Low ferretin Hb normal

[Taytotots]

Just had blood test results back. Ferritin. 7 but Hb in normal range. I am already taking iron tablets as without them my Hb is too low. I have been anaemic since I was a child. I did have to have an iron infusion in pregnancy as Hb got stupidly low (I think 4 or 5 from memory!).

I am waiting on call back from the person who ordered the tests. I have been referred for an ultrasound as I have heavy periods.

Any advice on what I can to improve levels? If you had low ferretin what was the cause?

Have you been tested for coeliac? I was anaemic for a long time and the doctors always assumed it was because I was a vegetarian and had heavy periods, but many years later one doctor suggested testing for coeliac and it came back positive. Therefore, my body just couldn't absorb the nutrients properly due to damage to the intestinal lining.

@QuercusRose interesting. No I haven't been tested. Is it possible to be coeliac with no gastro symptoms? I will ask them to test me.

I got heartburn, and was anaemic for years. That was pretty much it. I had about 6 weeks of diarrhoea once and mentioned it to the doctor a couple of months later so he suggested testing. I was really surprised when the blood test came back positive

@QuercusRose that's interesting. I always thought symptoms were much more severe. Hope you are feeling better now. Has your iron improved?

I have been anaemic for decades too.

From 2006 until 2022 my ferritin was 6 and then fell to below 3. I have only just discovered that it had been this low for so long because I opened up an online patient account. I can not understand how my GP allowed me to limp along for so long with levels that low.

Mine was caused by decades of heavy periods which became worse in perimenopause. I have managed to raise my levels by having iron infusions and the only reason I got those was because I was due to have a uterine ablation and when the gynae discovered how low my ferritin was he refused to perform the op until I had infusions. Apparently in most cases only hospital consultants can order infusions (well, that's what my GP told me but tbh I no longer trust what she says).

The cause of my heavy periods was discovered 18 months ago at the age of 50. I have deep endometriosis and adenomyosis.

@BorntoDillyDally can I ask what your symptoms were with such low ferritin? I have similar issues with heavy periods and peri. Since my levels fell low, I've had breathlessness which is the most bothersome symptom which is up and down. Low bp too.

Breathlessness was one of the main symptoms along with awful exhaustion and I would see stars from simply climbing the stairs. I felt weak and shaky after slight exertion. My hair became very thin (still hasn't recovered) and I had very cold hands.

My levels are now at 50 but I still have many of the symptoms so not sure if it's because my levels have dropped again or something else?

I would also suffer from aura migraines once a month, since the infusions and ablation I only suffer a few times a year, not sure if that's a coincidence or as a result from either the procedures.

@BorntoDillyDally that's really low. Glad they found the cause and managed to raise it. Suspect mine is due to period which are silly now I am in peri. I did see a gynaecologist a while ago who suggested an ablation but I didn't have it done in the end. Maybe time to reconsider!

Peri definitely made everything so much worse for me, that's when it all kicked off.

I personally can't recommend an ablation as sadly mine failed. It did put an end to the bleeding but I ended up in horrendous pain every month and my gynae concluded that it had failed.

I asked for a MRI scan as I was in so much pain and it was discovered that I actually have endometriosis and adenomyosis, something my gynae had failed to pick up. So I now face a hysterectomy, deep joy!

Tbh, if I could go back again I would have taken up the offer of the Mirena coil. I didn't want any artificial hormones but I now deeply regret not going for this option, at least if it didn't work I could have had it removed.

If you haven't already tried this, I would personally opt for this before having your uterus burnt to a crisp lol.

I have this and dr keeps trying to get me to have the coil, but I don’t have heavy periods. He thinks I do (what do I know?!). I used to but now they last 4-5 days with one heavy day but compared to pre dc 2&3 it’s much lighter.

Shamelessly following for tips.

@BorntoDillyDally that sounds awful, good that you pushed for an MRI and found out what was going on. Yes I didn't fancy the sound of the ablation. I did try the mirena coil once before but it ejected itself (I didn't pull it, felt like a miscarriage type feeling so presumably not in quite right). But maybe will give it another go. I need progesterone to go with oestrogen for hrt anyway! I don't feel awful at the moment - just tired which I had put down to not sleeping with peri. When I was properly anaemic I had all the heart palpitations and breathlessness etc.

My friend has the coil and oestrogen gel combo, she says she feels great on it.

@BorntoDillyDally that's good to hear! @TeenLifeMum have they ruled out other blood loss causes? (gastro etc). I think they tend to jump to periods as the obvious cause and quite often it is but other things should be ruled out (speaking from experience as I had colon cancer but gp didn't seem to consider as I was too young and fit so just referred me to gynae - rate but worth ruling out!).

The best reason I’ve been given was blood loss during C-section meant I was borderline for a transfusion but they decided to wait and see. 13 years later I have lots of red blood cells but they are tiny and don’t carry much iron. Gp won’t hear anything other than it’s my age and heavy periods.

My Gp requested an infusion for me but it’s up to the hospital who didn’t get back to them over a week. Then I got even more anaemic and ended up being an inpatient, 3 days in hospital as I needed a blood transfusion first to raise hb levels as my levels were “unsafe”. Ferritin was two.

In Scotland (where I am) it’s pretty much just inpatients or under consultant care. Gp can ask but the answer will generally be no.