Low ferritin but high iron? GP referral ....

[Tima69]

Hi

I've been talking to my GP as to why I should have low ferritin (17) yet high iron (35) and a normal MCV. When asked, she's like a rabbit caught in the headlights and seems clueless (also told me if my ferritin was 20, that would be normal, so mine is only "a bit low"?!).

Asked to be referred to a consultant for more investigation (my periods stopped years ago and no other obvious signs of bleeding), and she has sent me to see a haemotologist. 

Is this the right speciality?

[fbirder]

Ask for the ferritin to be repeated. These tests are sometimes not totally accurate.

[Tima69 in reply to fbirder]

GP has organised re-test but I pointed out results will be skewed after being on ferrous fumarate for a month now ......

[Laura5 in reply to Tima69]

Being on ferrous fumarate 3 times a day for a month only raised my ferritin by 3 - so it might not skew it much if you're not absorbing it.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Have you had B12 and folate levels checked? and if so what were the exact results.

Low B12 can cause an apparent early meno-pause.

[Tima69 in reply to Gambit62]

Yes, B12 is a little low too. Taking methylcobalamine 5000 mcg sublingual daily

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Tima69]

you may want to add some adenosylcobalamin to that - some people have problems converting methyl to adenosyl and the body needs both forms.

You also need to keep an eye on your folate levels as you can use up folate quite quickly if you are processing a lot of B12.

What exactly were your results - 'low' is an arbitrary description - as is 'normal' and lots of people can be B12 deficient when their results come back as normal.

[Tima69 in reply to Gambit62]

B12 was 224 so "normal"?!

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Tima69]

so normal range but grey range so could well be a problem

what was folate?

[Tima69 in reply to Gambit62]

Folate 27.9 , range  10.4 to 42.4