please help me understand blood tests

[Ejcl]

After a lot of tests I’ve learnt that gluten is the cause of my iron deficiency anaemia.

A month of iron tablets has raised my iron levels back to normal however my TIBC is still high, my transferrin saturation index is low (has got lower) and my serum folate levels are borderline.

I’ve since stopped eating gluten and forgot to ask the GP if this should help them get back to normal. Is anyone able to advise if this will be the case?

[BabsyWabsy]

Hi Ejcl, it looks like you are still anaemic if you have high TIBC and low ferritin. How have you pinpointed gluten as an issue? Have you been diagnosed as coeliac? Sorry, loads of questions. Can I suggest that you go back to your GP and ask for some clarity because you don't understand your results.

[Ejcl in reply to BabsyWabsy]

I was diagnosed as anaemic after failing the iron test when trying to donate blood. I was advised to go to my GP who did full bloods and a FIT test. Bloods showed the anaemia and the FIT test was borderline positive so had a colonoscopy and Gastroscopy. Still waiting for biopsy results but hospital aren’t expecting to find anything. They discovered some diverticuli which caused the positive test but I’m symptomless.

Thyroid tests was negative so moved onto coeliac testing. My symptoms were either coeliac or gluten as the coeliac test was negative it was easy to see which it was. I’ve just completed my first week of GF and the difference in how I feel has made it obvious what the issue is.

The test results I mentioned are after a month of iron tabs. I’ll be retested in two months. I was just wondering anyone had a similar experience and no gluten improved their results.

[BabsyWabsy in reply to Ejcl]

If you have tested negative for coeliac and you feel better without gluten, I hope it has a positive affect on you blood results. Presumably, you have worked this out with trial and error. That is how I found out I have a wheat allergy, now officially diagnosed, but I am OK with barley and rye. I do hope you find a solution.

[Ejcl in reply to BabsyWabsy]

My wheat allergy is clear so gluten intolerance was the only thing left. Feeling the benefits already so hoping this helps me bloods get back to normal. Would like to come off the iron tablets sooner rather than later

[BabsyWabsy in reply to Ejcl]

That would be wonderful.