Blood test results...low ferritin - Pernicious Anaemi...

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Blood test results...low ferritin

Jo5454 profile image
33 Replies

Hi, i posted on here recently as I was wondering whether b12 deficiency could be responsible for any of my symptoms. I was diagnosed with ME 15 years ago and have been struggling for over 3 years to get past the last relapse. It was suggested I could put my recent blood test results on here and would appreciate any suggestions or opinions please! I spent an hour typing it all in last night, then somehow forgot to press submit at the end, doh!

B12 456 (130-1100)

Folate 6.1 (2.7-15)

Thyroid function TSH 1.88 (0.35-3.50) this has raised from 0.95 on last testing

Free T4 15 (8-21)

I had my thyroid tested when this last relapse started due to a feeling of going to fast inside, hard to explain and an sever over alertness to noise, small stresses, fast heart rate, anxiety,etc, Was told it was possibly due to the ear condition I'd had for a few months? Also had a saliva adrenal test at the time and that reported raised cortisol in the night but a bit lower than should be at the other three times.

Ferritin 12(23-300) have been put on ferrous Fumarate 3 times a day for this.

Plasma glucose level 6.3. (3.5-7.8) this was after 12 hours fasting...

Total white cell 5.9 (4-10)

Rbc 4.22 (3.8-4.8)

Haemoglobinestimate 133 (120-150)

Haematocrit 0.393 (0.360-0.460)

Mcv 93 (83-101)

Mch 31.5(27-32)

Platelet 341 (150-410)

Neutrophil 3.72 (2-7)

Lymphocyte 1.17 (1-3)

Monocytes 0.51 (0.2-1)

Eosinophil 0.44 (0.2-1)

Basophils 0.06 (0-0.10)

Nucleated rbc 0 10 star 9/L

Cholesterol 4.3

Am thinking perhaps the low ferritin has been responsible for some symptoms such as breathlessness, dizziness, pretty bad brain fog, nausea and picking up more infections again?

Anyway, if you are still with me after all that :) many, many thanks! Jo5454

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Ruthi profile image
Ruthi

Ferritin by itself will account for many of your symptoms. Its a measure of your stored iron, and yours is far too low! I am not sure ferrous fumarate by itself will raise your ferritin, it certainly doesn't work for all. You need an iron and folate rich diet, red meat products, offal, eggs, and lots of dark green veggies. Your folate could probably do with being higher.

Your TSH is above optimal(but your doctor will regard it as normal), but you need your ferritin to be at least 70 for your thyroid hormones to work properly. When its next measured, ask for free T3 to be measured. This is the amount of active hormone available to your cells, and for optimum well being should be in the top part of the range.

Your saliva cortisol indicates adrenal fatigue. This is caused by physical and/or emotional stress and is the reason for your 'too fast inside' symptoms. Its a big subject in itself, and I would recommend James Wilson's book. Adrenal fatigue is not really recognised yet by conventional medics so don't expect too much from your GP.

Your magnesium is probably low, it is extremely common to be deficient but the normal blood plasma test done by the NHS is worthless. Its safe to supplement regardless, any excess will be rapidly excreted. And your vitamin D should also be tested. If the doc won't test, £25 buys a test via Better You. Don't supplement without testing first as it is theoretically possible to overdose, albeit very rarely in the UK.

Your fasting blood glucose is on the high side. Hba1c is the modern gold standard for testing how well you metabolise glucose. But in any case a gluten free diet that is low in sugars and starches could well make you feel a lot better.

Apart from this group there is a thyroid group on HU (Thyroid UK) whose members have a wealth of knowledge. And Facebook groups for Adrenal Fatigue and the Magnesium Advocacy group.

Jo5454 profile image
Jo5454 in reply to Ruthi

Hi, many thanks for such a detailed reply. You mention that you don't know if ferrous Fumarate will raise the levels, can I ask which iron you would recommend please? I eat plenty of veg and leafy veg, liver once a week, lean red meat a few times a week, eggs most days, now reintroducing corned beef again, had given that up due to a risk of high cholesterol in family, but my cholesterol result seems okay. I had to give up dairy due to years of sinusitis and a positive on a York test, but thought that should help iron absorption. I'm surprised my folate isn't higher as I eat lots of fruit, veg and salad each day?

