Low Ferritin..symptoms?

[Roda]

In Dec. 06 I had a low hemaglobin and hematocrit indicating I was anemic. I took iron supplements and they returned to normal in 2007. My H & H has been normal since and so has my circulating iron. I found out in mid 2007 that I have chronic low ferritin and since then it has never gotten above 6. My question is can a low ferritin with normal H & H and circulating iron cause symptoms? My symptoms are tachycardia and extreme sob upon even mild exertion. I also just recently had my thyroid medication lowered from 125 mcg of levothyroxine to 112 mcg. I also take cytomel 5 mcg twice a day. They figured this was the cause. While I think it is contributing, I don't think it is all of the problem. I have been symptomatic from thyroid overmedication before post partum. I had rapid weight loss (part was due to nursing also) and extreme nervousness and shaking. I don't have those symptoms now. I have not lost any weight and the only symptoms are what I mentioned above. I have also had problems of tachycardia back in Feb. 2006 that's when all my heath issues started. At that time they did not relate it to thyroid since I was borderline hypo. There was no answer from the cardiologist for my syptoms either. So in hindsite, finding out that the ferritin was low at that time, and still is, has got me wondering if this is the problem. The nurse practitioner at the GI's office did not think this should cause problems for me, so I would appreciate any input. Thanks!

[MaryJones2]

Wow 6 is really low. Having low ferritin and normal hemaglobin is possible and can cause the symptoms you mentioned. I don't believe the nurse practitioner is correct - your ferritin needs to be addressed.

Have you seen this site: Open Original Shared Link

[Roda]

Wow 6 is really low. Having low ferritin and normal hemaglobin is possible and can cause the symptoms you mentioned. I don't believe the nurse practitioner is correct - your ferritin needs to be addressed.

Have you seen this site: Open Original Shared Link

Thanks for the info. Yes I have seen that site. My kids are 4 and 8 so it has been some time since I had symptoms of overmedication. The sob has lingered since 2006 and comes and goes. My tachy resolved until Jan of this year and the sob has increased. I started vitamin D 50,000 iu weekley in Jan. (vit d was 17) and after about a month I started to feel really good. Lots more energy so I have been trying to exercise. I have been riding my bike quite a bit so I expect to get out of breath from exercising. But it is more than that. I can ride down to the end of the road and I am gasping to catch my breath. I just take a couple of min to recuperate and then keep going. I had a whole thyroid pannel done the end of March and the only thing out of wack was my tsh it was 0.01. When I was on just levothyroxine my T3 was always low thats why I take the cytomel. I function the best when my T3 is in the upper level. I have not been taking the new dose of levothyroxine long, so I know it takes about 4-6 weeks to normalize. Everyone feels that my intestine is healing from being gluten free and I'm absorbing my meds better. I guess it could be from that, but with the previous episodes of the sob and tachy without thyroid overmedication has me wondering. Would a hematologist be better at looking at the ferritin or just the regular doctor? No one wants to address the ferritin since the other stuff is normal.

[Aroostook]

Thanks for the info. Yes I have seen that site. My kids are 4 and 8 so it has been some time since I had symptoms of overmedication. The sob has lingered since 2006 and comes and goes. My tachy resolved until Jan of this year and the sob has increased. I started vitamin D 50,000 iu weekley in Jan. (vit d was 17) and after about a month I started to feel really good. Lots more energy so I have been trying to exercise. I have been riding my bike quite a bit so I expect to get out of breath from exercising. But it is more than that. I can ride down to the end of the road and I am gasping to catch my breath. I just take a couple of min to recuperate and then keep going. I had a whole thyroid pannel done the end of March and the only thing out of wack was my tsh it was 0.01. When I was on just levothyroxine my T3 was always low thats why I take the cytomel. I function the best when my T3 is in the upper level. I have not been taking the new dose of levothyroxine long, so I know it takes about 4-6 weeks to normalize. Everyone feels that my intestine is healing from being gluten free and I'm absorbing my meds better. I guess it could be from that, but with the previous episodes of the sob and tachy without thyroid overmedication has me wondering. Would a hematologist be better at looking at the ferritin or just the regular doctor? No one wants to address the ferritin since the other stuff is normal.

In 2007 I was found to have all kinds of crap, Ferrin was 9 & Vitamin D was 12. I have been taking D since and have it all the way up to 42! Still not good but liveable. I was diagnosed with Celiacs in mid-January and with the gluten-free diet have found I am doing much better. New lease on life! If you aren't gluten free already try it, you would be surprised how much you will improve. I kid you not Christmas everyone (including docs) thought I was celebrating last one. With Celiacs diagnois and treatment I am on the fast road to full recovery! Good luck!

[tarnalberry]

my blood iron levels are normal, but my stores are borderline low. (how low, I don't recall any numbers.)

my rheumatologist suspected that it was contributing to my restless leg syndrome, so I've been taking SlowFe twice a day for the past three weeks. a little less restless leg, and a little more energy.

