Ferritin not really increasing? So blooming tired

[Parsleyforme]

In March my ferritin was 22 and it’s now 35. Is that a normal increase after 10 months, as it doesn’t seem like very much?

I’m still very tired after all this time which is affecting daily life ☹️. And my main other symptom is heat intolerance/sweating even though I thought low iron makes you cold. I used to love walking but I just can’t be bothered at all. My repeat blood tests all came back fine except B12 which is high at 1044 - I took a high dose for a while but stopped a few months ago.

I’ve mainly been taking iron bisglycinate but tried floradix for a while. Periods not very heavy so don’t know where all the iron is going! No symptoms of intestinal bleeding or anything like that.
Could anyone share what dosage they take/took and how long it took to get your levels up and energy back?

I have a massive struggle with iron, and take prescription ferrous fumarate. I'd be delighted to get even close to 22!

I've been told to take the tablets with orange juice. And that there is now a body of research suggesting your body absorbs it better and responds better if you take iron tablets every other day. I had a good discussion with the GP about it. So now i take my tablets every other day, and will see what my next blood test says.

Ferrous fumarate 322 mg per day. So I take 644 mg every other day. Have taken 332 mg for 16 years religiously and have never got out of the very low zone.

Have they checked your thyroid and folic acid?

Yes research now shows that every other day means better absorption. I found I needed high dose stuff to make an impact short of getting an iron infusion - Active Iron is the brand I used and within about a week I could feel some benefit. Had a prescription but I really didn't get on with it.

https://www.activeiron.com/uk/

Edited to add: yes, you need folic acid too! No one told me this for ages

Yes they checked thyroid and folate, they’re both normal. That’s interesting that it might be better to take iron every couple of days, I think I will go higher strength and give that a go. My GP is very unbothered and I feel a bit miserable with new year coming up, I feel like I don’t have much to show for this year because I’m so worn out by 5pm

If you can fund a private iron infusion you bypass any absorption issues. It is stupidly expensive in the UK though.