Blood test results show high ferritin but low Hg.
57 year peri menapausal, cough for 20 weeks being treated for asthma. Sometimes so bad I gag and vomit. Took a 17 day course of Prednisone which cleared the cough completely then it’s back - could this be connected to blood results. Feel a little nausea from time to time and a little tired some days.
b12. 409
Ferritin 271
Haemoglobin 112
MCV 76.80
MCH 23.6
MCHC 308
RDW 18.3
Is it safe to take iron tablets? What should be the next step.
Pernecious anemia is anemia of b12. There are several types of anemia, the most common being iron.
It does seem you have an iron issue however with high ferritin, your issue points to anemia of chronic inflamation.
niddk.nih.gov/health-inform...
The treatment for this is to find and correct the inflamation which is likely due to an infection. I dont believe taking iron is recommended when you have high levels of ferritin.
Your white blood cells (wbc) might be high or your doctor might do crp testing to find your level of inflamation. Treatment could be antibiotics specific to the cause of inflamation or anti inflammatory medication.
Best of luck and health.
Thank you for your reply. My doctor doesn’t really know what specialist to send me to as the anemia is only borderline. I don’t want to put myself through lots of unecessary tests. My only symotoms are a chronic asthmatic cough, feeling tired and sometimes nausea if I don’t eat regularly.
Chezza1777, the obvious referal would be a haematologist.
I'd caution against supplementing iron given the mixed messages that your blood work is giving until it is clearer what is going on.
Would help to have ranges associated with the tests as well as the results.
Your RDW looks to me as if it is high - which could indicate that you have a mixture of microcytosis (small red blood cells that would be associated with iron deficiency) and macrocytosis (larger rounder red blood cells - which is associated with folate and B12 deficiencies) - and could be an indicator that you have absorption problems generally in the gut. You mention nausea - any other gut issues.
Might be a good idea to also take a look at the symptoms of B12 deficiency and looking at which actually apply - and some may have been going on for a long time as B12 deficiency teds to develop very slowly.
pernicious-anaemia-society....
Thank you for your suggestions.My B12 is 409 which the doctor said was normal, so it’s all a bit of a mystery as my Ferriten is high. I tend to agree that a haemotologist May be helpful.
we are having problems with high ferritin levels, and iron is something you should stay away from if you are eating red meat make sure you are drinking green tea with your meals,, Green tea stops the absorption of 50% of the iron from going into the body. Usually, women have higher levels of iron after menopause because they no longer have a monthly. Depending on your lab values...a women levels usually don't go pass 150(but depending on your lab) anything over 150 needs to be removed from the body before going to other organs. I would see a hematologist and they would let you know the best way to remove some of the iron from your body. Did the doctor do an iron serum level? if so, please look at your level. Your b12 is fine at 409 but you still need to look at the lab values on your report..also look at your folic acid. gl
Thank you for responding, My serum folate was 9.7.
on most blood test 9.7 is normal if over 5.7, Did the doctor take a serum for your iron level..not your ferritin but iron serum if so u need to look at that along with Iron saturation if both your ferritin/iron serum are high then you may have an infection. I really don't know how much your ferritin is raised because you didn't give lab ranges.
Hi Chezza 1777, if you are responding to Prednisone there could be endocrine reasons for this I would ask your Doctor if your Cortisol 24 hours levels in blood am early testing & a 24 hour cortisol test for urine could be done also if it comes back low a small dose like 5mg Cortef once a.m. early could be better it is also a steroid Hydrocortisone...I have used both they come from the same family of hormone medicines I prefer the Cortef...I do not know your History of what diagnosis you already have & sometimes while on these medicines they require an increase then decrease when one has flares, they used to give me 30 mg iv in Emergency visits then double to 10mg a day for a week then taper back to lower doses & if you are on it for awhile it is best to taper slowly down each day until you get off entirely like 1 mg. doses. Do not cold turkey ever on this medicine taper off slowly it also suppresses the immune system if it is overactive or an ongoing infection...Oscal Calcium or a natural calcium you can tolerate is best while taking steroids to reduce any bone thinning...Hope this helps...
Help with blood test results 
Can a very high B12 blood test result also mean you are deficient somehow?
