Hi thanks agagain....im so determined though totally lacking in sleep and energy to get my life back really enough is enough. I have lots of information and hope the endocrinologist will help me figure the missing piece of my puzzle.
Can I ask how do people get there Ferritin up. I've taken supplemental iron for years including vitamins d and c but Ferritin Is v low.
Iron tablets really constipate me and now I'm trying another supplement and still not good. How can I get my low iron sorted
I'm a coeliac but my digestive system isn't great as if should have been diagnosed sooner. I asked endocrinologist last time But no joy. Many thanks xc
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kafe1
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In general there are three forms of iron supplement -
• The simple substances like ferrous sulphate through ferrous fumarate, ferrous bisglycinate, and so on
• Various forms of haem iron (also spelled heme)
• Ferritin
The simple substances do vary with the more complex molecules often being regarded as being gentler and less constipating than the basic - that is, bisglycinate is usually preferred to sulphate.
Haem iron and ferritin both wrap the iron up in more complex molecules and they have much less impact on the gut.
Haem and ferritin will be more expensive than the cheapest supplements but compared to some, such as Floradix, they are not particularly expensive. Don't forget that black pudding is still available as a good dietary source!
Simple supplements, haem and ferritin are each absorbed by different mechanisms. These three mechanisms appears not to interfere with each other at ordinary dose levels.
As I do not need to take iron, this is all based on reading and not personal experience.
A snippet about why ferritin might be particularly important:
Ferritin iron is absorbed by a different mechanism than iron salts/chelates or heme iron. Recognition of a second, nonheme iron absorption process, ferritin endocytosis, emphasizes the need for more mechanistic studies on ferritin iron absorption and highlights the potential of ferritin present in foods such as legumes to contribute to solutions for global iron deficiency.
I need to have regular iron infusions to keep my ferritin high enough for optimum thyroid function. I also cannot tolerate oral iron in any form. But good luck with persuading an endo to do this! I go to a private clinic for this every couple of months or so - and even they're reluctant. My ferritin levels are now always 'normal' so medics won't listen. But i know what level I need to feel well. Of course, if yr levels are below normal range you should be able to get an infusion on NHS. Hope you can get it sorted.
I have found this to be a trial and error thing depending upon what supplement your body responds best to. Most of the "cheap" iron supplements that doctors order do nothing for those suffering with low ferritin levels.
I have tried several kinds - many did nothing and many do not contain either the "right" kind of iron or, they don't contain enough. I also have to be careful of stomach/constipation issues.
One thing that is very important to keep in mind is how iron supplements are labeled. For example, 210mg of Ferrous Fumarate contains only 60mg of elemental Iron (EI). In order to significantly raise ferritin, one must take a significant amount of EI.
I have had good results with Ferrex-150 (150 EI in one capsule) and Ferritin Bioavailable Iron (5mg). Both can be found on Amazon. Last year, I started out taking (1) each per day (along with VIt C for absorption) for 7 days to see how my stomach would do. I had no issues.
I went up to (2) each per day (split dose) along with Vit C for absorption and my Ferritin levels rose from 19 ng/dL to 47 ng/dL in 12 weeks. I was ordered to stop supplementation by gastro because they wanted to see if my levels dropped and if I needed to be scoped. I stopped for 8 weeks and got tested on Feb 10th. On that date, my Ferritin result was 39 ng/dL. Gastro said no scope needed and I began supplementing once again.
I had blood drawn on April 23rd and my Ferritin is 47 ng/dL.
So, 11 weeks to raise 8 points. Not as high as I would like BUT I do know that I didn't stop the supplements for a few days prior to the Feb 10th blood draw (which you are supposed to do to get an accurate reading) so it is likely that the 39 ng/dL result was slightly elevated. Prior to the 23rd blood draw I did stop supplementing for 3 days so I feel the result is more accurate. In addition, these last 2 months my thyroid meds have been completely out of whack (which affects absorption) and I did have heavier-than-usual periods. So, all explainable but I cannot wait for the day when my results are in the 80 - 100 range. Keeping fingers crossed (and keeping with the supplements)!
I had absolutely no luck using Feosol Bifera HIC and PIC (my levels actually dropped on this) as well as any iron in a standard multi. You need to find what works for you.
Thanks for taking the time to reply I know how hard it is as my levels rise very slowly. I will look at those different ones and try again. It seems the ones that agreed with my body did nothing to raise my levels!
you may have bleeding in your intestinal tract or just not be able to absorb nutrients due to damage, i would guess. I don't know what they can do, but intravenous iron, so it bypasses your intestines.
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Advice please, iron blood test results.
Thank you to everyone here who has given support and advice. My Endo is writing to my GP for a T3 prescription
How to deal with low ferritin
Does anyone know what ferritin levels are okay for treating hashis?