I'll ask for free T3 thanks. Is it vitamin d I ask for please, or is it d2 and d3. If not, is the hometest as reliable as the docs please?

I was surprised at the glucose result. I'm on a gluten free diet, although I've recently introduced a little back in, and due to a very high candida result ( nearly 100 and the range was 0-10) I'm on a sugar free diet. I do have quite a few blood sugar type symptoms, shaky and panicky if hungry, waking in night with panic symptoms, although these are easing a little now. I make sure and eat protein/carb snacks between meals. Is the Hba1c a test I am likely to get at the docs?

Thanks for the suggestions of other groups, will have a look...thanks once again :)

Jacqadactle profile image
Jacqadactle in reply to Jo5454

If you're subbing in gluten free versions of your normal gluten foods, the gluten free versions are usually higher in carbs as they are more dense. The only thing that helps with my high a1c is to count my carbs. I have about 50g per meal (I eat 5-6 small meals a day because I'm always hungry lol). That might be different for you depending on your height, gender and weight.

Jo5454 profile image
Jo5454 in reply to Jacqadactle

Hi, many thanks for your replyJacqadactle. I'm glad you've found a way of improving your blood sugar, and you've found a way around being always hungry! I didn't realise non gluten was higher in carbs thanks. I've been trying small amounts of gluten again as I was fed up still feeling I'll and unsure as to whether it helps or not. I'm female, 7 stone and 5'4...did you get to 50g out of trial and error? I've been trying to up my protein, so it's more equal to carbs on plate and am finding I stay a bit fuller for longer that way? I've been introducing some gluten ( love a scone and making pastry!) as I've been fed up feeling so I'll and wondering if it's helping or not. I'm dairy free too and no added sugar due to candida and have to avoid a certain foods due to latex allergy. I don't mind following the different eating regimes, but am coming to the conclusion I don't want to be eliminating unnecessary things. I know I def can't seem to eat dairy as temp goes up and I get sore throat/ earache within a day of eating, very strange! :)

Many thanks again, shall weigh my carbs tomorrow and see...

Jo5454 profile image
Jo5454 in reply to Jo5454

Sorry Jacqadactle, have repeated myself with the fed up bit above and can't seem to edit or delete, so am stuck with it, makes me sound a wingey doubly fed up! :)

Jacqadactle profile image
Jacqadactle in reply to Jo5454

Hello! I figured out my carbs when I was diagnosed prediabetic and having some weird blood sugar swings. I use an app called myfitnesspal (it's free and awesome). I set it to lose 1.5 lbs/week with my carbs as 40% of my daily calories. For me, that's also upping my protein from what I was eating before (so I'm 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fat). I do my best to space out my carbs evenly throughout the day. My father (type 2 diabetic) does the same thing with his carbs, but he'll eat three big meals and two lower carb snacks, but he's also on the meds so he needs to allot more to mealtimes.

How long were you gluten free for? I'm celiac (which I think caused my anemia). If you suspect gluten, have you had your doc check you for celiac? It's a blood test so not that bad :)

Another thing I do is always match a lean protein with a complex carb (think foods with fiber like veggies and whole grains). My doctor recommends that one to help sustain energy and keep blood sugar steady.

Jo5454 profile image
Jo5454 in reply to Jacqadactle

Hi, thanks very much for all your info...that sounds like a very clever app, will take a look thanks. It sounds like you've worked really hard, I hope you're noticing a positive difference with your blood sugar. I've been gluten free for years at a time and thought it has helped, but then when I relapse I begin to question why, but perhaps it is due to something else?

Yes, I tend to mix the complex carb and lean protein, both nutritionists have recommended that I've seen in the past, so I stick to that.

