Is my iron level really normal?

[thesurreymum]

I've had bloods done, as I'm struggling so much with tiredness and lack of energy. I am napping every single day and think about sleeping all of the time. Everything came back fine except folic acid was low so have started 3 months worth of 5mg folic acid.

I asked about my Iron as this was what we were expecting to be low as I suffer heavy periods. Doctor said it's normal range, I've just looked at my results online and it's Serum ferritin
Result
35 ug/L

I see the normal range is 30-250 so I'm definitely at the lower end. Could this be the reason for the constant tiredness? For optimum energy what level would it ideally be at?

Thanks

How was B12

It’s ‘normal’ but low end of normal.
You would feel mikes better at above 50, closer to 100, but you aren’t going to get help from the GP with normal levels sadly.
You can buy prescription strength ferrous fumerate OTC though and bump your levels up yourself. Just be mindful of the side effects of possible constipation or the opposite, an upset stomach.

B12 was quite high but I had paid for a private B12 injections 3 days before so was probably an inaccurate reading.

I'm also wondering if the iron levels could differ depending on where im at with my cycle? This blood test was done the week before my period so could it be much lower once I've had my period? No medical knowledge here clearly.

Low folate can also make you feel tired as it's linked to anemia i think, have you had thyroid checked?

Did you get your haemoglobin (Hb) checked? If your Hb is normal then this probably isn’t contributing to your tiredness

Haemoglobin estimation
Result
139 g/L

It could still be the B12 - I had GP prescribed injections over the course of a year and it took ages for me to feel better.

My ferritin levels were that low & after iron supplementation didn't bring my levels up, I had an iron transfusion privately. It costs an awful lot but it does work. I'm in London & went to the Iron Clinic, I'm sure there must be similar places elsewhere.

Yes, absolutely! Join the iron protocol on Facebook

How heavy are your periods?. This is highly likely to be the root cause of you feeling so awful particularly if you’ve had this issue for some time now. Have you not been referred to a gynae by your GP?. I would look into tackling the cause behind the heavy periods as this could make you anaemic as well.