Ferritin level confusion?

[daisydoll]

I requested a full print out and break down of all of my blood tests and results for the past four years and noticed I had a ferritin level check last july which came out at 22ug/L. The range is stated as (11.0-307.0). I was told it was a normal result as I am in range but am I right in thinking this seems to be the very low end of 'normal'? If so, what should I do?

[Moggie]

You should be aiming to get your Ferritin level to about 90. Have a look at this link that explains a bit about what low levels mean and how to rectify them.

livestrong.com/article/8243...

Moggie x

[daisydoll]

90?! Wow that seems quite a bit higher than where I am now. Thanks for the link!

[Lucky23 in reply to daisydoll]

I had a print out today for all my blood test results since July 2011 and my Ferritin was 18.I have not had it done since then, so got no idea what it is now.

[Lucky23 in reply to Lucky23]

I also just found out on the web, that low Ferritin causes Eczema, which I have had for the past 6 weeks and still spreading. My Dr gave me Cortisone cream but it is not working. I have never had this in my life before! So must be the low Ferritin.

[PinkNinja in reply to Lucky23]

I didn't know that! I have eczema but I've had it all my life. It would be interesting to see if it is worse when my ferritin is lower.

[Lucky23 in reply to PinkNinja]

Carolyn,

This is the the site where I saw that low Ferritin causes Eczema.

ndhealthfacts.org/wiki/eczema

Scroll down the page and go to Related symptoms and conditions.

[TF87 in reply to Lucky23]

Mine is 55 and I have eczema so that's interesting!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to TF87]

TF87

Do you no longer require a reply to the post you made this evening about your current blood test results? I have just composed a lengthy informative reply for you and your post has disappeared.

[TF87 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you! I have reposted with a pic and edited some results in. Sorry I am new an having trouble editing so reposted

[PinkNinja]

Yep. Some people are fine around 70, but for most people it seems to be 90. I suppose it gives a bit more resilience if you have a little extra stored.

Apparently taking iron with vitamins C and B2 help iron absorption and storage.

[daisydoll]

Thank you for this. I currently take a women's multivitamin that includes iron. Is it an idea to supplement with extra iron to get my level up higher do you think?

[PinkNinja in reply to daisydoll]

You might need to but it would be a good idea to find out what your serum iron is too. You might want to try something gentle like Spatone and take vitamin C and B vitamins (including B2).

[daisydoll]

Thank you.

[Katkin1]

Interesting! My Ferritin level is 38.4 (normal according to the doctor).

[ravenhex]

I'd be glad of 22ug/L. I am in what they refer to as the heart attack danger zone. My last count was around 4ug/L. Only time Ive been told, they gave me transfusions which took a while to get the level up. Soon plummited again.

Levels curently accepted as normal are:

A normal ferritin blood level, referred to as the reference interval is determined by many testing laboratories. The ranges for ferritin can vary between laboratories but are usually between 30–300 ng/mL (=µg/L) for males, and 15–200 ng/mL (=µg/L) for females.

Men 18-270 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) or 18-270 micrograms per liter (mcg/L)

Women 18-160 ng/mL or 18-160 mcg/L

Children (6 months to 15 years) 7-140 ng/mL or 7-140 mcg/L

Infants (1 to 5 months) 50-200 ng/mL or 50-200 mcg/L

Neonates 25-200 ng/mL or 25-200 mcg/L

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferritin

[fennel]

There must be lots of people out there with low ferritin and not realising why they are tired, when the doctor tells us we are normal. I suffered for years with it, symptoms of 'air hunger' where I felt I was suffocating even when I was breathing deeply, and especially on lying down at night.

[nickyinnotts]

just had my blood tests back ferritin level 8ug/L eeek x

[Murphysmum]

Mine has been 22ug/L all year. Dr says it’s normal. Friend of mine went to dr last week stating tiredness and hair loss (I have both and some) and he said anything below 50 warrants treatment. She was 33ug/L so he has prescribed her 6 weeks ferrous fumarate!

I’ve been in and out of my surgery over the last year complaining of fatigue etc and no one (except me) has bothered about my ferritin. Probably because my notes say HYPOTHYROID - therefore ignore all symptoms and put down to thyroid condition 🙄

[MiniMum97 in reply to Murphysmum]

I have been told by a GP and a dermatologist that my ferritin level of 30 is too low.

[Murphysmum in reply to MiniMum97]

I know that, you know that but on the gp’s bit of paper it says “within range”. Drives me nuts.