Normal ferritin but borderline anaemic

[Cattyisbatty]

i had blood tests a couple of months ago - full panel.

Normally my ferritin is low - this time it was in normal range - I try and eat iron rich foods w but c containing food (80s as opposed to 11, the highest it’s been for years). Weirdly I only noticed that yesterday after looking at my NHS app more closely.

Conversely my iron was borderline low so slightly anaemic - which isn’t normal for me.

The GP recommended a FIT test but I had recently had extensive bowel investigations - no cancer - but query chrons (am waiting for my full consultant appt) - also stomach polyps/gastritis so he said it could be that and prescribed iron tablets - which I don’t get on with at all and so my question is - it seems there’s no point suffering w the iron tablets which exacerbate my reflux and muck with my bowels if I’m not absorbing my iron stores -I actually read the leaflet which said should not be taken w inflammation of the stomach. I had just shown the GP my test results so he should’ve noticed that.

I’m being retested next month - was also low in folic acid and vit d but seem ok w those supplements.

Can you post what your actual levels are? To make haemaglobin you need iron, vit B and folate. If any of them are too low your body’s haemaglobin production line can’t make as much haemaglobin as it wants to so you won’t use your iron stores and you will become anemic. I was in a similar position six months ago. In my case I needed more B12.

Like you I am normally low in ferritin, b12 and folate. However I have been paying for b12 injections. At a recent blood test, my b12 was fine as was my ferritin. However I had low folate and borderline anemia. I too was confused by this. Was prescribed folic acid acid and asked to repeat blood tests to also look closer.

I have been taking the folic acid for a month or so.

Sorry no help other than to say in similar situation.

It is also worth noting that, while GPs may say a ferritin of 13 is ok when you get your test results, a ferritin of under 30 is an indication of iron deficiency and the optimal level of ferritin is 100.