Does this sound like anemia/low ferritin?

[Estella45]

Hello

I went to my gp recently as I've been feeling really tired as well as having palpitations and more worryingly to me, some mild breathlessness at rest, I'd describe it as aair hunger, but at rest. My blood cam back as Hb 10 and ferritin 15. Gp says is due to anemia but I'm worried now about cardiac issues and I'm trying to push for a referral but he thinks my anemia and low ferritin due to heavy periods is responsible for all my symptoms.

My question is can low hb and ferritin cause air hunger at rest? Has anyone experienced this but at rest? I've been prescribed ferrous fumerate which I will need to start.

In my experience, yes. But air hunger is a really distinctive feature of b12 deficiency too (which can go alongside iron deficiency) so I'd push for that to be checked as well as your iron levels. Before I was diagnosed i had palpitations, breathlessness and air hunger exactly as you described.

Yes, I had all of this with low ferritin. Ferrous Fumarate sorted it out. I also had tingling in my arms so had diagnosed myself with MS!
How old are you? And what is the Gp doing to sort your heavy periods?
Did the GP do thyroid and B12 as well?

I had very similar symptoms in the summer. Whiting out, unsteady, and permanently exhausted. I had to lie down on the pavement trying to do the school run on foot one day while waiting for my bloods to come back. My blood pressure was very low. I was in the middle of a 4-week perimenopausal bleed-out. My very lovely female GP, who is very proactive on women's health, gave the same 'treatment plan' as your GP (plus some recommendations for managing heavy perimenopausal periods going forward). The ferrous fumarate has worked well and my bloods are now more normal. I too worried about a cardiac issue, but as everything is now back to normal, and blood pressure in a low to normal range, I'm not concerned anymore.

Take care of yourself.

Yes they sound like typical symptoms and I say that as someone who struggles with low ferritin regularly. As a PP suggested it’s worth asking your doc for a full thyroid panel including antibodies.

Like you I also suffered from extremely heavy periods and had an ablation several months ago to help with that. I also have Hashimoto’s which despite being medicated I am endlessly tired and currently on a course of tablets to up my ferritin levels yet again!

It really could be, and could turn around quite quickly when you start treatment. Echo pp suggestion to consider B12 also. If you can afford to pay for it yourself, infusions could get you there quicker. Great that you have a GP who actually looked for this.

This does sound exactly like anaemia but this level is not dangerously low. I used to have blood transfusions for severe anaemia and was unable function at one point. Anaemia, low B12, ferritin or under active thyroid can all make you feel lousy. I hope you feel better soon.

Yes. I am currently experiencing the same and am right now on hold to my GP (currently no. 17 in the queue+ yay!) to try to get tests but I highly suspect iron deficiency anaemia, I've had it before. The worst symptom for me right now is I've completely lost my appetite, absolutely none of the lovely food in my fridge appeals 😭. But yes air hunger is exactly how I'd describe it. I've previously had a ferritin of 7 with no symptoms weirdly.

Have you been offered an ECG at your doctors surgery? I have low ferritin and those symptoms. My GP did the ecg during my appointment with her.

Thank you all, I have terrible HA and I have to say, your messages have really helped.
I didn't know that low ferritin/Hb can cause air hunger even when sitting.
I naturally have low bp (100/60) so I guess that's not helping. I will check with GP to see if thyroid and b12 levels were mentioned, he didn't say anything about these I'd they weren't done I will request them.
I will start taking the ferrous fumerate today. How long does it take to feel better? I wonder also if the palps are also due to perimenopause as I'm 42...

Interesting. I am chronicly low in B12 and get awful air hunger sometimes!

The tablets can take 3-6 months to get your levels back to normal. I actually managed to get an appointment today and if my suspicions are correct once bloods are back I'm going to push for an infusion as I already have IBS and the tablets play havoc with my guts.

@Cooriedoon, thanks that's good to know

@Growsomeballswoman no, not been offered ecg but will ask at my next appointment.

Also, has anyone also experienced low bp due to the low ferritin/low b12/anemia? My bp is usually on the low side, around 112/65, but since having these symptoms it's more like 105/57 (my diastolic seems to struggle getting up to 60).

Bump. Anyone's thoughts on the low diastolic bp?