Hair loss - ferritin

[Blackandwhitehorse]

I’ve been shedding hair and my blood results show ferritin at 37. GP said aim towards 70 and said buy over the counter iron tablets.

However I’m seriously considering paying for an iron transfusion privately as I’m worried I will have lost too much hair by the time tablets take effect.

Has anyone gone down this route?

I’m 37, diet is ok - balanced. Been taking a hairburst chewy vitamin for a month and started on iron 2 weeks ago. I hadn’t had much hair fall for a few days but then absolutely 100s came out in the shower this morning.

Over the counter iron pills are pretty useless if you are deficient. They are only good for keeping you at a normal level. If you are deficient you need prescribed pills. I once had a ferritin of 3 so I know how you feel. I am feeling crap again however getting a blood test from my GP is like getting blood out of stone so I am going to pay for a private blood test.

Over the counter iron pills are pretty useless if you are deficient

I can buy the same strength Ferrous fumerate without a prescription that I was prescribed.

@Monty27

I had it on good authority from a Haematology Consultant that this is not effective.

Her secretary reckoned that because I was vegetarian I automatically took this .Nope .

I shed a lot of hair as I was anaemic from heavy bleeding. Iron infusion was life changing. I agree with a PP that it took some weeks for the shedding to stop. I’ve recently lost hair again, but I think that’s a normal hair shedding cycle as it’s slowed down a lot and I’ve increased my protein intake.

I'd do a bit of detective work. You can buy effective blood tests OTC without needing the doctor.

(Check your thyroid function first. Thyroid testing kit If it is low address make an appointment with your GP as the meds for this are prescription only).

If thyroid is OK, Check B12, and Vit D levels also. vit D testing kit, b12 testing kit You usually need to supplement these two along with the ferrous fumarate for it to be effective.

The tablets linked to upthread are exactly the same ones that the GP would prescribe for low ferritin on prescription, they are just cheaper to buy otc.
prescription strength ferrous fumarate

B12 personally I find hard to get up to a high enough level for me with tablets etc. the spray under the tongue here is perhaps better, but you might find the level doesn't rise enough. Many people find they need to inject B12. You can get injections at beauty clinics, normally the type that do fillers etc, and superdrug also do them. It gets a bit pricey but might be a good idea for an initial boost.

Incidentally, if I drink tea with my meals my ferritin levels plummet as I'm not getting the nutrients from my diet. I then stop doing this for a bit, get levels a bit higher, feel better, and start drinking tea again...only to repeat.

My ferritin is 44 and I have hair loss but I also have an underactive thyroid, am peri menopausal and had covid back in May so not sure which one of all of these is the trigger. I'm taking ferrous fumarate bought online but have just joined The Iron Protocol Facebook group which has taught me a lot about the optimum dose of iron, different types of iron and how to best take it. Lots of people on the group have had iron infusions too so you could all ask queries on there.

I would follow the advice of your GP.

I have autoimmune thyroid disease and iron deficiency without anaemia (low ferritin) - thyroid disease can affect ferritin among other things. My ferritin ranged from 7-37 and I had an infusion at the Iron Clinic in London. My exhaustion, joint pains, poor nails improved dramatically though my hair which has decreased by around 30% is still not great tbh. However I feel a million times better so for me it was worth every penny. It’s worth reading the advice on their website if taking oral iron - e.g they recommend one Ferrous Fumarate tab every day or even second day as only a specific amount of iron is absorbed in a 24hr period.
Im afraid I don’t agree with the GP advice @procrastinator8 as in my experience GPs are behind the curve on this and the current UK guidelines for a so-called normal range of ferritin is are outdated. GPs also tend to prescribe 3 x Ferrous Fumarate tabs per day and most people end up not taking them because the side effects are intolerable. My OH is an anaesthetist and ferritin is a hot topic in post-op outcomes so I was lucky to get good advice!

@RelentlessForwardProgress thats really interesting about tea - my ferritin has dropped quite a lot post-infusion and I drink a lot of it!

My ferritin was 4 last time it was checked. I lose a lot of hair. Also have rubbish nails. I really should try harder to take the iron but it has such a bad effect on my digestive system. I’ve never been offered an infusion though. How do you get one?!

@Thegirlisnotright im surprised you don’t feel awful, that’s categorised as a severe deficiency. You could ask your GP but they are likely to prescribe the tablets as much cheaper than an infusion, unless you are also very anaemic (low haemoglobin). I had to pay for a private infusion, and as I live in Scotland and they aren’t available privately here I had to travel to London.
Try a tablet every second day and take it with Vit C in some form (tablet or orange juice) which aids absorption.

My hb is about 11 I think. I do feel very tired all time but I don’t really know any different! I’d probably feel amazing if I actually got it sorted 😆
I’m also in Scotland, shame the infusions are not readily available here. I’ll start taking the iron tablets again anyway- this thread has given me a push.