Low iron query

[tiredmumof4yearold]

Can anyone help me with these results? GP said not aneamic, however my ferritin was a lot higher in October after completing a course of iron tablets. It's since dropped again. I don't want to be an annoying patient and ask GP to double check if I'm wrong, any medical person know please? I'm feeling awful since a very heavy period bleed 😩

It strikes me that you aren't retaining iron from your diet.

Are you bleeding a lot? Have you tried the Mirena and are you taking transexamic acid to stop the bleeding?

I did both and took ferrous sulphate daily for 18 months and my ferritin is really high now.

At 16 ferritin I could barely walk. You must feel horrendous.

Have you started taking the iron again?

There is a really good iron group on Facebook.

Thank you so much for your reply

I'm having very, very heavy periods. I had mirena in and it's been expelled. I've been advised to try another one which I'm going to do.

Scan has shown no reason for bleeding so it's put down to peri.

Yes I'm really struggling. Do you know if there is anything I can buy over the counter to help? I already use an iron spray

That is a very low ferritin. When I get that low the hospital call me in for an iron infusion.

I imagine you're feeling awful? (palpatations, constantly breathless, itchy skin, can't do anything?)

You need to go back and reiterate symptoms. GP can't usually instigate on infusion, you need to be referred to the hospital.

Sounds like you are losing lots of iron with your periods. I was the same and for years and crashed along at really low levels feeling deathly. GPs always said that I was "normal". What I came to realise is there is a MASSIVE difference between scraping into the bottom of the normal range and having optimal levels of ferritin.

I tried different supplements myself and ended up being really happy on iron bisglycinate, which I seemed to absorb well and didn't break the bank. If I were you I would definitely be supplementing. Iron is best taken with some Vitamin C (can be fruit) and away from dairy and also tea. I drink gallons of tea and found out that tannin inhibits the absorption of iron.

Yes I have no energy, get very breathless when walking etc.

It's really weird as GP has said iron levels are low, not aneamic and to try supplements. I'm wondering if he's looking at October results by mistake. If it's dropped that fast since October it's going to be bad after another heavy period. ( I do have some tranxamic acid in cuboard which I will use)
I always do ok on iron tablets that have been prescribed in past, never had an infusion

In the mean time can you get some iron supplements from boots? Spatone are good

Thank you

I will look out for that one

Thank you

Yes I'm going to look out for some.

Eat more steaks.

Hi, your ferritin was a lot higher in October but still very low and well below optimum. Your heavy periods are obviously impacting your iron levels and your diet may need an overhaul to integrate more iron rich foods if you don’t wish to continue with the iron supplements.
Are you a very active person, for example keen runner? This can also impact iron levels.

all the best with improving your levels and feeling better

My sister swears by Spatone. Tesco currently have 3 for 2. I’m starting it today!

I also think that the GP or gynae needs to suggest ways to manage your periods.

See this doc, which I handily have open as I am sort of in same position:

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anaemia-iron-deficiency/

Spatone won't touch the sides when you're that low and still losing blood, alas.

My horrible heavy constant periods meant my ferritin was always very low. Spatone was good but I'm afraid it was sorting my periods that helped me.
I did get a hysterectomy but tried a lot of other things first.
Within months of my op last year I noticed my hair started growing again!! I did get the level tested but the tiredness etc resolved itself quickly.

Get some ferrous sulphate from the pharmacy.

It really works. But only once every 48hrs on an empty stomach and in conjunction with vitamin C and the mirena.

Mine was peri bleeding too and at a reading of 16 my blood results came back with a warning from the lab and the phrase 'non anaemic iron defficiency' with a note to tell the GP to investigate.

The NICE guidelines tell you what your GP should be doing, think these are the right ones:
Iron deficiency

I'd be kicking up a big fuss with those readings.

Edit: just seen someone posted them already! Serum ferritin says 30, I've been told lower before treatment before but definitely above your levels.

Gps always try to fob people off with 'just get otc supplements' and hope they won't persist.

You have chronic iron deficiency, nothing otc will fix this. Fire off an econsult and request a 6mth prescription of ferrous fumarate then recheck bloods a month after you finish the course. You'll probably need prescribed supplements for life, some people just do not absorb sufficient iron from diet alone.

@LadyTangerine you can buy ferrous fumerate/sulphate over the counter. There's no difference between that and prescription Iron.

Prescription iron tablets 200mg twice a week have made a huge difference for me. I also was very low on iron - now my hair grows back, no more restless legs and not in bed by 9pm. Get a new prescription.

My GP fobbed me off for years with ferritin levels of 3, I felt bloody awful. I too had such heavy periods, eventually my gynae sent me off for iron infusions.
You need get the heavy periods sorted if not your ferritin will keep dropping. No amount of eating red meat or taking iron supplements helped me, it was only the infusions and sorting out the heavy bleeding which has kept my iron and stores higher.

A lot of people are entitled to free prescriptions and shouldn't have to pay. Tbh I didn't know it was avaliable over the counter anyway .

Just for info, I've literally bought ferrous sulphate otc this week -it was £2.99 for 28 tablets.

But it's giving me the wild shits, so I guess back to the docs for me...

@TheSpottedZebra you should only take one tablet every 48hrs with a high strength vitamin C tablet.

Any more frequent you might have gastric issues.

My iron went from. 16 to 118 over two years by doing this.

It rose to 71 in the first 5 months.

Interesting thanks for this <shame about the shits >

Interesting about the every 2 days tip. I was told that during pregnancy once, and separately told 2 tablets a day, and told spatone would be fine. I'm on infusions now.