Serum ferritin 18 ug/l

[Sexentric]

Its been marked as normal but I dont think it is. Should I supplement? I suffer from fatigue and brain fog but not sure if its just perimenapause.

The Nice CKS website says ferritin of <30 micrograms/l in any individual confirms iron deficiency.

my DD had <5 micrograms/l (which indicates a complete lack of iron stores) and the GP said it was 'slightly low' 🙄

No it's not normal it should be at least 70 however the NICE guidelines allow for much lower results. It should be supplemented under 30 - have a look at

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

Did they also check b12/folate/vit d/full thyroid panel etc?

What was your Haemoglobin ( Hb ) - normally done as part of a full blood count

You can take otc ferrous fumerate or sulphate - take it with vit c every other day and avoid caffeine/dairy for one other either side. Ask for your ferritin to be rechecked in 3 months.

I regularly have ferratin come back in the 20s and feel like shite but my gp surgery has a reference range of 11-307 🙄 which seems mad to me, it's the same with some other ranges they say everything is normal but it's because the reference ranges are often too low/High - how they can say a ferratin level of 11 is completely normal and needing no treatment I've no idea. I'm glad I have the NHS app so I can just look at my own results and treat with ferrous sulphate etc myself if needed.

the wide reference ranges reflect that people experience different symptoms at different levels - quite a few of us get a long just fine with apparently very low iron stores (my ferritin for example got up to 16 a few years ago and I felt superhuman, but am also absolutely fine with it being less than 10). Iron stores are also not the only thing that affect ferritin levels and it's important to look at the full set of bloods and any historic ones to work out what's going on.

B12 and folate were pretty much in.the middle of the range and haemoglobin was 135 which looks good i think. So seems to be just the ferritin that's off. I will think about supplementing I guess.

Vit d was low as well actually. They texted me and told me that. Looks like the 2 are related

Ferretin normal range 100-340ug/l
15ug/L is anaemic.
Haemoglobin normal range: 130-170g/L.

My blood tests
September 2024: Ferretin: 20ug/L
I took Ferrous fumarate tablets for 15 months and they elevated the ferretin from 20 to 46ug/L.
The GPs said it was builder fatigue and that the iron levels are not the reason for my fatigue. Two GPs giving the wrong diagnosis.

12-1-26: NHS blood test: Ferretin was 46ug/l. Haemoglobin:148.
22-1-2026: iv infusion of 1000mg of iron, I should see improvement within two weeks. I swam 40 lengths in the pool on Sunday and I was much less breathless than previously..
The consultant said GPs do not understand low iron, and he lectures them on it.
He also said Dietary iron does not work that well either. The analogy he made was a petrol tank on red, nearly empty; you won't get very far.

You can take the ferrous fumarate for three months and hope they work or get iv infusion and know it will work.
Ask for a review and ask for an infusion, it takes 6-8 weeks for haemoglobin levels to get to the maximum but you should see improvements in 2 weeks.

Most NHS trusts should offer it for those with anaemia, but you have to ask.

Scenario: Management | Management | Anaemia - iron deficiency | CKS | NICE

scienceinsights.org/how-long-does-it-take-for-hemoglobin-to-increase-after-iron-infusion/

For context: 63yrs old male, 6'4", 75kg. Unknown reason for low iron, stress, blood donations, and excess exercise?

Thanks. This is interesting. I looked back at historic tests and it looks like I've had very low ferritin every time its been tested over the last 10 years. With it being as low as 17 at one point. I did have 1 occasion when my level was 42 whixh is not too bad but I was recovering from pneumonia which can artificially raise ferritin levels apparently.
But I do have pretty much all the risk factors. I gave both 11 years ago and had post partun hemorrhage for which I wasnt offered an infusion / transfusion. I dont eat meat and i exercise a lot. But yet its been marked as normal every time. Im pretty annoyed actually because I've had a lot of symptoms which only now am I connecting. Have started taking gentle iron and am going to see the gp next week. Fingers crossed they take it seriously this time.