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Susan1122

06.11.2007, 09:27

Ferritin results came back... (Anemia & Hair Loss)
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Well the doctor called me back... my ferritin level is even lower then the last time it was checked... that was last spring I believe and I have been taking iron along with absorption supplements ever since! I was 13 back when I was checked the first time, now I am at 12... what the heck does that mean?

She is putting me on prescription iron therapy... not sure what yet but I will be picking it up from the pharmacy soon so I guess I will find out then.

So does anyone know what it means when your ferritin level keeps dropping even while on iron? Am I missing something or should I be asking for other tests as well? Very confused as I thought they would tell me that it had gone up a bit.

Susan

Susan1122 is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

samantha607

07.11.2007, 03:47

@ Susan1122
Ferritin results came back...
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Maybe you aren't absorbing it. Do you have problems with your digestion? What kind of supplements did you take? Also, diet can affect iron. Some foods bind iron and some supplements do. Are you eating meat? Are you bleeding heavily?

samantha607 is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

Susan1122

07.11.2007, 08:00

@ samantha607
Ferritin results came back...
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My monthly cycle has always been moderate to heavy but there has been no change in that. I was taking Slo-Fe (sp?) along with lysine and Vit-C everyday. I do eat meat, although I tend to eat more chicken and turkey, I will increase my red meat consumption from now on. I have had minor problem with digestion over the years, never anything major at all. I take lots of other supplements through out the day, hair-skin-nail multi, omega's with coq10, vit E, etc, etc, etc so I think I am ok in that department.

I eat lots of fruit and vegetables, at least 5 servings per day.

The whole "intestinal bleeding" thing has me concerned. I have been told and have read that low iron levels that continue to drop despite iron therapy have been linked to intestinal bleeding. I will have to follow up with the doctor on that one.

She is putting me on a prescription form of iron which I hope to start tomorrow, the pharmacy did not have it in stock but they hope to have it in sometime today.

many thanks for the reply!
Susan

Susan1122 is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

nomoresheds

07.11.2007, 08:41

@ Susan1122
Ferritin results came back...
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Susan-
I don't know how common it is but I am one of those people who can take a supplement (iron) and see very little change. I reduced my iron to one slow fe pill a day and my iron dropped. I don't have any gastro bleeding that I am aware of and didn't menstruate regularly or exceptionally heavily. I tried using a different type of iron. I found molasses helped more than slow fe. There are several different brands of supplements you can try to see if you can find one that works for you. I do suspect that absorption is more of an issue if you are over 35.

Iron shots can be painful and do have some risks so make sure you check it out if you go that route. I haven't tested my ferritin in a while so I can't tell you if what I am currently using is more effective....I do know the molasses raised the number faster but I don't use it often anymore.

There is a liquid iron supplement that some people like...I used it with molasses and my ferritin increased but some people say the iron in it is so low (true) that it won't raise your ferritin level quickly. I think it may be absorbed better, but there is a very small amount of iron in it...I think the name was florasil or floradix...available at most health food stores.

nomoresheds is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

nomoresheds

07.11.2007, 08:46

@ nomoresheds
Ferritin results came back...
Post reply

� Susan-
� I don't know how common it is but I am one of those people who can take a
� supplement (iron) and see very little change. I reduced my iron to one
� slow fe pill a day and my iron dropped. I don't have any gastro bleeding
� that I am aware of and didn't menstruate regularly or exceptionally
� heavily. I tried using a different type of iron. I found molasses helped
� more than slow fe. There are several different brands of supplements you
� can try to see if you can find one that works for you. I do suspect that
� absorption is more of an issue if you are over 35.
�
� Iron shots can be painful and do have some risks so make sure you check it
� out if you go that route. I haven't tested my ferritin in a while so I
� can't tell you if what I am currently using is more effective....I do know
� the molasses raised the number faster but I don't use it often anymore.
�
� There is a liquid iron supplement that some people like...I used it with
� molasses and my ferritin increased but some people say the iron in it is
� so low (true) that it won't raise your ferritin level quickly. I think it
� may be absorbed better, but there is a very small amount of iron in it...I
� think the name was florasil or floradix...available at most health food
� stores.

nomoresheds is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

samantha607

07.11.2007, 12:15

@ Susan1122
Ferritin results came back...
Post reply

Hi. I didn't do well on Slow fe either.

Some supplements bind iron, meaning they interfere with you absorbing it, so you may want to research what you are taking and make sure it doesn't interact, or that you take it at a different time of day from the iron.

