range goes up to 900 so you being less than 300 could mean that whilst you are not anemic your body could still struggling. I always think when there is a large range it's best to sit sort of near the middle of it. 120 - 900 would be 400ish to be optimum.

Blimey. My results read

Serum ferritin level 23 ug/L [10.0 - 300.0]

So I do need supplements?

I'm breathless, dizzy and tired! I've just paid for B12 injections to see if that would help.

Yes, you need iron supplements. NHS says it's fine however your body needs it at 70 minimum. Listen to your body @MondayTueWed

I am 38 weeks pregnant and have been really struggling this time around (exhausted, cracked lips, skin etc.). I kept mentioning it to my midwife but was dismissed.

Turns out my ferritin levels are 14 and I've just begun taking supplements. They said it'll take many months for my levels to increase.

I'm really cross tbh. I knew something wasn't right! Let's hope I don't lose too much blood during childbirth eh!

This - ferrous anything is a gut mixer.

My hair fell out in drastic volumes - I could see my scalp clearly.

I went via my bupa and had a range of tests and my bloods were roughly as yours were. On the advice I had there, I took iron bisglycinate and a biotin supplement together with a good quality multi vitamin with iron. I took them all on an empty stomach with a shot of orange juice. To ensure a totally empty stomach I took the OJ and supplements up to bed and I’d take them if I woke in the middle of the night.

now a year on I have a lovely halo of baby fuzzy hair within my own hair.

My ferritin is currently 8. It has been as low as 6. It took over 6 months on 3 ferrous fumerate a day to get it to 78 and then it dropped again once I was taken off tablets. At the moment I'm awaiting some test results to see if there's anything other than coeliac disease causing it. I hate being on heavy duty iron pills due to the gut pain and diarrhoea but low ferritin sucks too. I'd give almost anything to be healthy and energetic again.

Ferritin under 50 can cause anaemia-like symptoms in women. I've seen studies that support this and also been told the same by my now retired excellent GP I used to have and my current excellent endocrinologist.

Many many GPs/doctors do not seem to be aware of it.

I’ve struggled with my ferritin levels for years and it’s miserable. Currently pregnant and my level has come back at 19, the midwife called to say they were sending a note to my GP to prescribe tablets. When I said I’m already on iron tablets her response was ‘oh… carry on taking the tablets then’. It’s really not taken seriously by the NHS.

Same worked for me, took them to bed and had them when I woke up, or when I got up at 5am to exercise.
But I can't bear orange juice so subbed for a 1000mg vitamin tablet. With a full glass of water. Every 48hrs.

My GP told me not to take three a day, pointless, causes gastric issues and won't be absorbed. One very 48hrs and a mirena coil and my ferritin went up by over 100 (scale of 12-150). Am now nearly at the top of the range.

Hi, I've had ferritin problems. I lost tons of hair and ended up going to see a dermatologist with a specialism in hair. Whilst my NHS ferritin blood tests results were within range, as you know the range was bloody massive and I was right at the bottom. I think my ferritin was 5 (3-150!). He essentially called me malnourished.

Whilst the role of iron in hair production is still under debate, he agreed that I needed to boost ferritin. His general advice was a steak a week! Forget trying to get iron from vegetables. He also suggested Ferritin sulphate pills.

You can get these over the counter. For a while I took 2 x a day (you need to check with your doctor that it's fine and you need to be able to tolerate them) and I took them with a Vit C tablet (don't drink juice) for absorption and Lysine, an animo acid (you can buy Solgar range). Don't take too many ferritin per day - it's counter productive, you won't absorb them.

It worked. Hair stopped falling.

I had another bout about 4 months ago. A very acute phase of hair shedding, breathlessness, dry skin. I did a blood test, was very low again. Adopted the same protocol very quickly this time (I left it ages last time). Touch wood, it's elevated my levels. Hair has stopped shedding etc.

Whilst, yes, we do need certain levels and over 70 is optimum - I think it's likely every one operates from a different bar. Some people might not find low ferritin affects them as much.

Good luck, it's totally resolvable, you just need some patience.

Oh, and just to say that I do try to eat red meat - steak/liver - on a regular basis, mindful of the above.

I get an iron profusion when mine is 40 or less

Did they test your thyroid? Being cold is a classic symptom of hypothyroidism (along with everything else you are experiencing). Your iron would still need sorting, but do check to see if they tested your TSH.