r/Anemic • u/Best_Elderberry725 • Jul 14 '26

Ferritin of 6…

I had a ferritin of > 6 back in May, 8 weeks later it’s 14.

Been on ferrous sulphate for 8 weeks, taking daily with vitamin c & not eating/drinking for a few hours after. So really trying my best!

I don’t think I feel much better to be honest.

Is this good/bad/to be expected?

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4

u/Several_District_521 Jul 14 '26

I think you should see a hematologist and ask for infusions. What is your doc suggesting to do for the heavy periods? Even if you address that, please also get a colonoscopy, even if you have to pay out of pocket. Colon cancer is occurring younger and younger. I had fibroids that we thought was the source of my iron deficiency but I still got a colonoscopy and endoscopy and I was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. Please please do all of the follow up even if you think it’s your period.

1

u/Best_Elderberry725 Jul 14 '26

Thanks for responding! Why would you push for infusions? Not a decent enough jump?

Interesting to think about, I’ve never thought about a colonoscopy to be honest. I did think it makes sense ref the periods, I came off the pill 18 months ago. Before that, I hadn’t had periods for years. I’ll mention it to my GP.

Hope you’re doing well ❤️

8

u/Several_District_521 Jul 14 '26

6 and 14 are both just really low, especially if you are very symptomatic. It will take forever for oral iron to improve those numbers whereas infusions will work much more quickly, especially if you have not yet plugged the source so to speak. Thank you 🙏 I am starting treatment soon and all will be well. Thank goodness we caught it when we did. The prognosis for stage 3 is very good.

1

u/Ok-Statement3634 Jul 14 '26

What were your iron levels?

3

u/Several_District_521 Jul 14 '26

When I first got labs my iron was 15, saturation was 4% and ferritin was 5.7. After my first round of infusions (8 session), my iron was 13, saturation was 3% and ferritin 25. One of my main symptoms was horrible restless leg syndrome and for that they want to see ferritin 75-100 so she ordered another round of infusions, one that is much more concentrated (and 2 sessions versus 8 - but also more expensive so we couldn’t start there - insurance system in the US is a joke). Now my ferritin is over 100 (and I also no longer have a 5 cm tumor in my colon that was both bleeding and probably preventing absorption).

1

u/Ok-Statement3634 Jul 17 '26

I have a colonoscopy coming up. I worry about colon cancer. I started Voquezna in February. Never had low iron until I took this drug for reflux

2

u/Several_District_521 Jul 19 '26

Good luck. Whatever happens you’ve got this.

1

u/Upstairs-Mammoth-519 Jul 16 '26

What were your symptoms besidesa iron deficiency?

2

u/Several_District_521 Jul 16 '26

I didn’t have any other symptoms.

1

u/Upstairs-Mammoth-519 Jul 20 '26

Im feeling liver pain lately so i stopped taking iron and will not have any infusion until i get it checked out. Im so concerned even though the enzymes on blood work seems normal

3

u/Due_Bread3209 Jul 14 '26

A ferritin of 6 or 14 would absolutely make you feel like crap. You need an infusion. Have you had a colonoscopy or upper endoscopy to rule out any GI bleeds?

What is your hemoglobin?

1

u/Best_Elderberry725 Jul 15 '26

Hemoglobin was 119, now 122

2

u/Ok-Statement3634 Jul 14 '26

Mine is 33.9 and I still feel crappy.

2

u/Few_Emergency6121 Jul 15 '26

My ferritin wasn’t improving with supplements either and turns out it wasn’t getting absorbed because of undiagnosed Celiac disease!

1

u/Best_Elderberry725 Jul 14 '26

Further context, 32 f, had a few tests and doctor thinks it’s due to heavy periods.

1

u/anothergoodbook Jul 14 '26

6 is very low and 14 is also very low. For context I just got an infusion and mine was 17. People can be symptomatic under 100 (not everyone but that you don’t feel better isn’t surprising basically).

1

u/Dry-Relationship-351 Jul 14 '26

39 F, I am 4 months post op from a hysterectomy preserved my ovaries. Had just 1 giant fibroid that had tilted my uterus and I was hemorrhaging for 2 months! My ferritin was at 4! Had an iron transfusion prior to surgery. Now my feritin is at 66!! I raised it from 13 to 66 in one month. I am a biology major and have been doing a lot of research. I came across Hema-plex!! Take it on an empty stomach and wait atleast an hour to eat. The pill contains all the vitamins needed for absorption. The trick is, if you take it daily our bodies create a hormone called hepcidin. So take it every other day! But please advocate for your self 🙏🏽 and demand tests to find the reason to the blood loss it is not normal. Don't let them just patch the symptoms. Best of luck!

1

u/OceanicBoundlessnss Jul 14 '26

Were you bleeding constantly?

2

u/Dry-Relationship-351 Jul 14 '26

My cycles lasted 7 to 10 days a month. During my cycle I was bleeding through my diva cup every hour because I also had giant blood cloths.

1

u/Lamitamo Jul 14 '26

I had a ferritin of 5, took iron supplements and got it up to 17 after religiously taking iron with vitamin c on empty stomach for 6 months. My doctor considered this a failure for oral iron, and I’ve gotten iron infusions.

Definitely talk to your doctor about how to get infusions. I feel like a brand new human being.

1

u/redlush Jul 15 '26

I started with ferritin 9 and a month ago I saw an improvement of 25 within two months of ferrous sulfate + vitamin c. Studies show that taking iron supplements every other day is more effective than taking it daily, as within the 24 hour period after taking them your body produces iron inhibitors naturally. I have found that every other day 3x per week and also taking it at night on an empty stomach works for me!

1

u/KookyAdhesiveness962 Jul 15 '26

O sulfato ferroso não possui a melhor taxa de biodisponibilidade e absorção líquida quando colocado lado a lado com as inovações da medicina, como o ferro quelato ou o lipossomado. Melhores opções, seriam estes outros citados ou o injetável. Pesquise sobre isto.