Hi everyone, can you advise me on ferritin levels?

[Schoolhouse]

Still undiagnosed, but have all symptoms of hypo thyroid. When I first became ill 3years ago my ferritin level was 7. Gp gave medication until it reached 12 then told me to stop. From what I I have read on here, it sounds like it should be higher. Can anyone advise what it should be please? Many thanks x

[Moggie]

Have you got any ranges (figures in bracket after the result) that you can share with us as every lab has different ranges and to answer with any sort of accuracy the ranges are needed,

Low iron symstoms are very similar to thyroid symptoms so you could be confusing the two, which is what I did, although I am also hypothyroid. A healthy ferritin level should be about 70, so for your GP to stop your supplements at 12 is an awful thing to do.

Moggie x

[alangardner]

i agree totally with moggie ,but , please note that as your tests were done so far apart different labs may have been used --- with totally different ranges and scales of reference --- and both of these need to be evaluated before anyone could possibly comment correctly ....alan

[Schoolhouse in reply to alangardner]

Hi Alan, thanks for your reply. I was tested every four weeks at the same lab using the same ranges. My final test six months after my initial test was 12 lab range (11-307).

[alangardner in reply to Schoolhouse]

from what I understand I believe that in your situation you would need to be extremely higher within the range before your meds should be adjusted . but another thought is that if the ranges are so far apart --11 = 307 -- the better part of 'NORMAL ' would be somewhere in the middle AND DEFINATLY NOT AT THE LOWER END OR HIGHER END ......I would question your doctor/consultant and gain the correct information to hit them with ....alan x

[Schoolhouse in reply to alangardner]

Thanks x

[Schoolhouse]

Hi moggie, thanks for your reply. The lab range is (11-307) once my level reached 12, which took about 6 months, she told me to stop supplementing. I was also diagnosed with pernicious anaemia and now have 3monthly b12 injections but still feel really ill and have done for the last 3years.

[humanbean in reply to Schoolhouse]

What were you supplementing with, and what was your dosage?

[Schoolhouse in reply to humanbean]

Hi humanbean, thanks for your reply. I was taking 'ferrous fumarate' 210mg three times a day, so 630mg daily.

[humanbean in reply to Schoolhouse]

You could try taking vitamin C with each pill to help your body to absorb it. I've been taking exactly the same as you but the addition of the vitamin C helps the iron pills to work. I take 1000mg of vitamin C with each iron pill. Since high dose vitamin C can give some people the runs, start with just one pill a day for 3 days or so, then go up to 2, then 3, depending on whether or not diarrhoea is a problem.

If you don't have a prescription for your iron pills you can buy them quite cheaply from places like Lloyds chemist. Boots insist on a prescription, but Lloyds doesn't. You can buy a box of 84 pills (enough for 3 pills a day for 28 days) for £4.14 per box.

Do you have any stomach issues? For instance, do you have indigestion and take lots of indigestion pills or do you take a proton pump inhibitor like lansoprazole or omeprazole? Or ranitidine?

[Schoolhouse in reply to humanbean]

Thanks for vit c tip, I'll try it. No I don't have any stomach issues x

[Moggie in reply to Schoolhouse]

It's no wonder you are still feeling very ill, your poor body must feel like its been hit by a steam roller.

If I were you I would join a site for pernicious anaemia as I know they will have more experience in all this. Try this one as it seems to be like our but for your specific problems.

pernicious-anaemia-society....

Apparently low ferritin and pernicious anaemia go hand in hand but you still need to caring on with your supplements to get your ferritin levels up. I have, and still am, taking ferrous sulphate 200mcg tablets with VitC (or your body is unable to absorb the iron) and with food (or the iron can damage the lining of the gut), what were you taking.

Please dont think I am saying you are on the wrong site so here is a link to the correct one because I am not but please give the other site a go and see if they can help you to.

Moggie x

[Hidden in reply to Schoolhouse]

Your symptoms could actually be due to under-treated PA. 3 monthly injections are rarely adequate, and the injections you are having will be wasted with low iron levels and also low folate (do you know your folate levels)? Come to these places for PA support:

facebook.com/groups/1749289...

pernicious-anaemia-society....

[Hidden in reply to Schoolhouse]

just enough to get into the very bottom of the range then stop? - what is wrong with these GPs!!

some folk supplement B12 between injections with a sublingual spray (high B12 is not harmful, just gets excreted) As both irons & B12 low - have you tested Vit D too? (a colleagues Mum has PA but couldn't have injections until low Vit D sorted) J

[Schoolhouse in reply to Hidden]

Thanks, I haven't had vit d tested but will do. Thanks for the advice x

[Moggie]

This is the vitc I use - a quater of a teaspoon in a little made up orange squash has seen my ferritin levels raise from 11 to 67 in 6 months so it did the job for me. It may seem a little exensive but one tub has lasted me nearly a year now.

lambertshealthcare.co.uk/as...

Moggie x

[Schoolhouse in reply to Moggie]

Thank you I'll try the the powder. X