Need to hear success stories of hair regrowth after low ferritin! Am so worried.

[Twoanklebiters]

Hello I have got fine curly hair and have always shed a lot, but recently have noticed my hair is coming out heavily. If I’m stood under bright overhead lights you can see my scalp through the hair at the front, and there are super thin areas at the sides and the temples where you can now see my scalp.
I had a blood test at my ferritin level was 13, (I have also been feeling pretty spaced out but assumed that was down to having two kids and upping my exercise recently.) I’m now taking ferritin tablets, 200mg twice a day but am only two weeks in and already panicking that my hair will just continue to get worse.
Can anyone offer me some hope that things will improve? I feel panicky every time I have to wash and brush my hair as so much comes out. I hate tying my hair back as yo can see the thin bits and I just feel unable to enjoy life! I’m so worried and sad about it all.
I’m really hoping people can reassure me things will improve and let me know roughly how long it might take? I’ve just ordered some vitamin D tablets as well.
Thanks so much to anyone that can help me!

I was the same as you and on iron tablets for a few months - it took a few weeks for the shedding to stop then the hair started to grow back within about 6 weeks. I felt like a small child seeing new short hairs visible eg in my parting.

I was just thankful the blood tests proved what was wrong and that I was on a road to hair recovery. My hair never recovered to its fullest 100% but I can live with it.

I hope this puts your mind at rest, I also recommend you eat sufficient red meat, vegetables and fruit to help boost your iron levels as well.

Which iron tablets did you take Ronacorona?

My levels were similar to op and as it’s in range Doctor wouldn’t prescribe anything.

This was me - ferritin got as low as 8 and hair was falling out. Took 3 ferrous fumerate tablets per day for a few months and hair is back to normal now. I still take lower dose of iron to keep from becoming anaemic again, since my periods are quite heavy.
But honestly, your hair will recover.

Doesn't ferrous fumarate wreck your stomach? It does me.
But I feel I'm going anaemic again, and I'm losing loads of hair at the moment, so I feel I need to do something...

biters hope you are feeling better soon and that your hair grows back!

Solgar i think do a chelated iron which be easier on the gut and you can get it yourself.

If i remember from my notes i had, for stopping hair loss ferritin needed to be over 70, for growth needed to be higher again.

I’m taking ferrous sulphate (I think) and the dr said take two a day for a week then drop down to one as two can cause constipation - I have a constant upset tummy with IBS (though I suspect SIBO) so it doesn’t do this to me. I’m carrying on with two a day! Not messing about when my hair is this bad!
Rummikub you can get the tablets over the counter so I’d be tempted to get some and take them anyway. Have a chat with the pharmacist maybe and get some advice.
Thanks for some reassurance, I really can’t believe this is happening to me, I’ve had a strange fear of losing my hair all my life and now this - I just hope it doesn’t get too much worse before it starts to improve. I’m really doing my best to start positive about it all but it’s hard not to let your mind drop down to worrying again when it seems worse every day.

Oh god Hairwizard I reckon it will take me ages to get to those levels with my bad tummy!

I had an iron infusion, which was life changing. My hair was shedding a few months before I had it and stopped around 7 months after. I was freaking out as I could see my scalp, however, I can see the regrowth. My hair looks lovely and lustrous now.

Milomonster how low were your levels to mean you had an infusion? And it took 7 months to see a difference after you’d had it?

I did try the ferrous sulphate not awful on my stomach.
I think I have probably been deficient for 20 years as I remember after my
first child the GP. said levels were low.

Yes I’d read that ferritin of 70 is required for hair growth. and to take with orange juice to aid absorption and definitely not tea.

Do you have heavy periods? My ferritin was 33 in Feb… bumped up my iron intake (tablets twice a day) until Oct and it’s now 38… seems like a measly increase.
My periods are v heavy though so I’ve just had a coil to reduce the bleeding. I hope it makes a difference to my ferritin.

You’re taking the form of iron that is harshest on your digestive system. You can ask for ferrous fumerate to be prescribed which some people find better. Or buy iron bisglycinate (easy iron). Recent research recommends taking every other day (in one dose) to maximise absorption. The issue with taking high-dose but low absorption iron (such as the sulphate) is that iron remains in your gut, unabsorbed and causes upset/constipation. Take with vitamin C and away from dairy/grains.