I've had a test for celiac in the past, but do you think it's worth checking again? Yes, I've a couple of friends who became anaemic and were then diagnosed with celiac. My first 3 month ferritin check is now due, so am keen to see the result. I've also discovered my vit d is low via a home test, so they want to retest that too. Many thanks for your help...Jo

Poppet11 profile image
Poppet11

You're B12 level isn't typically low but you seem to have on-going problems with iron (you've posted here before?)

I would get iron checked rather than just ferritin (which is an acute phase reactant anyway).

Could be your B12 but if you want to make sure prior to taking a high dose supplement then you would need further tests such as the Active B12.

Jo5454 profile image
Jo5454 in reply to Poppet11

Hi, I think there is another Jo you may be thinking of? I've only just been tested for low ferritin, and fairly new to this site. I thought iron came under haemoglobin, do you mean I need to ask for an iron test please? Or would that be too late as I've started on the iron tablets now? What do you mean by acute phase reactant, is that because it changes if you have an infection/ inflammation?

I've read Active b12 is usually 10% ish of result, so didn't know if it was worth having that test?

Many thanks for your reply...:)

Poppet11 profile image
Poppet11 in reply to Jo5454

Hi Jo,

I just clicked on your name and it came up with your previous posts - some of them go back a couple of years.

Iron is a separate test. The problem is that a lot of doctors will just check Ferritin. but then your ferritin isn't good anyway. You've certainly got to get this iron problem sorted out before you look at anything else.

If you have a problem with iron, and there is an underlying B12 problem, then once you have got the iron sorted out the B12 deficiency will reveal itself.

But the iron is the big issue at the minute.

Jo5454 profile image
Jo5454 in reply to Poppet11

Hi Poppet11, thanks for getting back. Well, I've learnt something, I've always thought iron was included in the big standard blood test and ferritin was an extra. Just wondering why if ferritin is low that they don't go on to check iron? Shall try to get this sorted first then. Are you saying low ferritin could be masking b12 problems? Sorry, brain is not quite working (she says after finding the tub of margarine in the sink this morning instead of the fridge!:) I've had checks by the nhs dietician due to weight loss and being around 7 stone, and it came back I was eating at least 200% of daily rec intake for most areas! they said I was eating 500% of b12 so am presuming I'm eating okay? But I realise eating and what you're absorbing are two different issues! I have a latex allergy so cook most things from scratch myself.

So sorry didn't mean to accuse you of getting me in a muddle, I'd forgotten I had been on here a while back to get some info on a home test for iron and b12. I know in my recent post there was a bit of confusion between another Jo and myself and wondered if that's what you'd read :) Thanks very much for your help :)

drumdoit profile image
drumdoit

i would strongly suggest that you watch dr chandys documentry at bbc documentries dr chandy

Jo5454 profile image
Jo5454 in reply to drumdoit

Thank you , has that been on recently?

helvella profile image
helvella in reply to Jo5454

It is available here:

youtube.com/watch?v=klobLSx...

(Hope that is the one that was meant.)

And this local heroes program:

youtube.com/watch?v=Ww0dH3l...

Jo5454 profile image
Jo5454 in reply to helvella

Many thanks for these links helvella, very interesting viewing isn't it!

Ruthi profile image
Ruthi

I'm not an expert on iron - its not an area that I have had to bone up on! But I have read lots of people complain that iron supplements don't work for them! There seems to be some suggestion that carbonyl iron is the best - at least in part because its less likely to poison you! I think its probably an area you need to research yourself to work out why your ferritin is low if your diet is good.

The 'home' vitamin D test from Better You is processed by an NHS lab in the Midlands, so exactly the same as the one done by your GP. it gives D2 and D3, but its D3 that is the critical one. D3 is a hormone that we normally make in our skin - its all about hormones!!!

