ferritin is 18 ffs

[Dirtypaws]

On going issue with exhaustion and general meh. Had full bloods last month and repeat the other day. However ferritin is within their range. As normal I have low white blood count and low haematecrit. On second test it was barely above the minimum. This has happened several times.

I wonder if anyone knows about white blood count and haematecrit? Is it related to ferritin and general iron deficiency?

Have started on the spa tone with oj again it did help last time but I can't help wondering if there is a problem with digesting iron or something like that? How quickly can levels drop. I think I need to do some research.

[HopeClearwater]

I've been referred for this (to a haematologist). No answers yet but they are looking to eliminate any gastro-related reasons at the moment.

There's a recent thread further down about this; maybe someone else will link to it in a while. I don't know how to.

[Dirtypaws]

Thanks I'll look for it- do you know what ferritin level you have? I wonder T what stage they refer you on. I was thinking of insisting on being referred even tho my results are "normal"

[Floralnomad]

My ferritin is 4 ( was 3 ) ,I've not been referred to anybody . My Hb is on the low side of normal but I can't tolerate any iron supplements so am trying to improve it with diet alone which is a long job .

[RockinD]

Your ferritin should be at least 70 and preferably over 100.

Spatone will not do the trick.

Bang the table and ask for as referral for an infusion otherwise you'll be struggling with this for years. I speak from bitter experience.

[Dirtypaws]

Floral - how are you still standing?

Rockin - do you mean I should have an iron transfusion? Or do you mean floral. I can't imagine with 'normal' results they'd do that would they? I should ask for a referral though? But to who?

Rockin my ferritin was 22 a few years ago. Does this mean it will just go down and down (if I leave it). Why am I losing iron? Last time I took spa tone. I seemed to improve after about 6 weeks. Maybe it was a placebo. What would you suggest. I'm keen to gen up on this, do you have any pointers? Thanks

[bigbutsrus1]

Mine was 3, took 3 tabs of ferrous sulphate a day with no problems. It's back up to 53 which is with normal limits. They did bloods and checked for Coelaics etc. think just low because of two births close together and heavy periods.

[Elliptic5]

Mine was 12 for ages, celebrated when it got to 18 after 2 years of supplements.
Finally solved when given Mirena + HRT.

[Quangle]

Mine is 9. I've been on supplements of one sort or another for years. Am now trying ferrous gluconate which I'm tolerating but haven't retested for a while so don't know how effective it is yet.

I think it's because I have hypothyroid which can make it difficult to absorb iron from food. Also bleeding too much - might try mirena.

[Miiaaoow]

Mine is at 10. My GP said not to bother treating it as it's only just under the normal limit (12) and i'm not otherwise anemic.

I am pretty exhausted though. Has anyone actually experienced more energy by increasing their ferritin levels? I can't tolerate the usual iron supplements..

[MrsPinotGrigio]

Ferritin is your iron stores & it's quite difficult to increase this without iron supplements. I can't take iron tablets as they cause a flare up of my Crohns so I've had iron infusions in the past to increase my levels. They do work although it can take up to 8 weeks before the ferritin level goes up. If you have problems with tablets ask about an infusion.

[MrsPinotGrigio]

Also if your hb level & ferritin level drop significantly, it should be investigated to see what's causing it.

[RockinD]

I am unable to tolerate most oral iron preparations and anything like Spatone or Floradix I found completely ineffective. Because of this it took me four years to raise my ferritin level from 16 to 100+ taking ferrous fumarate and then Cytoplan wholefood iron as often as I could.

The NHS would not give me an infusion. Our local haematologist was completely unaware of the tie in between low ferritin levels and fatigue/breathlessness.

I would not want anyone else to have to put up with that.

[RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie]

Mine is currently 10 - was 8. I've been feeling absolutely hideous for ages but am hoping that 3 months on prescribed iron might help again, although the tablets bring their own problems too.

[GalaxyInMyPants]

Mines 9. I feel great. GP told me to take iron tablets which I have t bothered with. Hb was normal.

[RockinD]

You'd best hope then Galaxy that there is no sudden call on your haemoglobin, because your iron stores are at a dangerously low level.

Think of it has the fridge and the freezer. The Hb is a fridge and the food (iron) is there for the taking. When the fridge is empty you go the freezer (ferritin) and if the freezer is empty you are in trouble.

My Hb was always within the normal range, which is not the same of course as being optimal, but my ferritin was at the bottom of the range and I was heavily symptomatic.

Please don't take chances with your health.

[GalaxyInMyPants]

I used to donate blood frequently and I've stopped that now. Will get another ferritin test and see if that's helped.

[Honsandrevels]

Iron infusions are fantastic if you can't tolerate oral iron. They don't work immediately but after 9 infusions I felt brilliant and my level is still reasonable over a year later despite ongoing digestive blood loss.

[RahRahRasputin]

My ferritin was 2.7 at my last test, but my haemoglobin was just inside the healthy range still. I had been feeling rather worn out similar to how I'd felt when I'd been severely anaemic. I've had major bowel surgery and at the moment my diet is very low in nutrients, and I probably wouldn't absorb them if I ate them in a natural form anyway, so GP thought I probably hadn't absorbed very much since I'd stopped taking my last lot of iron tablets.

Someone recommended the spatone sachets to me but the dose is much lower than iron tablets so it will take longer to get levels up. Obviously better than nothing but will your GP not prescribed anything? If you can't tolerate the first ones they give, you can ask for a different type.

I have no idea about the other issues, I'm afraid, but I hope you get answers soon.

I'm not sure they would refer for an infusion for low ferritin with normal haemoglobin if you haven't already tried all the possible tablets. I had haemoglobin of 6 last year and my GP pushed for an infusion but haematology department suggested high dose of tablets instead as I wasn't otherwise ill, and it was surprising how quickly I felt better. It only took a few months to get my haemoglobin back into the normal range.