If you can afford it, you could get an infusion privately: www.theironclinic.com/ (I’ve never used them).
Very hard to get one on NHS unless you have other related issues eg chronic kidney disease.

Aderyn21 that’s so good to hear. Can you remember how long it took until you noticed your hair was getting better? Did it stop shedding so much first? I’ve just showered and washed my hair and SO much came out I feel stressed all over again

@Rummikub

Which iron tablets did you take Ronacorona?

My levels were similar to op and as it’s in range Doctor wouldn’t prescribe anything.

I took ferrous sulphate tablets but I can't remember the dosage.

I can't remember, sorry. But I don't think it was very long. I'm prone to low iron so I tend to get a pack of ferrous fumerate and tale it around my period or just have one per day to keep iron topped up. I'm lucky though because it doesn't upset my stomach or cause me any problems.
I would also suggest taking a really good vitamin B complex supplement.

Ok well not very long sounds positive! I just hope I don’t get completely bald spots in the meantime before my tablets work. Interesting about vitamin B, I’ve just ordered some fairly high strength vitamin D. Perhaps I need to get some B as well. Will have to spend all day taking tablets at this rate but I’ll do anything! I’ve also started taking collagen as am getting so desperate! Thank you

Make sure you're eating enough protein too, OP.

Remember to leave a gap between cut D and iron.
I think it’s 2 or 4 hours. Pharmacist should be able to tell you.

If you are taking vitamin d you also need to take some vitamin K2. It stops calcium from forming in places or you don't want it to form (or something. I keep forgetting why it's important but I know you do have to take it!)

Hi ladies, I found this post when looking for some support. I was diagnosed with low ferritin of 6 and haemoglobin of 9.8 in August. I was in India that time and took and iron infusion to avoid the tablet route. My iron levels were back to normal within weeks. Did blood tests on 1 Sep to see that. I had the worst hair fall that month, then slightly reduced in October but now we r in mid Nov, still seeing a lot of hair on brush and washing hair is a whole different stress. Am looking for some success stories to help my mind calm down . Waking up with nightmares everyday . Will this hair fall ever stop ? Am also taking perfectil hair since August. Thank you to everyone who can offer me any support.

Have you tried getting a really good vitamin B? I was told by someone who knows a lot about supplements to buy the kind that is ready for your body to use immediately as some women aren't able to convert vit b to be useable and lots of the cheaper vit b supplements need converting to be useable.

Watching.

My hair is coming out in clumps, I have a ferritin of 16 but that was measured before my most recent 9 day period and I've been dizzy and forgetful for weeks.

GP prescribed iron sulphate last night and I collect them today.

Trying not to read horror stories on here and anticipating a week of stomach hell while I get used to them.

A bit worried about the constipation, I eat a great diet anyway but I have a mild bowel prolapse and I'm supposed to keep it all soft and moving. Iron won't help that will it?

My ferritin has been at 16 for the past 20 years and even though I'd been to the doctors several times about hair loss, nobody flagged this up as I'm 'within range'. I've now only just learnt about the link between low ferritin and hair loss and unfortunately I'm anaemic right now too. I believe it's due to heavy periods.

I'm taking ferrous sulphate 3 times a day and will have blood tests again in 3 months. Doctors aren't really interested but the hair loss is horrific. I feel like just shaving my head. If there's not a major improvement improvement in 3 months time with my ferritin levels, I'm going to consider going private for an iron infusion. But that will be as a last resort

@LuLuLimon
I asked for a copy of my blood report and under my levels it said 'reduced iron stores, please investigate and if appropriate treat with iron. A low normal ferritin level may not exclude iron deficiency. Be guided by clinical picture and refer if appropriate'.

So basically it sound like my health authority is concerned about this kind of thing. I only had the blood test ahead of HRT discussion next week in person (am not yet 45).

Im really sorry that no one is bothered about this for you.

I wonder if AXA would cover iron transfusions? I have axa cover but I couldn't figure it out.