Ferritin level - 8 - follow up?

[Clutterhater5]

I just got the results from my last blood test on the NHS app and ferritin is at 8 (normal level btw 15 and 150).

Hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, MCH, and MCHC are all below normal level too. I understand it is all linked and due to anemia/low iron.

The GP commented "no follow up needed". Would you request one? I feel a bit fobbed off but to be fair I don't have debilitating symptoms (though have hairloss and brittle nails which are annoying) and expect it is just due to heavy periods so they probably won't have anything to suggest.

What do you think?

Worth noting I had a blood text exactly 12 months before and these results were all low too back then and I had no follow up either. As they were all a bit borderline then I just left it. Results this time are lower than last time across the board. Not a huge drop but it is definitely on a downward trend.

Mine was 14 recently. GP said he couldn't prescribe anything but to try supplements and I should notice a difference in a few months. God do I feel a difference! I didn't realise how much it was affecting me. Have a look at the iron protocol Facebook group.

In my experience GPs are very dismissive of low ferritin/anaemia. Mine told me a ferritin level
of 3 was fine and I would be less breathless if I took up running and got fitter. I was barely functioning by that point, my hair was falling out in handfuls, had dreadful palpitations and was practically falling asleep at my desk every day.

I had a hospital appointment for something unrelated and the doctor was horrified I’d been left so unwell. He arranged an iron infusion for me which helped a lot. Sadly my iron levels dropped again due to me being unable to tolerate oral iron supplements and my GP remained uninterested.

I had another blood test today so will wait to see what the results are.

You should go back to your GP with the Nice guidelines for anaemia as your results fall outside the ranges - which are ridiculously low to start with.

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anaemia-iron-deficiency/

You should definitely be offered a follow-up when your ferritin is this low. Mine was 8 and I felt exhausted and my hair was falling out. I've been on iron 18 months now and tbh I think I will always need to be on it, because my ferritin is still only in the 20s. But your GP is being negligent not acting on your blood test results - I'd ask to see another doctor who is actually competent!

Thank you all. I will ask for a follow up. I suppose you do end up accepting symptoms but I guess my hair shouldn't be falling out constantly!

I do also have those moments of crushing fatigue and falling asleep during the day but otherwise functioning well, able to excercise etc.

@TheGirlWithGlassFeet which supplements do you take? Are they all pretty much the same?

@Iheartmysmart that's appalling!

@zurigo did your GP prescribe any specific one or do you just get standard supplements?

You can get prescribed ones from the GP, which I think are about 210mg (which is much higher than anything you can buy OTC). I have IBS and have to be very careful what supplements I take, so I buy them OTC and have gradually titrated up from a very low dose, but if you can tolerate the higher dose I'd do that as it's a much quicker route to boosting your ferritin. You need to take iron with Vit C (a small glass of OJ is ideal), and avoid taking them with caffeinated drinks as this prevents absorption.

I take the boots max strength gentle on the stomach ones together with 1000mg vitamin c tablets. You need to have it at least on hour before tea or coffee so I have them on my bedside table for as soon as I wake up. I also take a lower dose iron tablet in the evening.

That is crazy. My GP prescribed me iron without me asking when my level was 20.

Have a look through the NICE guidance. Your level of ferretin equates to iron deficiency. You can also click through and see recommended tests and treatment. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anaemia-iron-deficiency/diagnosis/investigations/#interpreting-ferritin-levels

Mine was 4 and they were considering an iron infusion. In the end I had super strong iron tablets for 3 months.
I think anything under 10 should def be prescribed iron supplements

Re: hair loss. Since improving my ferritin levels my stylist mentioned (unprompted by me) that she can see lots of new hair growth. I could tell that my eye lashes were thicker than before, so I was hopeful that my hair would also start to grow back and it is! So pleased, as I'd thought my thinning hair was age/menopause-related and didn't realise it was also because of low iron.

Get checked for Coeliac disease: a common and under diagnosed cause of low iron.
Only 1/3 of Coeliacs are ever picked up and, untreated, it leads to bowel cancer.