[Roda]

In 2007 I was found to have all kinds of crap, Ferrin was 9 & Vitamin D was 12. I have been taking D since and have it all the way up to 42! Still not good but liveable. I was diagnosed with Celiacs in mid-January and with the gluten-free diet have found I am doing much better. New lease on life! If you aren't gluten free already try it, you would be surprised how much you will improve. I kid you not Christmas everyone (including docs) thought I was celebrating last one. With Celiacs diagnois and treatment I am on the fast road to full recovery! Good luck!

Yes I have been gluten free since October 30, 2008. Mind you for the first month or so it was a learning curve. Since I have only been glutened twice that I know of.

my blood iron levels are normal, but my stores are borderline low. (how low, I don't recall any numbers.)

my rheumatologist suspected that it was contributing to my restless leg syndrome, so I've been taking SlowFe twice a day for the past three weeks. a little less restless leg, and a little more energy.

Same here on the iron, normal blood circulating levels and not anemic since h & h are normal, just the stored iron (ferritin). I keep getting told that it shouldn't be causing my symptoms with the other stuff normal. I'm glad your doc seems to possibly think otherwise. I am going to make an appt. with my regular doctor, whom I have not seen in over 2 years. I had a car accident early in March and I am still having trouble with my neck. While I'm there I guess I can update my medical history and just run it by him also to see what he thinks too.

[cherishlife]

Yes I have been gluten free since October 30, 2008. Mind you for the first month or so it was a learning curve. Since I have only been glutened twice that I know of.

Same here on the iron, normal blood circulating levels and not anemic since h & h are normal, just the stored iron (ferritin). I keep getting told that it shouldn't be causing my symptoms with the other stuff normal. I'm glad your doc seems to possibly think otherwise. I am going to make an appt. with my regular doctor, whom I have not seen in over 2 years. I had a car accident early in March and I am still having trouble with my neck. While I'm there I guess I can update my medical history and just run it by him also to see what he thinks too.

[cherishlife]

In Dec. 06 I had a low hemaglobin and hematocrit indicating I was anemic. I took iron supplements and they returned to normal in 2007. My H & H has been normal since and so has my circulating iron. I found out in mid 2007 that I have chronic low ferritin and since then it has never gotten above 6. My question is can a low ferritin with normal H & H and circulating iron cause symptoms? My symptoms are tachycardia and extreme sob upon even mild exertion. I also just recently had my thyroid medication lowered from 125 mcg of levothyroxine to 112 mcg. I also take cytomel 5 mcg twice a day. They figured this was the cause. While I think it is contributing, I don't think it is all of the problem. I have been symptomatic from thyroid overmedication before post partum. I had rapid weight loss (part was due to nursing also) and extreme nervousness and shaking. I don't have those symptoms now. I have not lost any weight and the only symptoms are what I mentioned above. I have also had problems of tachycardia back in Feb. 2006 that's when all my heath issues started. At that time they did not relate it to thyroid since I was borderline hypo. There was no answer from the cardiologist for my syptoms either. So in hindsite, finding out that the ferritin was low at that time, and still is, has got me wondering if this is the problem. The nurse practitioner at the GI's office did not think this should cause problems for me, so I would appreciate any input. Thanks!

Hello. I am curious if you know the corrilation between your Heart condition and the low iron stores as well as the Tyroid. I have Celiac and was dignoised about a year ago. Last week I ended up in the ER with "Heart Attack" type symptoms. The intial test indicated "Possible Blockage" They performed an Angiogram and it came back 100% clear. I am still have some symptoms, light headedness, chest pressure, dizzy often. Yesteday I did a 24 hour EKG to try and determine what is causing these symptoms. It just so happens a couple weeks prior to this event I did some blook work with my ND who determined I have Adrenial fatgiue as well as a little slow tyroid and very low number on my iron stores. I am just trying to figure out which way to turn if the cariologist comes back with nothing from this study. I am also extremely exhausted. Anyone who has any insight to any of this...please let me know!!! I despriately want to feel normal again. I have four young children to care for!

[Roda]

Hello. I am curious if you know the corrilation between your Heart condition and the low iron stores as well as the Tyroid. I have Celiac and was dignoised about a year ago. Last week I ended up in the ER with "Heart Attack" type symptoms. The intial test indicated "Possible Blockage" They performed an Angiogram and it came back 100% clear. I am still have some symptoms, light headedness, chest pressure, dizzy often. Yesteday I did a 24 hour EKG to try and determine what is causing these symptoms. It just so happens a couple weeks prior to this event I did some blook work with my ND who determined I have Adrenial fatgiue as well as a little slow tyroid and very low number on my iron stores. I am just trying to figure out which way to turn if the cariologist comes back with nothing from this study. I am also extremely exhausted. Anyone who has any insight to any of this...please let me know!!! I despriately want to feel normal again. I have four young children to care for!

