Iron level a 5 ???

[Wickychic120]

I just had iron level results back they were a 5 doctor said rediciliusly low , she’s given me ferrous fumerate 210mg x3 a day ... ant side affects with these tablets ? An is 5 really low ? Any advice appreciated , been feeling not myself for long time now ...

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Wickychic120

5 is very low. I would have thought low enough for an iron infusion.

Iron tablets can cause constipation and tummy upset in some people. Take each tablet with 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption and help prevent constipation. Probably best taken with food to try and avoid upset tummy.

Take iron tablets 4 hours away from thyroid meds and 2 hours away from any other medication and supplements. They will affect their absorption.

[Wickychic120 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou for your help , I only take kalms tablets not on any other meds , do you think these tablets will be enough ? They never mentioned any infusion , I will get some vitamin c today thankyou

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Wickychic120]

Iron is complicated. I can't say if the tablets will be enough. Did your GP do a full blood count and complete iron panel?

Is that result of 5 for serum iron or ferritin?

[Wickychic120 in reply to SeasideSusie]

She rang me an said that it was 5 an she put the script straight in for me gotta see her next week but I 99% sure she said ferritin ... I suffer really bad with anxiety an pannic if I gotta take tablets stupid I know but I do worry that I have reaction to um 🙈... but I have been feeling really tired giddy an my blood pressure been dropping dono if it’s all linked .. thankyou for helping me really appreciate it

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Wickychic120]

If it is ferritin, then a full blood count should be done to see if iron deficiency anaemia is present. She is treating for that, i.e. 3 x ferrous fumarate daily.

But an iron panel should really be done because if your ferritin is low and your serum iron is high, then taking iron tablets will raise serum iron as well as ferritin. As I said, it's complicated.

Before your appointment with your GP next week, I would pop along to the surgery and pick up a print out of your results. That way you'll know exactly what has been tested and what your result refers to.

[Wickychic120 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Yea they done full blood test , took 4 lots off me , if thas any help & ok I will get full print out Monday , taking the tablets want harm me thu will they if serum iron is not low ? It’s sounds very complicated , again thanx for your help

[Angel_of_the_North]

Can cause constipation and should be taken 4 hours away from levo with at least 500mg of vit C. If do not have heavy periods, you should ask for a referral to gastroenterology to find out where all your iron is going - you might have internal bleeding

[humanbean]

I had very poor iron levels and was put on the same iron and dose you've been prescribed. I don't absorb iron well and it took a long time to get my ferritin up to mid-range. After the first couple of months I started treating and testing my own iron rather than relying on a doctor.

The interesting thing I found is that improving my iron eventually reduced my depression and anxiety. I'm not aware that low iron is commonly associated with depression and anxiety, but for me it most definitely was.

[Coastwalker in reply to humanbean]

Just a thought hb, (though I might be wrong,) I think low iron has a link with low T3 levels ? (You mentioned your depression lifted with iron improvement ) Also low iron has an inverted effect on high cholesterol levels and high cholesterol has an inverted effect on low thyroid. All goes round in a circle.