Ferritin level of 13

[PullingAtTeeth]

My ferritin is 13. I believe NHS recommended level
is 13-150 so GP said I’m borderline low.
should I be prescribed a proper iron supplement? He told me just to buy a multivitamin with iron in.
I feel the cold a lot and am very tired and suffer a lot of headaches.
My harmoglobin was normal so wondering if that’s why he dismissed my symptoms?

You can just buy ferrous Fumarate over the counter

There's lots sof evidence out there to suggest the lower limit should be higher. Mine was 14 when pregnant and I felt absolutely horrific. I didn't feel better until I got to 50. If it's making you feel rubbish then you need to up your levels. You can buy over the counter.

Ah so I can buy the proper iron tablets over the counter in the pharmacy? That’s good to know. I thought it would take ages to increase my iron back up just with a multivitamin!

Stupid question but how will i know when it’s back up? Just when I feel better? I don’t think the GP will do another blood test to check

My level was 5 during pregnancy and had to have 2 x iron prescriptions. If you're feeling awful and not getting anywhere with the gp, then your midwife should be able to refer you

As per pp, you can buy ferrous fumerate over the counter. You don't need a prescription. A multi vit with iron would be fine too. Multi vit take daily as iron dose is lower. Ferrous fumerate fine to take every other day to help prevent constipation, taking more often doesn't give much benefit in terms of absorption anyway. Take with orange juice at least 30 mins before food. It's good your hb is okay.

The bloods done at your midwife appts will check hb. You could ask them to check ferritin too but a few months of supplements will almost certainly rectify it.

You will start to feel better so you'll know, they might also check your levels again later in pregnancy. I carried on taking it throughout pregnancy, even when my levels improved as the midwife said they might just drop again otherwise. Your midwife will be able to advise.
As pp have said, it can cause constipation so have something in ready for that (I'll never forget crying in a carpark while my DH ran around town looking for lactulose!)

Thank you very much ladies.

13 is pretty low. Mine was 12 when I was pregnant and I was prescribed Ferrous Fumurate for a while. I don’t think it went up much because after DD was born it went down to 9. I’ve been on and off iron ever since (she’s 2.5 now) and still only at 54.

Id Go back and request some treatment whilst it’s free for a prescription. I’d recommend Ferrous Fumurate in liquid form (easier on your stomach) and take it with a Vit C tablet to aid in absorption. You only need 5ml a day and actually I found that taking it every other day worked better for absorption.

After DD was born I was so tired and had dizzy spells etc. though it was just what being a new mum was about but the very low iron didn’t help and once I was back on it I felt so much better.

The recommended ferritin range in pregnancy is 30ug/l and above (as per British Society for Haematology guidance).

If pregnant, you should start an iron supplement and get your levels rechecked in 8 weeks.

Dya eat dried apricots?

Try eatinh dried apricots - 8 a day

A bag for 1.58 in asda

Also eat eggs quite often.
Also blie berries and broccoli