Your fasting glucose doesn't look good for someone on a low carb diet! I would think it warrants some investigation. My GP has done the Hba1c test at least once, unlike the blood glucose test it is a reflection of where your blood sugar has been over the previous few months. For a crash course on the whole business of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome you can do no better than Jason Fung, delightful Canadian doc who posts his lectures on Youtube. Watch his series The Aetiology of Obesity (which is more about diabetes). He also has a blog, which started off covering the same ground, but his most recent post was about the link between cortisol (adrenal gland product) and insulin - scary for someone who produces too much cortisol!!!

And if you aren't on anything to treat diabetes, then I think he would tell you not to snack at all - your body needs gaps between meals to reset the insulin response. Constant snacking is thought to be one of the causes of type 2 diabetes!

I think most of us who find ourselves on these boards for any length of time have quite complex problems, which are unlikely to be entirely down to only one thing. The more I read, the more I wonder why these things occur so frequently nowadays. And also the more I read the more certain I am that modern medicine is not doing anyone but the drug companies any favours. If I tell my GP I have a symptom he offers me a drug to suppress it. And I rate him as among the brighter, and more open-minded of his species! Don't expect to find an answer too soon - I've been spending at least an hour a day, sometimes much more, for the last couple of years trawling the net - filtering out the rubbish and unscientific in order to get anywhere near an answer for me. I am increasingly thinking that magnesium deficiency is the single biggest cause of problems but I am nowhere near knowledgeable enough.

helvella profile image
helvella in reply to Ruthi

This NHS lab offers vitamin D tests:

vitamindtest.org.uk/

So they would be the same as NHS/GP tests in Sandwell and West Birmingham. There is no certainty that all NHS labs use the same technology. The one your GP gets done for you could very well be different.

Rod

Jo5454 profile image
Jo5454 in reply to Ruthi

Hi Ruthi, many thanks for such an informative reply, it's really helpful. I will bear that type of iron in mind, the Fumarate doesn't seem to be causing any probs at mo, just some stomach pain and headaches at first, so have been building up to the 3 a day and seems okay, but I realise whether it's being absorbed is another kettle of fish! Fingers crossed!

Thanks for the link for home vit d testing- it appears £3 cheaper than the ordering directly?

I will request the Hba1c test when I have the ferritin retest. I was told to wait 3 months so I guess this is the standard time before retesting. Thanks for the link to Jason Chung- very interesting, as always lots to learn! Ive been advised by more than one nutritionist to eat protein/ carb tea breaks between meals and supper to support blood sugar! Must try eating a bit more for breakfast I think, always make an oat or quinoa porridge, then sometimes an egg on crackers or bacon and egg for a treat, but need to be a bit more creative I guess! I seem to staying a bit fuller since taking the iron supplements, so maybe that's helping?

Yes, I quite agree it's about trying to get to the root of the problems and this seems to involve a lot of research to do so and is a very confusing scenario, especially when people are far from well, but what a great support sites like these are, with so many being prepared to share their findings. Yes, I've recently bought a very interesting book about magnesium, seems like that could be another vital key to getting health back on track doesn't it. So many nutrients have been lost in the soil and our bodies have so many chemicals to deal with nowadays. If only our government could support farmers who are more concerned with producing good healthy, chemical free food in a better way, it all seems to be about the shape size and attractive packaging doesn't it!

Anyway better stop, thanks again :)

shaws profile image
shaws

I am not good at blood tests but M.E.caught my eye and I think the possibility is that your thyroid gland is struggling. The reason being is that after the blood tests were brought in to diagnose thyroid gland dysfunctions it has lead to the clinical symptoms being ignored. Before that people were diagnosed on clinical symptoms alone and prescribed NDT (natural dessicated thyroid hormones).

Around ten years after the blood tests were introduced, a Virologist (specialised in viruses) was sent people who were unable to be diagnosed because their TSH didn't fall into the diagnoses of hypothyroidism, so the thought was they must have some kind of virus (ME, Fibromyalgia and CFS hadn't yet been named). Dr Skinner was the Virologist in question and this is the first page of his World Thyroid Register as he became astonished......Unfortunately for us, after being hauled before the GMC for treating sick people, he died. He treated patients as we was taught as a medical student and he remembered all his life. Nowadays medical students are told the blood test reveals all. Not true.

worldthyroidregister.com/Go...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/diagno...

thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/testin...

