Ferritin Level Result Help Please

[Sallybones]

Hello everyone

Haven't posted of visited for a while as been rather unwell and lots of 'things' to sort out in my life.

However hope someone can enlighten me on this wonderful helpful site.

Recent FBC blood test showed Feritin level of 57ng/ml in range of 15-300 ng/ml

Is this considered too low?

My GP said I was slightly anaemic but no action needed. (Have been told this on many occasions)

Other results were

Red blood cell count 3.88 10^12/L [3.9 - 5.6]

Haematocrit 0.35 [0.37 - 0.48]

Not sure what other bits are taken in to consideration. Have looked at previous posts but still confused.

I'm a S/I of B12 which she knows about. I tell them all now.

Getting info out of health professionals is like getting blood out of a stone. Recent Opthalmology appointment reveals Age Related Dry Macular but apparently this started in 2008, though they didn't tell me then and I was never recalled. What I only found out from online GP records is that I also have start of cataract, doesn't say which eye though. So glad I've kept all copy letters, blood tests etc.

Have to say I was slightly devastated at this diagnosis when I've said many many times that I was seeing wonky lines with my left eye and no one took me seriously.

Thank you in anticipation SallyB

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi again Sallybones sorry to read you've not been well.

I'm not a medically trained person but it may be a good idea to have your Folate level checked as this works together with the iron and B12 and gets "used up" in the process.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Ferritin is a protein that binds to iron so the body can use it - the amount of iron you have is one factor that will affect the level measured in your blood but isn't the only factor so it is only one possible indicator of an iron based anaemia.

The type of anaemia associated with iron deficiency is microcytic (smaller red blood cells).

Low haemocrit and low red blood cell count are other indicators that your iron is low.

Anaemia is just a catch all for saying that there is something strange about the cells in your blood and there are lots of different types of anaemia because there are a lot of ways in which your cells can be different from normal - red blood cells can be smaller (microcytic), larger (macrocytic) and there are other variations. The most common cause of microcytic anaemia is iron deficiency. The most common cause of macrocytic anaemia is B12 or folate deficiency.

Sorry to hear about the Macular Degeneration and the cataracts.

Have you had a look at the various communities on HU for any that may provide more advice on these conditions. Cataracts seem to be relatively common as you get older and are relatively save and easy to deal with - I have several friends who have had operations and only one had any problems - and only with one eye and it only meant that they needed to allow more time for the eye to heal.

[Marz]

vitamindcouncil.org/?s=Eyes...

The above link takes you to various articles about VitD levels and eyes - hopefully something helpful ....