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Low serum ferritin/ anaemia

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Velociraptor May 2019 12:49pm, 23 May 2019 41,701 posts	Quote Pin Velociraptor My ferritin is never much above single figures with a normal haemoglobin, and I have no symptoms at all.
NRGEE May 2019 1:58pm, 23 May 2019 557 posts	Quote Pin NRGEE my ferritin when it was last checked was 12. My haemoglobin was in the normal range. I did start taking ferrous sulfate; but didn't like taking it as it made me v constipated. I don't have any symptoms. On discussing the issue with my Dr he concluded that I have a naturally low ferritin. It did increase when taking the iron for 8 weeks. We decided though that I didn't need to continue taking the iron and to just accept that I have a low ferritin. Physically, I don't feel any different having stopped the iron.
HellsBells May 2019 2:12pm, 23 May 2019 25,355 posts	Quote Pin HellsBells Ferritin is iron stores, haemoglobin is what you have to use. If your haemoglobin is normal it doesn't matter what your ferritin is, as you have a normal level of oxygen carrying molecules. There are no symptoms associated with a low ferritin in the presence of a normal Hb. Think of it like money - haemoglobin is your current account which you use every day for normal life. Ferritin is like a savings account which you dip into if the current account runs low. As long as the current account has sufficient funds you can live perfectly normally with zero in the savings account as you don't need it to top up. It's a bit simplistic as an analogy but that's basic how it works
Northern Exile May 2019 2:22pm, 23 May 2019 5,061 posts	Quote Pin Northern Exile It's a good analogy. My ferritin levels are normal, but I struggle to maintain normal Hb levels, my last test - a few weeks back, was on the low side at 121. I have an inflammatory form of arthritis and it could be the disease that's causing, but equally so it could be the GI/leaky gut problem I have [apparently] that's causing the autoimmune condition. Currently using Floravital to try and get levels back up.
Little Miss Happy May 2019 2:24pm, 23 May 2019 1,414 posts	Quote Pin Little Miss Happy Pen - I'm not a doctor but that sounds a lot like my experience before being diagnosed with hypothyroidism and then pernicious anaemia. Hope your GP can find something that's easy to fix.
Cerrertonia May 2019 5:44pm, 23 May 2019 10,450 posts	Quote Pin Cerrertonia Alex Hutchinson (who I really rate) wrote an article about iron and running today. outsideonline.com
PenW May 2019 6:12pm, 23 May 2019 1,729 posts	Quote Pin PenW Thanks Getting more bloods done next week to check thyroid, b12 and a few other things.
Northern Exile May 2019 7:34pm, 23 May 2019 5,062 posts	Quote Pin Northern Exile You can have some of my B12 if you want. My levels are up around 1300 - 1400, nearly three times the upper limit!
larkim Jun 2022 8:48am, 21 Jun 2022 18,104 posts	Quote Pin larkim Isn't fetch wonderful; there's always a good information trove no matter what you need to find out! My better half presented to the docs with a sore chest from running and has always been breathless going up hills. But otherwise is a pretty vigorous and energetic woman. She was disappointed to be advised "probably reflux" but would get blood tests anyway. Turns out reflux is definitely a thing (gaviscon seems to make immediate difference) but has also discovered low Hg and SF levels via the blood tests, as well as slightly low B12, so doc is talking about pernicious anaemia. My first thought therefore is to search here (!) and stumbled onto this thread which seems in many ways to be talking about the same things. Not looking for advice necessarily, but if her running improves (she's going from being a 26min parkrunner about 6 years ago to struggling to get under 31 at parkrun despite running similar amounts) measurably from the iron tablets and B12 supplementation she's been prescribed now it'll be another helpful anecdote. Her Hg was 100 on the last two blood tests and SF was 3.7 (only tested on the last dose). B12 was 129. What I've noted is that, with the exception of running, she doesn't appear to be anaemic. Just about none of the other symptoms of anaemia are present in her normal day to day, so I presume she's just gradually compensated for it over a lengthy period.
larkim Aug 2022 10:15am, 22 Aug 2022 18,755 posts	Quote Pin larkim Follow up to above post. My better half has been on B12 / iron tablets now for about 2 months and "the drugs do work" as The Verve didn't sing. After about 3-4 weeks on being on the tables she'd run her fastest parkrun (without "trying" as it was also 2 weeks post covid and her first run since covid) taking 1m20 off her time, and this weekend she ran another 30s faster again despite doing no real training. She says it's remarkable, she can now run up hills! As posted above, she never thought she was anaemic (about 4 weeks before the diagnosis she completed a 34 mile ultra, not at any great pace but definitely with no signs of anaemia) as her ability to do "zone 2" running was pretty constant, it was just that she couldn't push at all. She's delighted, and now has her all time WAVA parkrun back in her sights! For a blood test which she didn't think she needed, she's pretty happy she got it done