Your B12 is low and it is preferable if it is towards the upper level. You can buy sublingual methylcobalamin B12.

I have pernicious anaemia controlled by injections and hypothyroidism.

Ruthi profile image
Ruthi

I know dieticians and nutritionists tell you to have snacks, but Jason Fung won't. All you are doing is perpetuating the insulin roller coaster. Your body is perfectly capable of maintaining your blood sugar - think how long you go each night without eating anything!

In your case the problem is starting with breakfast. No matter how much bran comes with the oats or quinoa, that is one huge dollop of starch you are eating. So you will be producing loads of insulin to get rid of the blood sugar (and convert it to fat!!!!) and if you overproduce insulin even slightly then you'll go hypoglycaemic - but only until the system works to release more sugar into your system. If instead you eat more starch, you'll raise your blood sugar, yes, but you'll also demand more insulin and so the cycle goes on.

I've been lucky, because I haven't actually become diabetic, but I went through all the stuff about treating hypoglycaemia with snacks, and I just struggled with my weight! I used to have headaches if I missed a meal, and got seriously crabby, but no more. Now that I am more or less carb free (I'm not religious about it, I'll eat a bit if out, or if someone has cooked for me) I have far less trouble lasting between meals, and if the need arises, missing them.

Breakfast is the key, and if you can keep off the carbs for breakfast then you are half way there. I either eat leftovers from the previous night, a bag of salad with whatever protein I have handy, or if I am desperately unorganised, cheese and apple (but cheese generates quite a lot of insulin).

I've just started Dr Hyman's 10 day detox after someone mentioned it on here. I waited till hubby went back to work, so today was day one. The shake lasted me till 3.00pm when I remembered to eat! It was a bit of a faff, but I've weighed out all the dry stuff for tomorrow so it won't be such a palaver!

I can't say enough, that the current standard advice to eat a third of your diet in carbs is total rubbish. There are NO essential carbohydrates, only essential proteins and fats! And your liver will make the requisite blood glucose from your fat stores with no problem at all. You need lots of good fats (animal fats, butter, olive and coconut oils) and a moderate amount of protein. The rest of your plate should be filled with vegetables! Before agriculture, when we were hunter-gatherers, there were hardly any sources of starch(the occasional roots perhaps), we managed just fine with berries, nuts and leafy stuff in addition to what we caught. And before advertising there was no such thing as a snack! In fact until the early 19th century people only had two meals a day, lunch and dinner. Breakfast was a new invention in Georgian times.

Also, in your case if you are indeed heading towards type two diabetes then intermittent fasting might well help - along with cutting out carbs. Its really hard the first few times, but after a while I found it was no trouble. I stopped when I was diagnosed with adrenal fatigue because its another stress on the body, but to be honest I am not sure its helped a lot.

I couldn't agree more about the way our food (even organic) is depleted of vital nutrients. But there's no help for it, just too many people to feed on the planet. That isn't to say that they couldn't be fed better - but that would probably involve less profit for big food, big advertising, and big government! You could do worse than invest in a hair mineral analysis - about £50 and a good pointer to deficiencies.

Yes, currently BetterYou are charging less for the test - it used to be £25 from everyone, and I guess they haven't yet put up the price. They probably have enough margin from the sales of their excellent Vitamin D spray!

Which book did you buy about magnesium?

Jo5454 profile image
Jo5454 in reply to Ruthi

Thanks for your reply:) I've got the book called Magnesium Miracle by Carolyn Dean...have you got that one? I'm not taking magnesium at the mo, but have done in the past under nutritionists advice. Again, fascinating history when you find out docs discovered early last century that lots of conditions improved with magnesium, particularly high blood pressure, yet this seemed to be hushed up when blood pressure tablets ( sorry I know the name of those but having lots of blank memory moments it's gone! And if I remember it in a minute I can't add it in because this won't let me do that:) ) came into play!