So far everyone is leaning toward too much thyroid medication this go around. In Feb 06 when this started I ended up in the ED twice. The second time they told me that if the meds they had given me hadn't worked to bring my heartrate down they were going to shock it back to normal. Glad it worked! I saw a cardiologist at that time until May of 06. I have had several ekg's (nothing abnormal except tachycardia) and wore a 24 hr holter monitor. He put me on a beta blocker but I could not handle the side effects of it. It would bottom out my bp. My symptoms seemed to go away, so I did not have any other tests done. I have not followed up with the cardiologist since. My symptoms came back in Jan. 09 and then went away again until Mar. and I am still having them but it seems less. Maybe it is now all too much thyroid medication for the tachycardia. I'm not at certain as the shortness of breath. It is like I can't get enough air when I try and exercise. I had a recent ekg that showed the same. I think I will follow up with the cardiologist again just to be sure. It was recommended to me by the respiratory therapist that I probably need to wear an event monitor. When you have symptoms you hit a record button and call a number (I think). I probably would benefit from a stress test also. I think I may have something quirky with my heart because when I was a teenager once and awhile I would get an episode of tachycardia. It wouldn't happen often so I never thought anything more about it until all of this. I avoid caffeine and all decongestents because they wreck havoc on my heart. If I take one sudafed my heart races so fast that I get exhausted from not doing anything. I do hope you figure something out. I do feel better overall and have more energy now than I have had in years. That is what has prompted me to want to get into shape. This is just a minor setback and I am still doing some exercice, I just have to stop more and catch my breath. Keep me posted if you find out anything and I'll do the same!

[Roda]

I just looked up my latest thyroid labs again. TSH 0.05 (0.34-5.60) I know this range is outdated for endocrinologists although still on the low side, free T4 1.16 (0.58-1.64) and T3 uptake 41.40% (32.00-48.40). Free T3 was forgotten this go around since the gyn ordered these for me while I was at his office and was having symptoms. The endocrinologist reviewed these and said the T3 uptake was good enough and did not need the free T3. While the first one is low the other two are not bad. I really doubt that without the last two labs not being upper normal/high I should be having this many symptoms thus I am leaning more toward the low ferritin causing symptoms. The endocrinologist who I fought with over a month + to get my lab test results faxed to my GI doc, unfortunately forgot to order the iron tests with the ferritin (last one was done in Dec. '08). Also when the GI called me they would not order it for me either and told me to go to my PCP if I wanted it done. I'm going to make an appointmet with the PCP so I can get a refferal to the cardiologist (one I have not seen) and take it from there. I had a really bad episode riding bikes with my kids where my heartrate got really out of control and I had to stop and try the val salva manuver to slow it down (it worked). I was really lightheaded and thought I was going to throw up.

[sylviaann]

In Dec. 06 I had a low hemaglobin and hematocrit indicating I was anemic. I took iron supplements and they returned to normal in 2007. My H & H has been normal since and so has my circulating iron. I found out in mid 2007 that I have chronic low ferritin and since then it has never gotten above 6. My question is can a low ferritin with normal H & H and circulating iron cause symptoms? My symptoms are tachycardia and extreme sob upon even mild exertion. I also just recently had my thyroid medication lowered from 125 mcg of levothyroxine to 112 mcg. I also take cytomel 5 mcg twice a day. They figured this was the cause. While I think it is contributing, I don't think it is all of the problem. I have been symptomatic from thyroid overmedication before post partum. I had rapid weight loss (part was due to nursing also) and extreme nervousness and shaking. I don't have those symptoms now. I have not lost any weight and the only symptoms are what I mentioned above. I have also had problems of tachycardia back in Feb. 2006 that's when all my heath issues started. At that time they did not relate it to thyroid since I was borderline hypo. There was no answer from the cardiologist for my syptoms either. So in hindsite, finding out that the ferritin was low at that time, and still is, has got me wondering if this is the problem. The nurse practitioner at the GI's office did not think this should cause problems for me, so I would appreciate any input. Thanks!

I had low ferritin like yours (6) in 2007 but a normal hemoglobin. I suffered from a number of symptoms, including periodic tachycardia and myoclonus at sleep onset that would not diminish. Low ferritin is frequently found in Celiacs prior to diagnosis-it is a RED Flag (and it is a concern if your ferritin cannot rise and stay at a normal level!) Your body may not be absorbing nutrients, which is resulting in weight loss and the drop in ferritin. Myoclonic movements are also found in some celiacs.

I ended up having iron infusion treatments a year later (I insisted on IV iron-venopher) when my ferritin had only risen to 50 after having a Laprascopic hysterectomy and I was taking iron pills!! I also lost ten lbs and had lower GI problems and was "wired". My thyroid was tested repeatedly and my test results were normal (TSH, Free T4, T5, etc.). However, my autoantibodies thyroid blood lab results were high.

Your Nurse needs educating on Celiac symptoms..don't feel bad...My Former GI doctor treated my low ferritin lightly too. He insisted it was from OBGYN problems and not from my ulcerative colitis. Eight months after my hysterectomy, it had only risen to 48, I was jerking every night and I had been taking iron pills!

Sylvia G

Florida