Low Ferritin

[Debbstar]

In April of this year my ferritin reading was 45 and am experiencing hair loss. Started taking solgar gentle iron everyday since April and my ferritin reading is now 5! I was aiming to raise to at least 80 for hair regrowth not for it to go lower! Does anyone have an idea why after taking iron everyday would my reading be lower?

Thanks

[humanbean]

You may well have other problems with your iron, such as low iron binding capacity (for example). Or you might have gastro-intestinal bleeding or piles? Heavy periods getting worse? Or you simply weren't taking enough iron to raise your levels. Or your stomach is getting worse and your absorption is getting worse as a result?

Solgar Gentle Iron has about 20mg or 25 mg pure iron per capsule or tablet I think (I've never taken it).

I take ferrous fumarate 210mg. Each tablet contains 69mg pure iron, and I was taking three per day for nearly two years. That's how long it took me to get my levels up to optimal. My iron drops like a stone if I stop taking it though so I have to keep supplementing at a lower dose to keep it optimal.

You could get a full iron panel done privately with a finger prick blood sample. (Doctors in the UK hardly ever do more than ferritin.)

medichecks.com/find-a-test/...

It would also be helpful if you could get a full blood count done by your doctor. That can be paid for too, but hopefully you can avoid doing this :

medichecks.com/find-a-test/...