Thanks for the info once again. I really do need to rethink my breakfasts and must admit I do feel better if I've had a naughty bacon ( grilled!lol) egg, tomato, etc brekkie! Although that's usually still after my porridge, erk!

One of the big symptoms when first diagnosed with ME was a constant hungry empty feeling, with shakes, sweats, faint feeling sometimes very soon after eating, so that's why I've been trying to level blood sugar. Yes, I never had a problem sleeping through the night until I developed this illness. Since the last relapse 4 years ago, sleeping has been a nightmare! I was told unless I kept my blood sugar level during the day it was this that was waking me up in a state and preventing sleep at night. Weight loss has been a problem too, was down to just over 6 stones at one point, now around 7 ish, but have been told I'm eating more than my daily calorific requirement, just don't seem to be able to put weight back on, but at least it's stable! Looking at your info I could try lessening carbs and see what happens. I try to eat plenty of cold pressed oils, olive, rapeseed, flax, etc, would like to get back onto trying some goats butter, but usually go down with ear probs and sinusitis on reintroducing dairy, bah! Can't do coconut oil because of latex allergy :( I do eat some seeds, but again, could do better! Because I had been cutting out gluten for a while have stopped making the soda bread which I'd add the seeds to...thankfully I do and have always eaten plenty of veg, would say I have half a plate of veggies, so guess that parts okay. I have salad for my other meal 5 out of the 7 days and a good mix of fruit. Because I have a latex allergy I cook most of my food from scratch so have what I consider fairly healthy diet, was told by the consultant to never eat anything out of a packet again after diagnosis, because the latex could be within packaging in the guise of glue! After lots of investigations have found ways around things and what packaging types are safe! Loved your bit of history about meals:)

I had a hair analysis at the beginning of this relapse and was considering another, so will do a bit if research into that. Will have to dig out previous one, I wawa bit low in most things apart from calcium which was up to the just above normal and made the mag/ calc ratio or of balance, so stopped buying rice milk with added calcium and should really have had another test to see I guess! I try to drink minimum of that tho, because of the natural sugar in rice and now there's the arsenic warning...

Hope your detox is going well, what symptoms prompted you to try that? Have you read about I think it is Natasha McBride, Camb based doctor ( I will have to check her name) have you found anything in particular to help with adrenal fatigue, I've been tested a couple of times and was found to have too high cortisol at night and bit lower rest of day, which was considered early stages of it, although I seemed to tick all of the symptom boxes and felt at the end of my tether and some!!

Anyway had better stop now before I give you eyes train! Thanks again...

Jo5454 profile image
Jo5454 in reply to Jo5454

Nearly, it's Natasha Campbell McBride...

Ruthi profile image
Ruthi

Ah! Right, Carolyn Dean MD. She was the one that was about to be defrocked in Canada so moved to the USA. Now that doesn't make her bad, Dr Skinner was in permanent danger of being defrocked, but it kind of calls into question her methods - especially since they were accusing her of using stuff like Vega testing! If I can I prefer to find my knowledge from doctors who haven't yet upset the establishment too much, or who have at least got solid scientific evidence for their theories. Its a minefield of course, because there is so much very bad science out there proving whatever the holder of the purse strings wants to prove. Natasha MacBride falls into the same category!

But of course the way out theories sometimes turn out to be the truth!

You need fat - its fine to fry your bacon!

And you won't need rice milk, or any other milk for that matter, if you aren't making porridge! It sounds as if your attempts to keep your blood sugar level during the day aren't doing a lot to help the sleeping anyway.

Looking at your history I would think, despite any reservations I might have about Ms MacBride, that your gut flora could well be out. Are you taking GOOD probiotics? Or even looking at the slightly whackier ways of improving bowel inhabitants like faecal transplants? I looked at Symprove, which looks a bit like snake oil, if it weren't for the fact that I have come across several folk who have dramatically improved on it. And minerals, especially magnesium, zinc, iron are probably all low, although given your good diet they shouldn't really be - which points again to poor absorption possibly because of who is, or is not, living in your gut.

