Iron levels ?

[Orangemintcream]

Hello

Im sure this has been done to death but - I have recently paid for a vitamin screen including Iron (I can’t get in with my NHS GP for 2 weeks). Because I feel terrible - dizzy, tired, etc.

Its picked up a Vit D deficiency so I have been advised for that (by the GP associated with the facility).

I also looked specifically at Iron - my Iron levels were 15 and my ferritin levels 13.

My iron levels were previously 31 (felt good at that) and Vit D in the 50s.

I do have an appointment with a private GP but I’d like to ask a bit on here if anyone is knowledgeable?

I have googled and I have seen a lot of seemingly different opinions on Iron levels and lab ranges seem to differ hugely.

Given my iron has gone from 31 to 15 I would like to try a proper iron supplement (ie more than the daily one). Some seem to suggest 15 is indeed abnormal/low.

What the hell is the deal with iron levels ?! What/when are they an issue ?

serum iron's not a terribly useful marker. Hope they didn't charge too much! Whoever did the test should be interpreting the results in the context of your medical history and any trends in blood tests, the full blood count etc. The ferritin is a more useful marker for iron deficiency but the range is wide to reflect that some people are fine with low iron stores but others need higher.

Being as they could see me immediately as opposed to 2 weeks time like the NHS and I got the results in just over 24 hours the charge was fine.

As mentioned Ferritin was 13. I did not pay for full blood panel as I was looking for a vitamin screen. Which I had and also picked up further issues.

Perhaps when the NHS finally get around to seeing me they can be useful and do that too.

I have now realised the results didn’t load properly and there was a further comment suggesting my iron levels were sub optimal and suggesting take an iron supplement with dosage etc. By a GP.

My ferritin level was 16, which is low enough to be causing symptoms. It explained my lethargy. My gp advised me to take a multivitamin which includes iron. I take the gentle iron tablets from boots and it’s taken a few months but now I feel a lot better.

Ferritin needs to be over 70 for hair growth and over 100 is optimal
vitamin D could do with being higher as well
there’s “ok” levels which are NHS usually and optimum and if you’re feeling crappy it’s helpful to aim for optimum

You can buy ferrous fumerate 210mg which is what my GP prescribes for low iron/ferritin otc for half the prescription cost.

Your gp may want to take investigate the cause of the low iron - Especially if you are post menopausal. I Needed a dose to increase it which can only be prescibed. Iron included in multivitamins is usually quite a low dose. I would suggest seeing your gp 💐

Ferritin level was 11. Put on 200mg tablets 2x week. started in Aug 2024, only now level has gone up to 32. Have plenty of red blood cells (had 2x full blood works done). Dizzy spells, palpitations, restless legs have gone - hair growing back. BUT I have also limited dairy intake and increased iron rich foods. slow process though

I’m on medication that causes issues with nutrient absorption.

My GP has shown no interest whatsoever in monitoring this other than telling me “this could cause you problems eventually.”

Which is unhelpful as I need to be on this medication for life and it was prescribed by my consultant after many test and a lot of trial and error.

I felt alright at 31 which was 6 months ago. I’m going to aim to be back there again.

I have recent blood results with low iron and ferritin (ferritin is 10, haemoglobin 121, borderline red blood cells)

I'm struggling with fatigue, my fitness has turned to shit but my GP didn't seem at all concerned and just suggested a multivitamin with iron.

They're all really low dose - where do you buy ferrous fumarate from? Googling gives me lots of options but are they all reliable? Can I just buy from "mypharmacy.co.uk" and assume it's legit?

I just selected the pharmacy that came up when I googled yes.

Ferrous fumerate from Medino on line. I take 210 mg 3 X per day so 630mg all in all. It's as cheap as chips, you don't need a GP to prescribe.

My ferritin was 5 and I was on deaths door. An over the counter multi vit and mineral will not help, too low a dose.

I'm a regular blood donor which means my iron levels are all right sometimes - but I've been turned away many a time for having low iron,including a couple of referrals to the GP, which last time resulted in 200mg ferrous sulphate twice a day for a couple of weeks. Maybe 4 weeks. Can't remember. I had ferrous fumarate one time, too - don't remember much difference, but some period one easier to digest than the other.

You can also buy it OTC if you ask the pharmacist, though they will quiz you about whether you've ever taken it before. I now get it OTC and take it daily when I have a wonderful perimenopausal period (there's been a clear correlation for me, which I'm not at all surprised about because they can be very heavy these days.) Otherwise, I take a daily iron tablet just off the usual supplements shelves at the supermarket, and try to eat an iron rich diet, which is sometimes better than other times...

Dietwise - Red meat, leafy green vegetables, dried fruit like apricots and prunes nuts, eggs, oily fish (I eat no fish, but I'll take cod liver oil tablets,) tofu, pulses whole grains are all meant to be good for iron.

Take iron with Vit C - that helps absorption. Avoid tea coffee, milk, fizzy drinks at the same time, as they inhibit absorption.

If your iron levels get too high, that can be a serious problem, so you do need to track it.

I'm due to give blood (well, plasma) again tomorrow, so we'll see if I'm getting it right.

they could look at an iron infusion if needed. My mum cant take iron tablets anymore and she will be having an iron infusion. That gp doesnt sound helpful. Can you see a different one?

My iron was too low (113) so no donation today nor for the next 6 months. Which is annoying.

Mine is 9ug/L but I don’t feel too bad. Bit tired sometimes . I have ferrous fumerate in the cupboard which I’m supposed to take daily and it’s about £4 from the pharmacy

I am a bit of a tea addict which I'm sure hasn't helped.

I've cut down to two cups a day and time them after my supplement will have absorbed.

My ferrous fumarate arrives Monday, thanks for the tips. I'm hoping that will make a real difference.

My ferritin was 8! I was put on ferrous fumerate 210mg then the moment I went 2 above the lowest ‘normal’ the dr withdrew them. Guess what happened? My ferritin dropped surprise surprise.

I just buy them online now. They’re actually cheaper than the prescription charge

I take 2 x 210mg last thing at night so there’s issues with tea or coffee. Just buy from Tesco pharmacy for about £4 for 84 and wasn’t asked anything. Hoping to get bloods checked again soon but felt noticeably better within a couple of weeks after starting them with a ferritin level of 9. My GP said she recommended supplements for anything under 50.

Hi, I've have low ferritin 15 the GP said they were fine I certainly didn't feel like it. I take gentle iron with vit c from geek nutrition online. I take one every morning one hour before a meal or a tea etc and I've noticed that I'm feeling somewhat better after 4-6 weeks of taking daily. I noticed my period was better too a lot lighter and just easier to manage so that was a good indication my levels are rising. Last year I had low vit d levels of 12 and felt horrendous, again I took 10,000 iu daily for 6 weeks and my levels went from 12 to 128 I got these from another reputable company online. Agree with PP, the testing results aren't great at recognising optimal levels, yes you may just about function with levels of 15 ferritin but you need to be at least 100 for optimal levels and same goes with vit d over 100 for that too. Worth doing some research and see what feels right for you