Ferritin

[Lauren15]

How can I discuss low ferritin result with GP please? I discussed it with him once and he refused to help me thanks

[Nanaedake]

What are your ferritin results? It would help to know what they are in order to suggest how you might approach it with GP. On what basis did he refuse to discuss it with you?

[Lauren15 in reply to Nanaedake]

August 2017 Ferritin 61.1 (30 - 400) I am iron deficient and ferritin the time before this result was 101.3 (30 - 400) back in January 2017

Not given any iron tablets after iron infusion. I told GP my ferritin levels drop every 20 points when on a period and he said that's not his problem so have given up trying to ask for treatment

[Nanaedake in reply to Lauren15]

It might help to read about the normal iron ranges for different ages. rt3-adrenals.org/Iron_test_...

Will your GP test iron levels again in a couple of months?

Link to a post on this forum about improving iron levels with diet

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Lauren15 in reply to Nanaedake]

Thanks I was due a retest in September, I need to push for a date

[Nanaedake in reply to Lauren15]

Yes, if your iron levels are lower you can then discuss it with GP or buy your own supplements and ask GP to check again in 3/4 months time after starting to supplement.

These are the guidelines GP's follow in the UK.

Iron deficiency anaemia NICE guidelines

cks.nice.org.uk/anaemia-iro...

[humanbean]

If you get really desperate to increase your iron and your doctor won't help, you can do what I did when I got desperate for help that wasn't forthcoming - buy your own iron pills and pay for your own finger-prick testing.

The most basic test you would need is this one :

medichecks.com/tests/iron-s...

If you wanted to check how your haemoglobin was doing as well, then you could do this test too, but for checking iron the first link is probably sufficient under most circumstances :

medichecks.com/tests/fbc-fu...

Both of the tests I linked are currently £39 but they are sometimes reduced if they have special offers.

If you get tests done privately and need some help on how to interpret them, you could copy the results into a post on here and ask for opinions and suggestions.

[Lauren15 in reply to humanbean]

Haemoglobin 109 (115 - 150)

[Lauren15 in reply to humanbean]

Haemoglobin 108 (115 - 150)

[Lauren15 in reply to humanbean]

Below range Haemoglobin

[bluebug]

I second what @humanbean has said. If your GP refuses to help you then you must deal with it yourself. Make sure if you do that you take regular ferritin tests and where appropriate a full blood count to check your haemoglobin level.

Also be aware NICE guidelines are just treatment guidelines GPs are advised to follow, they don't legally have to follow them at all. The main excuses for GPs not following them is they don't have sufficient budget to do so, or their CCG has decided different treatment criteria.

Oh and just to add many GPs don't understand the importance of ferritin levels, while others see iron deficiency everyday and because none of their patients have died they don't realise how serious it can be.

[Lauren15 in reply to bluebug]

Haemoglobin 109 (115 - 150)

[Lauren15 in reply to bluebug]

Haemoglobin 108 (115 - 150)

[Lauren15 in reply to bluebug]

Below range Haemoglobin