Low ferritin

[honey90]

For years I have had sore mouth, low energy, sluggish thinking, iron infusions plus blood transfusions  My Dr does not think low iron is a real problem unless it's  15 or lower I feel that it shoud be higher   Now recently been dx with throid problems 7.5  could the 2 problems be related?  Norma

[doctornee medical]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
Well iron deficiency anemias are more common in people who have low thyroid activity. Both anemia and hypothyroidism can cause sluggishness, low energy and sore mouth. However you should take thyroid medications empty stomach, avoid all iron rich food and supplements for an hour and take an iron supplement only after meal. Here is a link for you to go through for a complete list of iron rich food. http://www.loveyourbaby.com/iron-rich-food-list.html
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!

[smartandsassy]

this post is way after yours, but in the event you are still experiencing problems, I would like to offer some input based on my experience with being iron deficient.  Each lab is different in terms of ranges, but I will use the ranges I have been given as a guideline.  The value range I have seen most frequently for FERRITIN levels is between 10 & 232.  I have been getting iron infusions on and off for 3-1/2 years now.  When I first began getting infusions, the head nurse (excellent) told me that for women, the optimal range should be no less than 100.  Unfortunately, at least in my case, doctors do not want to give iron infusions until the Ferritin level has plummeted to a point that is so low, the detrimental effects have already been going on for quite some time.  By the time my Ferritin level gets under 70 or so, I begin to feel the deteriorating state of my energy levels.  It is quite frustating to say the least.  Last year I went to a hematologist, who told me that my levels were fine, as they were in the normal range.   I reviewed the lab results (I have become quite adept in this regard) and told him that my ferritin level was at 12.  He said that is still within the normal range.  I asked him what he would say when it gets to 8, because that is what it would be in 2 weeks; he said that is absolutely too low.  HELLO!!!  With a range between 10 & 232, it doesn't require a medical degree to conclude it is already too low and there is no reason to believe it would be getting higher.  I told him that I equate the low Ferritin (Iron, RBC, HGB, Hematocrit, etc) to a tank of gas.  I asked him if he waits to fill his tank up with gas until he runs out of gas and is stranded, or if he fills up when he is getting to the reserve level, or close to empty.  I made a further analogy to him saying my levels were normal; I told him that his comment is like telling me I have gas in my tank, although I have to drive to San Francisco, but only have enough gas to get to Los Angeles (I live in OC).  This is ridiculous.  Sure enough, in 2 weeks, my Ferritin level was down to 7!!!, at which time I got a call from my doctor in a panic telling me that my iron levels were too low.  NO S***!!  Didn't I just have this conversation with them?!?!  
My Primary Care Physician is more on board with me.  I have been struggling to get maintenance infusions as opposed to waiting until the bottom falls out every few months.  Hopeless!!  The last time I had this discussion with my hematologist, he told me "But, you're not anemic" . . . of course, not at this second, but that is only because my body is filled with synthetic/replacement iron and before I have a chance to recover from going through this for over 3 years, and the consistent plummeting every 3 months or so, my levels drop again.  I have asked to get a maintenance infusion once every 7 weeks, but the doctor will not do this.  It makes much more sense to me than waiting until I get to super levels (most recently RBC- 2.8; Hemoglobin - 8; Hematocrit - 26, and Ferritin - 3), at which time I cannot function whatsoever.  It is very hard on one's body to go through this for a prolonged period.  
I could go on . . . .
The bottom line is that we all have to be our own advocate because there is absolutely no one, especially not a doctor, that is interested to the extent necessary to get this or any health situation under control.  
Here is my advice for patients:
(1)  Be prepared to ask lots of questions
(2)  Ask lots of questions
(3)  Get answers
(4)  Take notes, and ask your doctor for a copy of any and all notes
      from each visit to ensure the accuracy of what is documented in  
      your records.  (I recently had surgery in which the doctor "forgot"
      to do something with was essentially the purpose for having the
      surgery in the first place.  He claimed it was not in his notes, but
      at the pre-op, when I did not see it on the consent form, I reminded
      him, refusing to sign the form until he documented that he would
      do what we had discussed, and ultimately, in spite of the fact that
      we did discuss it, he "forgot" to do what he was supposed to do.)
(5)  Be accountable for your health
(6)  Hold your doctor accountable for providing you with proper medical
      care, as opposed to an office visit that for so many doctors
      represents nothing more than a co-pay and in$urance payments.
(7)  Get 2nd & 3rd opinions
(8)  Stand up for yourself to MDs and Insurance Companies
(9)  Feel better