I'm not really doing the detox for any particular reason, other than to have a structured approach to kicking the sugar AGAIN after Christmas! I thought I was addicted to sugar, but it was the signpost to my adrenal fatigue. If I am under stress I hit the sugar! Its a rather misguided attempt to compensate for poor adrenal (and thyroid) function, but of course its not a good solution. And I have ten kilos to lose - the result of stupidly allowing a GP to persuade me to stop taking NDT for 2 months. That was nearly a year ago, and I am still recovering,

I'm on Nutri Adrenal Extra, and something called Gluco balance, but to be honest, the thing that seemed to make the most difference was magnesium. However I am pretty sure that it is causing a strange rash, so have stopped taking it, and my sleep is worse....... Everything stems from a good night's sleep!

Ruthi profile image
Ruthi

The more I think about you, the more I wonder if your high fasting glucose isn't caused by something other than insulin resistance? Its really rare for that to be linked to low body weight, as I understand it.

I don't want to be alarmist , so I won't list all the things that came to mind, but it just doesn't add up!

Jo5454 profile image
Jo5454

Thanks for your replies Ruthi, hope your detox is going well and you're noticing some benefits from it. I have to confess I didn't know much about the background of the Magnesiums books author-it was at a bargain price so thought I'd take a read! I chose to buy DuoKult probiotics when I was advised to after having a candida result of nearly 100 when it should've been under 10. At the time they seemed to tick all of the boxes of things I'd researched you need to consider when buying them. Not sure what on earth I'd go for now, as you say everything seems to take such a lot of time to research and they can be pretty costly too!

Have cut out all of rice milk for porridge, usually go half n half, but am trying to come up with some better breakfast ideas! I sometimes worry that I cut out sugar too quickly when I was advised by nutritionist and maybe that has caused my system to not know how to deal with it so well? Or maybe I'm just fed up never really eating any sweeter treats and trying to convince myself that's the case, lol!

I'm sure I read on one of these sites that someone had had a problem with low ferritin and raised blood glucose and when they corrected their iron, that improved, but can't find that post at the mo...

Yes, my weight loss does seem to have been an enigma to people over the years, i had a colonoscopy a few years ago and told I produce too much mucous in bowel? And it was IBS. I think I shall start over again at the docs and get some of these levels checked that are recommended on here, as I'm wondering now what has actually been looked at. If I hadn't have asked for a copy of my results I'd have never even known about the blood glucose! My mum had the exact same fasting result a year ago and was called in to see the diabetes nurse, but again she is basically vegetarian, a very healthy, regular eater with very few treats, but just strange that two people with the same result getting treated differently!

How very frustrating for you to have been advised to do something that you are still paying for a year later. It is amazing how long relapses take to recover from...strange about the rash, will you try the magnesium again to see if it was a coincidence seeing as it helped your sleep?

Thanks again...Jo

aliveandwell profile image
aliveandwell

My blood sugar went crazy when my iron was very low. and continued for over 6 months. And just like you have said, it was strange because I felt the symptoms after eating too.

What was interesting is that when I completely eliminated wheat from my diet, after a few days, this completely stopped. Completely stopped. Then I happened to read a book by Patrick holford that said that when we have a food allergy our body produces this chemical (name I forgot) and this chemical prevents insulin getting into the cells, hence blood sugar problems! And that completely fitted with my own experience. Also with this allergy there was no immediate affect rather it was sort of delayed reaction, which is why it took 3 days to notice a change.

Although oats are naturally gluten free, Oats are not completely gluten free unless you buy the gluten free ones. This is because the farming of crops in rotation and the cross contamination of factories production etc. Also, some people who are celiac are also sensitive to oats or so I have read/heard online.

Interestingly also there is a connection between being celiac and poor iron absorption.

