Low Ferritin

[whitefairy30]

Hi.

 

I've always had low level of ferritin.

 

Here the lab range was 30-300 for normal and I always had levels from 15 to 28.

I don't have occult bleeding so I don't absorb properly iron.  

After my pregnancy in 2005 I tried to supplement hard with iron drops for 1,5 year without any result. 

 

What's your ferritin level prior to diagnosis (and after a gluten-free diet) ?

 

This low ferritin wasn't indagate from all the doctors !!

 

I don't know what the medium normal level is for a normal woman. Any thoughts?  

 

 

 

 

[cristiana]

Mine was 9 before, and about 18 months later, 41.  This is all from memory so subject to slight error.  Thing is, I was able to absorb iron so when I was on some very hefty supplementation it went up very quickly initially.   I think to 16 after six weeks.  Then I took the pills on a more ad hoc basis because they never really agreed with me.  After I admitted to him that I wasn't very religious in my supplementation my specialist was pleased with the 41 - he told me he expected it to creep up slowly as the gut healed.

 

BTW, I found ferrous gluconate the ones that were easiest on the system.  I took them on an empty stomach an hour before breakfast with no pain.  

[nvsmom]

It really varies between people.  Mine was always perfectly normal, even in the top half of the range, before I was diagnosed.  I haven't had it checked for a few years, but I imagine it is similar.

 

Anemia is now considered to be one of the most common, if not the most common, celiac symptom out there.

[cristiana]

Absolutely nvsmon.  I think doctors are quicker to pick this up in men - I know of two men who were dx'd just because of anemia.  I think this was why my dx took so long to make... unfortunately in women anemia is often attributed to other factors.

[murphy203]

I was actually diagnosed because of my anemia.  For comparisons, my ferretin was 3.  I've had good luck with Vitron C, bringing my iron levels up to a more acceptable level of anemia -- ha!  But I am moving in the right direction with the gluten-free diet and supplements. I hope you find a solution, because anemia is underrated in terms of how miserable it actually makes you.

[CurrantCottage]

My Ferritin has been as low as 3, although in my last test it was 6 but my red cell count (if thats the correct word) is in the middle of the acceptable range.  My doctor was sure i was going to be celiac because of the history of digestive issues and fatigue but the blood test came back negative.  She's now just written me off with a "just take an iron supplement every day for life, it must just be the way your body is"  I've since got hold of a nutritionist who put me on a gluten free diet and I felt a lot better - my continual brain fog and tired head lifted and the bloating was a lot easier.  I had a dental appointment this week and she's sending me to see a consultant because of my continual sensitive teeth and receeding gum problem (I'm 46yrs), funny enough after googling causes of gum recession I discovered that celiac and non celiac gluten sensitivity also can cause this.  I decided today to add gluten back into my diet and after a few weeks go to the doctor and request a re-test but after eating wheat all day, apart from feeling tired (as always) and a gurgling stomach and wind, I dont feel ill.  Honestly, I'm beginning to think I'm going mad and I so wanted there to be an answer to my life long fatigue, headaches, stomach issues, ibs like symptoms but maybe gluten isnt the culprit !  Sorry for rambling - i think I need to stop thinking about it all !!!
 

Ali