Help needed to interpret son's results

[mb008]

Hi

Please can someone interpret my14 year old son's results.

He has been taking iron supplement for the last few months (Spatone) and has liver occasionally but I think he needs to increase this.

Thanks in advance,

[Admin Note: Image with results temporarily deleted so that poster can redact son's NHS number and GP name]

[Galixie]

I'm not qualified to interpret results, but it does look as if he is still low in iron. Has the reason why he's low in iron been established?

It seem ludicrous to me that the lab report can say both 'abnormal' and 'no action' on the same line. I would say that it warrants further investigation, especially if it has been low previously and is still low now. Low iron in men is not particularly common. Unlike women, the cause can't be blamed on monthly bleeding. That means it could be due to something like an ulcer which really needs to be found and treated.

[mb008 in reply to Galixie]

Thanks. I've lost faith in my GP and yes, it is ludicrous. I asked why he was low in iron (after the first tests) and GP replied that it was common in boys that are growing. I haven't spoken to the GP about these results but I will. I just wanted to be armed with some information as it's likely they will try to fob me off again.

Thanks for your reply.

[MrsO2510]

Hi, my son was similar years ago in terms of iron and haematocril and with more fortified foods as well as supplements was absolutely fine. However the monocyte count is high so I would want that investigated further. Has he been ill recently?

[mb008]

No he hasn't been ill. He does do a lot of sport and he has been through a real growth spurt. Surprisingly he doesn't claim to be tired or dizzy. I think his hair has thinned though. What does the monocyte count measure? What could that potentially indicate?

Thanks

[MrsO2510 in reply to mb008]

I’m not medically qualified but can say that it’s an inflammatory marker of sorts.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mon...

Thinking hair could be a sign of iron deficiency. Also if he has a gut infection or has IBS it could be an absorbtion problem so might be Vit D deficient but unlikely if he’s not suffering fatigue.

Hope this helps.

Jacqui

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Link about full blood count test.

labtestsonline.org.uk/under...

Had he also had tests for folate and B12?

b12deficiency.info/b12-test...

[marigold22]

Hi, I've been on the thyroid forum previously and have learnt a lot over there. Only recently joined this group. Just a thought - was the CRP (C-Reactive Protein) blood test done? If that was included and it is high it shows inflammation in the body. MrsO2510 says there is inflammation in the body shown in monocyte count. Hair loss can (underlined can) be due to low thyroid gland. If the thyroid gland is 'going slow' plus inflammation in the body, then it's an illness called Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Sorry if I'm frightening you, but I guess it's better to be aware of what to look out for.

[mb008 in reply to marigold22]

Hi, no not frightening as I have Hashimoto's. I'm a member on the thyroid site as well and use it regularly. I I don't think his CRP has been testerd. He just doens't show the other symptoms of low thyroid so my initial feeling is that it is he is growing very quickly, and he is doing a lot of sport. But yes, the inflammation needs to be looked at further.

Thanks for replying.

[marigold22 in reply to mb008]

You know all about Hashimoto's then. Why not either insist his GP does a thyroid test which must include FT3 as T3 is the usable thyroid hormone in the body, and use the excuse that you have thyroid problems. Or do a private one? It would put your mind at rest.

medichecks.com/thyroid-health

[Sleepybunny]

Hi again,

NICE guidelines for Coeliac disease mention that anyone with unexplained iron, B12 or folate deficiency should have tests for Coeliac disease.

nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20/c...

What do the doctors think is causing your son's low iron?

Has he had tests for Coeliac disease?

coeliac.org.uk/coeliac-dise...

In UK, two first line tests for Coeliac disease are recommended

1) tTG IgA

2) Total IgA

My experience is that the second test is not always done but it's important because a person with IgA deficiency needs alternative tests for Coeliac disease.

Symptoms of B12 deficiency

pernicious-anaemia-society.... See Symptoms List PDF on right of page

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Risk factors for B12 deficiency and PA (Pernicious Anaemia)

b12deficiency.info/what-are...

b12deficiency.info/who-is-a...

pernicious-anaemia-society....

Lots more B12 and PA info in pinned posts. I've also written some detailed replies which may have useful info if you search for them.

B12 books I found useful (I think iron and folate are mentioned in these books)

"What You Need to Know About Pernicious Anaemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper. Martyn hooper is the chair of PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society).

"Could it Be b12" by Sally Pacholok and JJ. Stuart (USA authors)

I am not medically trained.

[mb008 in reply to Sleepybunny]

Thanks so much for such a detailed reply. I have an appointment next week with the doctor to discuss my son's results. I've changed doctors because I was unhappy with the treatment I received from my previous one. Hopefully this new doctor will be better.

I will read through the links you've sent. Thanks