Low iron levels

[alexis97]

Hi ladies,

I’m wondering if anyone has experienced this before. So I currently have low ferritin levels and I’ve just had flu for 10 days. I only started getting symptoms of low ferritin over the weekend and haven’t been able to eat for a week of that 10 days. Does anyone here with low iron ever get very hungry? For the last 3 days I have been starving just wanting to eat and not feeling satisfied. I know it can be a symptom of other things but I’m curious to hear about if people with low ferritin or anaemia know what I’m talking about. I’ve also felt very shaky from time to time. I’ve lost a lot of weight. Flu A this year has been the devil…

Ferritin is the protein iron bonds to. In itself low Ferritin doesn't mean low iron or anaemia. Iron deficiency anaemia (I have several types requiring regular infusions and transfusions), is usually on your Hb level.

I’ve been diagnosed with iron deficiency anaemia. I’ve been told I’m now on iron for the foreseeable now because it always drops but they’re more concerned about my ferritin levels

I have my bloods taken every twelve weeks, macro and micro nutrients. Maybe different trusts react differently. My ferritin lives in single figures and is usually at 1 by the time I get an iron infusion (which is always based on when my Hb level drops below 8). I have open access to a day unit when this happens. Anything below a Hb of 6 I have blood. They never infuse based on Ferritin. I wish they did.
This has been ongoing for over ten years.

I’m so sorry to hear that it’s been troubling you for so long. It’s really rough isn’t it? It makes you feel so terrible when it all goes to pot! Mine started around 13 years old and I’m 26 now and it’s never been something that’s been smooth sailing… This is the first time that I’ve ever experienced the constant hunger with it though, do you ever experience this? It’s had me rather concerned but I didn’t realise it was even possible that low iron could do that!