Evem though you have been bleeding for years the same doesn't mean that you aren't getting low iron from it. Are you anemic? Or are your hemoglobin and hematocrit numbers the same they always were or are they decreasing?

I have never had major digestion problems either, but I think whatever problem I have may have interfered with absorbing the iron. Good luck with the new stuff.

samantha607 is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

nomoresheds

07.11.2007, 14:12

@ samantha607
Ferritin results came back...
Post reply

� Hi. I didn't do well on Slow fe either.
�
� Some supplements bind iron, meaning they interfere with you absorbing it,
� so you may want to research what you are taking and make sure it doesn't
� interact, or that you take it at a different time of day from the iron.
�
� Evem though you have been bleeding for years the same doesn't mean that
� you aren't getting low iron from it. Are you anemic? Or are your
� hemoglobin and hematocrit numbers the same they always were or are they
� decreasing?
�
� I have never had major digestion problems either, but I think whatever
� problem I have may have interfered with absorbing the iron. Good luck with
� the new stuff.

No, not anemic, nor do any numbers seem off. The reason I think it's absorption for me is because when I used molasses, it had a significant effect. It probably does absorb better than an iron pill.

I do all the stuff you should, taking iron with vitamin C, eat red meat (although I could use more) to try to increase it. I've starting using an enzyme after meals to help with digestion...maybe that will help absorption too. I'm really due to have the ferritin tested.

nomoresheds is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

annie

08.11.2007, 16:44

@ nomoresheds
Another article about iron -Ferritin results came back...
Post reply

Article by Cleveland Clinic researchers - http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=62062

annie is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

nomoresheds

09.11.2007, 08:18

@ annie
Another article about iron -Ferritin results came back...
Post reply

� Article by Cleveland Clinic researchers -
� http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=62062

Well, from my own experience I know iron supplements can help, depending on where you are in the hair loss journey. It's true, most doctors have no clue about hair loss and iron. Thanks for posting the article.

nomoresheds is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

samantha607

14.11.2007, 11:32

@ nomoresheds
Another article about iron -Ferritin results came back...
Post reply

Annie, Thanks for posting that article. I know my hair loss began when I had bleeding and wasn't anemic, but probably iron deficient.

NoMoresheds. I think you take the enzyme with meals, not afterward.

