Low iron

[Orchard33]

I have an iron count of between 29 and 33 from 2021 to now on a range of 11-360. For the last six months I've been taking a supplement to boost the serum iron level and the level has dropped from 33 to 31. I think I'm anaemic for symptomatic reasons. I SI EOD and have done for a year. My health is beginning to stabilise. Is the iron level like the B12 level in blood tests, unreliable as an indicator of health? And is the bottom end of the range far too low for optimal wellness?

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

I really don't know.

When first B12 deficient, my folate and ferritin levels were low. So when B12 injections failed to stop my hair falling out and my gums bleeding, I was given 3 months of tablets for both. This seemed to help, but unsure which of the two was the cause - or whether B12 deficiency was the culprit. Anyway, both continued to be "blippy" - up and down - so relied on GP to monitor over the following couple of years. She thought that a ferritin result less than 60 ug/L could cause symptoms.

However, more recently, my Oral Medicine consultant, treating me for angular cheilitis and trying to find a cause for burning tongue, wanted my ferritin level to be at 80 ug/L or above. A stretch to get there.

I cannot remember when I had a full iron panel done (if ever), and last couple of years nothing much being monitored (aside from cholesterol, but that's another story). Sign of the times, I'm guessing.

I found that my ferritin and folate took about two years of monitoring and supplementing, and MMA took three years to drop into range, after B12 injections started for B12 deficiency. Which soon after was increased to 2 a week when functional B12 deficiency diagnosed- that was when I started to improve. As for vitamin D, I was found to have osteoporosis of the spine. That, with medication and walking, has reduced to osteopenia. As with everything else, monitoring seems now to have come to a standstill.

So I don't know what my bloods are doing, but continuing frequent B12 injections for myself now, and still improving. Also understanding the reason when having a setback : Covid certainly, but illness in general, and overdoing it, lack of sleep... all this takes time. I never had to listen to my body previously so a learning process.

[Orchard33 in reply to Cherylclaire]

Thank you. That's very useful. It seems that some medics think that below 80 is a deficiency. I certainly think that 30 is.