Is my iron low?

[PaigeMarie]

A few months ago I went to the doctor because I was dealing with breathlessness, fatigue and headaches. I had my bloods checked and had indepth screening of iron, B12 and folate, and even had my gut looked at for parasites and such. It costed me a lot of money because I asked to get the best possible tests to avoid having to return if something was missed. Everything came back normal and quite perfect, but I was told my iron was quite low and a supplement wouldn't hurt. I went back to uni a few days later and completely forgot to pick up a supplement. It's about 3 months later and my fatigue and breathlessness is really bothering me and makes it hard to get through work and school. I know I should trust the doctor but I didn't get told much about my levels or how to decipher them and wanted to post them here for some opinions.

Haemoglobin - 113 g/L

Iron - 12 umol/L

Transferrin - 3.7 g/L

TIBC - 93 umol/L

Trans Sat - 13 %

Ferritin - 31 ug/L

Now, I take an activated B12 and folate supplement everyday and have had the proper test done for both of these, especially the B12 and am nowhere near being low. But I never throughout to take an iron supplement. I do eat meat, but mainly chicken and don't eat much red (I hate the taste and the cost). I don't eat much fruit aside from bananas but I do try to eat lots of veggies. I just am unsure how to decipher my iron results.

Thanking you kindly. x

[DicCarlson]

Your Ferritin Level is painfully low! I assume you have RLS or you wouldn't be here! Try Ferrous Bisglycinate Chelate - it's an inexpensive supplement that readily crosses the blood brain barrier. My Ferritin was 49 (Normal according to the Docs). Supplementation eliminated RLS symptoms in a month. Read more hopkinsmedicine.org/neurolo...

[Joolsg]

As DicCarlson has replied, your ferritin is way too low if you have RLS. It needs to be above 75 & preferably above 100. The tests will say NAD ( nothing abnormal detected) next to the figures but that applies to the general population, not people with RLS. Most doctors and GPs are unaware of this.

[Hidden]

As others have said your ferritin level is low. But taking iron supplements to raise it would i hope for you help with your RLS. But i am not sure is that will take care the breathlessness, fatigue and headaches. That sounds like something else going on. ?

[nightdancer in reply to Hidden]

Low iron surely can cause breathlessness. That is what I am going thru with my mother.

[flfair]

Hi, your breathlessness, fatigue and headaches are down to Magnesium Deficiency.

[Pippins2 in reply to flfair]

How do you know that? ?????

[nightdancer in reply to flfair]

YES, flfair, how would you know that?? I just had a huge workup on my mother, and when iron is low, it can cause EXTREME breathlessness. We saw a pulmonary doctor and he knows what he is talking about, so her doctor is right. You can't just say it is magnesium, you do not even know her history, and I have proof it can be iron, and low iron WILL make you feel like you cannot do anything. My mother cannot even walk down the hall, without having to sit down, but after some weeks of iron, it is helping her some.

[nightdancer]

Oddly enough, my mother who is almost 90 is having a terrible time with breathlessness. They just assumed that it was because of her asthma. But your Ferritin is sooooo low, and low iron and anemia can cause extreme breathlessness. So, if they told you take iron, take it, it could help your RLS and also WILL help with the breathing after you take it for a while and get those numbers up. Your doctor is right on that count.

[Madlegs1]

Nightdancer is spot on as usual.

I am giving blood because of high ferritin ( was1400- now 624) but I continuously get low haemoglobin which completely knocks me out- lethargy , sleepy and no energy.

Your hgb seems to be 11.3 ( I am making an assumption from your figures) that would be low enough to cause your symptoms - as well as your low blood iron and low ferritin.

Your diet is not going to give you meaningful iron.

I take vit B12 in spray form - over 1000 units per dose- that usually gets me going again in a few days.

The steaks and liver pate probably also help a tiny bit! 😆

Mind yourself.

[Jumpey]

Your symptoms could be pernicious anemia-b12 deficiency. I have the same and have 3 monthly injections of b12. Google the Pernicious Anemia Society- they have a comprehensive lift of symptoms and good advice about treatment.x

[CatherineABQ]

The critical number for RLS sufferers is the ferritin levels. Although 25 is considered normal for most people, you need to be at least at 50 if you have RLS. I stay at about 70 or 75 and it makes a big difference. You should get a good quality iron supplement - just a balanced diet is not enough. Go to your local health food store and look for one that absorbs well. Also, don’t just trust your doctor. Most don’t know much about RLS. It is a tricky condition to treat. Some neurologists or sleep specialists are more experienced. However, this a lifelong condition and will only get worse with age. Shop around until you find someone who is knowledgeable, is sympathetic to your experience and realizes that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. Also, antihistamines (as well as acid reducers like Xantac that are antihistamine based also exacerbate RLS.)