I had a ferritin result of 10 and was told to take an iron supplement and they’d retest in 3 months, so I’d definitely push for a follow up, perhaps after trying some supplements. (Mine was up to 20 last time they checked 6 months ago, I’m going to ask for a retest soon).

I’ve also been advised to take vitamin A alongside the iron (and/or eat liver!)

(Don’t take vitamin A if pregnant!!)

I’d think with a ferritin level that low you’d be offered an iron infusion depending what your haemoglobin levels are so perhaps need to see a different GP to discuss results and ask what their treatment and investigation plan is. It’s also important to get to the bottom of why your levels are falling, I was offered a FIT test and also had an endoscopy as I didn’t feel I had heavy periods.

Get yourself to the pharmacy and buy ferrous fumerate or ferrous sulphate 210mg. Take 2 daily and you should notice an improvement within a few weeks. These are the prescription strength supplements but cheaper to buy otc. Your ferritin should be a minimum of 70 but it will take a few months to get there. You don’t need to see the gp again particularly just tell them what you’re doing and get bloods done again in 6 months or so to check progress. Gps seem to be generally bad at dealing with low ferritin, mine thankfully was really on the ball with her advice and it made a huge difference very quickly for me.

That's great to hear as I have been feeling really down about my hair and was also worried it was an early perimenopause symptom. Fingers crossed for some regrowth!

Thank you, I actually had the blood test following a (mildly) positive FIT test. I did have a colonoscopy before blood results came through and all clear thankfully.

Maybe an endoscopy would still be advisable though I guess.

I used to have really easy, light periods until I had a copper coil put in 3 years ago. Since then I would describe my periods as heavy, but heavy for me, perhaps not compared to normal standards.

Did you get to the root cause of your low iron?

Chelated iron is what you need. 8 is far too low.
this supplements company is good
https://www.cytoplan.co.uk/iron-molybdenum?queryID=56aa4febed430cbc3484c1b7f8cdcb6e&objectID=72&indexName=m2_default_products

Thanks all for the supplements tips and recommandations, I'll get on them asap. I am meant to run a half marathon in a couple of months and now getting hopeful it will feel less torturous with higher iron levels 😆

Mine was 8 and it put me in A&E three times because my resting heart rate went through the roof because of the lack of iron. My GP prescribed me 200mg iron daily for 3 months. I just got retested after a couple of months and it’s 33. I need to have a chat with the GP but I’m going to suggest 8 weekly blood tests to check it’s still going in the right direction. Ideally I want it above 70. Thankfully my GP’s is really good and said I could have whatever testing I wanted.

Definitely ask for a consultation and prescribed supplements. Hope you feel better soon.

Tbh I don’t think you should do the half marathon while you are building up your iron reserves. You will really knacker your body

A few years ago I had a level of 7. I was advised to take over the counter iron tablets which I have been doing for about 4 years now and I’m up to 37. I didn’t even realise at the time it was making me tired until I felt better. Also I had no idea it was causing the heart palpitations I was getting!

The 210mg tablets are available OTC too. They’re also much cheaper bought this way (£5 ish) than the prescription charge.

It doesn’t sound right to me. I had a level of 10 and they put me on high dose supplements twice a day for three months and then retested. My level went up to 23 and they said that was fine! Which I don’t think it is for a still menstruating woman, based on what I’ve read, but they haven’t followed up since. I found and bought the ones they prescribed OTC after that and take them every now and again.

Bloody hell! Terrible! I was on my knees at 36!

I bought Ferrous Sulphate 200mg over the counter. If the pharmacist asks say you have low iron and your dr has advised to buy it. Ironic!

I got my levels up to 72, and felt a world of difference better. Hair loss stopped too.

Just paid for an iron infusion for my teen daughter yesterday. You clearly have iron deficiency with ferritin of 8. I’d push the GP for an infusion. The private doc asked me why the NhS didn’t infuse her when her ferritin was 8 and the only answer is £££. She has struggled for years as GP only focuses on HB.