b12 keeps dropping ferritin

[MuppDog]

Hi Friends,

Has anyone had success raising and maintaining ferritin after it dropped from b12 injections?

I first caught the iron issue in October, after shots all last summer. I tried many supplements until landing on the least bad offender to my stomach. I got my ferritin to 33,

but it dropped to 25 after trying to only take iron every other day. At this time, I also had b12 symptoms flair, and upped my shots to twice a week - and also upped my iron dose and took every day. I checked my level after a month (this past Monday), and my ferritin dropped to 13!!! But hey! The b12 symptoms are gone 😜

The iron is still not great on my stomach - but I am at my wits end trying to get both iron and b12 levels to be in a happy place.

[BeachArt]

I had low ferritin initially, and took Spatone daily. My ferritin continued to drop, so I was prescribed ferrous fumerate. By taking this I was able to get my ferritin from 21 to over 100. I did initially have some stomach issues with it, such as bloating, but these eased quite quickly

[MuppDog in reply to BeachArt]

I have not tried Fumarate yet! Thanks. Just encouraging to hear that maybe this won’t end in me needing life long iron infusions.

[MrsTuft]

Yes I had to take 2x spatone (basically water with high iron content so gentle) daily for over a year and now I maintain with 1x daily. Have you looked into why you might have iron issues like coeliac disease??

[FlipperTD]

This is a tricky subject. [Scientist, not medic.]

If you have a megaloblastic anaemia as we often see in PA, then replace the missing B12, your bone marrow goes into overdrive and brings your Hb back up to where it should be. This will inevitably mobilise stored iron, to make the extra Hb needed. Depending on your iron status, this can cause your ferritin to fall.

It's worth remembering that Iron Deficiency is a symptom of something else, and shouldn't be ignored, or treated without knowing what's going on in the first place.

[Orchard33]

I resorted to a ferritin infusion under the supervision of a private haematologist. Oral iron didn't touch the sides. GP said my ferritin a normal result, no action required! 8 weeks on and I now have some energy that is building by the day. So glad I spent the money.

[MarvelDC]

Hi MuppDog, I’m in the same situation as you, my ferritin has also dropped after starting B12 injections, people on the Thyroid society suffer with low iron alot….

and the supplement we all use is something called Three Arrows simply heme, it’s an iron supplement that comes from the US, there’s two different types of iron, heme and non-heme, non-heme is what we get from most shops and our doctors, and non-heme causes side effects, has poor absorption and is blocked by lots of different food, heme iron comes from animals, it is highly absorbable, doesn’t cause side effects, and nothing blocks its absorptions except high does of calcium, it’s used by alot of people including myself, if you google it you should find it, takes a while to arrive…. But worth waiting for

[canyongirl in reply to MarvelDC]

I second the recommendation for Three Arrows Simple Heme. I've brought my ferritin up from 25 to 62 in about 4 months (taking far less than the maximum dose btw -- I could take 6 caps a day and only take one). Making good progress so far!

[FlipperTD in reply to canyongirl]

Just a reminder: Iron is vital. A shortage is a symptom of something else, typically blood loss. Often 'occult' blood loss; no immediately visible evidence, but negative iron balance indicates something. Replacement can be done, or attempted, but really should be done with proper medical supervision because excess is really, really bad. Iron in excess is toxic, and horrible. Just saying!

[DiNL]

hi there, I couldn’t seem to absorb regular iron and they wouldn’t offer an infusion unless I was nearly at deaths door. So I have been maintaining my iron and ferritin levels by using heme iron. Not hard on my stomach at all and easier to absorb. I test my blood every 4 months and have Ben able to maintain my levels. I ordered 3 arrows from the US. But took ages to come. So I decided to try optifer that I could get through Amazon until it came.

[MuppDog in reply to DiNL]

Thanks! I understand that I am very fortunate that being in the states, doctors actually love to give infusions (they often have financial incentive to do so), and my favorite insurance will cover it. Just trying to give myself one more shot of fixing it without. Heme iron is my next best option!

[Cavalierrubie]

Hi, could you please tell me what iron supplements you have taken. I have recently been diagnosed and so far have tried Ferrous Fumerste and Ferrous Sulphate both of which give me severe stomach pain. Thanks.

[helvella in reply to Cavalierrubie]

This might be of some interest to read:

helvella - Iron Document

This is a summary of what I have read up and found out about iron supplements over the past few years. I am not in any way medically trained. You are strongly encouraged to check every detail before making any decisions for yourself.

Last updated 27/03/2024

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

[Cavalierrubie in reply to helvella]

Thank you.🥰

[MuppDog in reply to Cavalierrubie]

I have had bad luck with any pill form of iron. I take liquid iron polysaccharide (Loren’s hematex is the brand, from Amazon). Many people also seem to like NovaFerrum. Not sure if that is available where you are, but Sharing regardless.