Jo5454 profile image
Jo5454 in reply to aliveandwell

Hi aliveandwell, thanks very much for your reply. That's brilliant that you've got to the bottom of your blood sugar issues, has your iron improved now that you've eliminated wheat? I can't seem to decide whether I am better or not on a gluten free diet! I'm down to 7 stones so don't want to leave unnecessary things out of my diet that could improve weight gain, and have been on the gluten free diet for years at a time sometimes. It is so difficult to know what def helps sometimes unless you get a really positive response, or maybe that particular thing is helping but but being deficient in something else needs correcting! Bit of a minefield isn't it! I've been advised over the years that gluten does place an extra load on the system, so perhaps I'll be forced to give up the odd scone I've been trying recently! Thanks again and really is good to hear you're getting on well...Jo

aliveandwell profile image
aliveandwell

Thank you. I am so glad that I have eliminated wheat from my diet. I don't eat any wheat, or any products containing wheat. I will not eat wheat again! Even a little bit. Because it was not until I eliminated it completely, and had it out of my system for two weeks, that my blood sugar improved. So, I figure that it needs to be eliminated fully before you know what reaction it is giving your body, since it is a delayed allergic reaction, rather than instant.

I think that it is too soon to tell if it helps with the iron. I am still building up my iron levels, and I have had a winter virus which I think uses up iron. So time will tell. All the best.

aliveandwell profile image
aliveandwell

PS. I don't eat these gluten free breads from the supermarket. Or the gluten free cakes etc. Personally, I don't like the look of the long list of ingredients in them including sugar. I can eat rye, and so I eat rye bread. Which is okay for me. And I eat oat cakes, gluten free ones. Which I love.

The funny thing is that I do not even want to eat wheat anymore.

I can see how gluten free would feel more of a challenge. But you could make your own bread and cakes.

There is a blog that I like called deliciouslyella.com. With a bread receipe on it, that I hope to try soon.

Jo5454 profile image
Jo5454

Thank you again, for your replies. Yes I know what you mean about the long list of obscure ingredients in some things! I pretty much have to eat everything from raw ingredients and make what I need, because I have a latex allergy ( was told on diagnosis of that 15 years ago to avoid anything in a packet! Because the glues could contain latex) have researched over the years to know whats safe or not, but thankfully I was brought up on home cooked food and like you, like to know whats going in them! I'm on dairy free because of persistent sinus probs, only way I can eliminate that. I'm basically sugar free due to candida probs and up until the last few months religiously followed gluten free. The latex allergy cross reacts with some foods, so it keeps me on my toes. Just frustrated at still feeling so I'll and a bit confused as to why iron was so low when I've been gluten and dairy free, which is supposed to aid absorption of iron? So that's why I've been introducing the odd scone again, lol! Also introduced rye back. Make a basic sugar free, gluten free muffin mix and add fruit to vary them! I've tried making corn breads...thanks for that blog link, will have a look and love to know if you find the bread recipe is good, hope so :)

aliveandwell profile image
aliveandwell

Do you exercise a lot? That uses up iron. I just read that an athlete needs 100-200mg daily!

Jo5454 profile image
Jo5454 in reply to aliveandwell

Hi, thanks for your thoughts and rereading my post. No, I'm pretty inactive at the mo exercise wise, due to feeling ill. I can manage a short walk if I don't break I to too fast a pace:) ! Wow, I never knew athletes have to take those kind of amounts! Yes, I have that book and have been rereading it, thanks for pointing it out. I'll wait for the results of my recent tests and then try to sort the magnesium out, I think it's a hair test that's best for diagnosing that? Hope you're over that winter virus now. Yes, I'm not quite sure how it effects the iron. I've read that your body tries to put iron into ferritin storage if you get a virus', to prevent the virus from using it. I've just had a cold type virus and my blood test, so not sure how it will have affected the results. I suppose it could mean the iron stores improve as your body works harder to store?

Have you tried the bread recipe yet? If so, hope it was tasty...thanks again...Jo

aliveandwell profile image
aliveandwell

re read your first post and I remembered that in the book the magnesium miracle she wrote about the connection to noise sensitivity and magnesium, also anxiety. Maybe worth getting the book.

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