samantha607 is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO

Susan1122 06.11.2007, 09:27	Ferritin results came back... (Anemia & Hair Loss) Post reply
	Well the doctor called me back... my ferritin level is even lower then the last time it was checked... that was last spring I believe and I have been taking iron along with absorption supplements ever since! I was 13 back when I was checked the first time, now I am at 12... what the heck does that mean? She is putting me on prescription iron therapy... not sure what yet but I will be picking it up from the pharmacy soon so I guess I will find out then. So does anyone know what it means when your ferritin level keeps dropping even while on iron? Am I missing something or should I be asking for other tests as well? Very confused as I thought they would tell me that it had gone up a bit. Susan Susan1122 is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO
samantha607 07.11.2007, 03:47 @ Susan1122	Ferritin results came back... Post reply
	Maybe you aren't absorbing it. Do you have problems with your digestion? What kind of supplements did you take? Also, diet can affect iron. Some foods bind iron and some supplements do. Are you eating meat? Are you bleeding heavily? samantha607 is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO
Susan1122 07.11.2007, 08:00 @ samantha607	Ferritin results came back... Post reply
	My monthly cycle has always been moderate to heavy but there has been no change in that. I was taking Slo-Fe (sp?) along with lysine and Vit-C everyday. I do eat meat, although I tend to eat more chicken and turkey, I will increase my red meat consumption from now on. I have had minor problem with digestion over the years, never anything major at all. I take lots of other supplements through out the day, hair-skin-nail multi, omega's with coq10, vit E, etc, etc, etc so I think I am ok in that department. I eat lots of fruit and vegetables, at least 5 servings per day. The whole "intestinal bleeding" thing has me concerned. I have been told and have read that low iron levels that continue to drop despite iron therapy have been linked to intestinal bleeding. I will have to follow up with the doctor on that one. She is putting me on a prescription form of iron which I hope to start tomorrow, the pharmacy did not have it in stock but they hope to have it in sometime today. many thanks for the reply! Susan Susan1122 is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO
nomoresheds 07.11.2007, 08:41 @ Susan1122	Ferritin results came back... Post reply
	Susan- I don't know how common it is but I am one of those people who can take a supplement (iron) and see very little change. I reduced my iron to one slow fe pill a day and my iron dropped. I don't have any gastro bleeding that I am aware of and didn't menstruate regularly or exceptionally heavily. I tried using a different type of iron. I found molasses helped more than slow fe. There are several different brands of supplements you can try to see if you can find one that works for you. I do suspect that absorption is more of an issue if you are over 35. Iron shots can be painful and do have some risks so make sure you check it out if you go that route. I haven't tested my ferritin in a while so I can't tell you if what I am currently using is more effective....I do know the molasses raised the number faster but I don't use it often anymore. There is a liquid iron supplement that some people like...I used it with molasses and my ferritin increased but some people say the iron in it is so low (true) that it won't raise your ferritin level quickly. I think it may be absorbed better, but there is a very small amount of iron in it...I think the name was florasil or floradix...available at most health food stores. nomoresheds is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO
nomoresheds 07.11.2007, 08:46 @ nomoresheds	Ferritin results came back... Post reply
	� Susan- � I don't know how common it is but I am one of those people who can take a � supplement (iron) and see very little change. I reduced my iron to one � slow fe pill a day and my iron dropped. I don't have any gastro bleeding � that I am aware of and didn't menstruate regularly or exceptionally � heavily. I tried using a different type of iron. I found molasses helped � more than slow fe. There are several different brands of supplements you � can try to see if you can find one that works for you. I do suspect that � absorption is more of an issue if you are over 35. � � Iron shots can be painful and do have some risks so make sure you check it � out if you go that route. I haven't tested my ferritin in a while so I � can't tell you if what I am currently using is more effective....I do know � the molasses raised the number faster but I don't use it often anymore. � � There is a liquid iron supplement that some people like...I used it with � molasses and my ferritin increased but some people say the iron in it is � so low (true) that it won't raise your ferritin level quickly. I think it � may be absorbed better, but there is a very small amount of iron in it...I � think the name was florasil or floradix...available at most health food � stores. nomoresheds is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO
samantha607 07.11.2007, 12:15 @ Susan1122	Ferritin results came back... Post reply
	Hi. I didn't do well on Slow fe either. Some supplements bind iron, meaning they interfere with you absorbing it, so you may want to research what you are taking and make sure it doesn't interact, or that you take it at a different time of day from the iron. Evem though you have been bleeding for years the same doesn't mean that you aren't getting low iron from it. Are you anemic? Or are your hemoglobin and hematocrit numbers the same they always were or are they decreasing? I have never had major digestion problems either, but I think whatever problem I have may have interfered with absorbing the iron. Good luck with the new stuff. samantha607 is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO
nomoresheds 07.11.2007, 14:12 @ samantha607	Ferritin results came back... Post reply
	� Hi. I didn't do well on Slow fe either. � � Some supplements bind iron, meaning they interfere with you absorbing it, � so you may want to research what you are taking and make sure it doesn't � interact, or that you take it at a different time of day from the iron. � � Evem though you have been bleeding for years the same doesn't mean that � you aren't getting low iron from it. Are you anemic? Or are your � hemoglobin and hematocrit numbers the same they always were or are they � decreasing? � � I have never had major digestion problems either, but I think whatever � problem I have may have interfered with absorbing the iron. Good luck with � the new stuff. No, not anemic, nor do any numbers seem off. The reason I think it's absorption for me is because when I used molasses, it had a significant effect. It probably does absorb better than an iron pill. I do all the stuff you should, taking iron with vitamin C, eat red meat (although I could use more) to try to increase it. I've starting using an enzyme after meals to help with digestion...maybe that will help absorption too. I'm really due to have the ferritin tested. nomoresheds is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO
annie 08.11.2007, 16:44 @ nomoresheds	Another article about iron -Ferritin results came back... Post reply
	Article by Cleveland Clinic researchers - http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=62062 annie is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO
nomoresheds 09.11.2007, 08:18 @ annie	Another article about iron -Ferritin results came back... Post reply
	� Article by Cleveland Clinic researchers - � http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=62062 Well, from my own experience I know iron supplements can help, depending on where you are in the hair loss journey. It's true, most doctors have no clue about hair loss and iron. Thanks for posting the article. nomoresheds is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO
samantha607 14.11.2007, 11:32 @ nomoresheds	Another article about iron -Ferritin results came back... Post reply
	Annie, Thanks for posting that article. I know my hair loss began when I had bleeding and wasn't anemic, but probably iron deficient. NoMoresheds. I think you take the enzyme with meals, not afterward. samantha607 is located in [NA] and he is available to meet: NO