Puzzled

[Nackapan]

Just back from b12 injection and got my blood results printed off.

Ferritin Oct. 2018 61 ng/ml

Jan. 2019 39

April 2019 31. I've been taking g iron since the first drop in January. Alternatively ferrous sulfate 200mcg solgar gentle iron and spartone. Also my multivitamin has 14mg I'm not taking multivit daily now but was for some time but folate went above range.I know ferritin in range but I've read below 50 can cause fatigue. This blood form says satisfactory 75-250 nmol/L a different measure? ?

Any thoughts?

Vitamin d up to 76 after loading doses for 5 weeks of 20000iu a week

Disappointing too is my total cholesterol has risen to 6.5

I think one of the reasons is I've increased red meat. Perhaos not eaten as well as when been so poorly not always cooked from scratch . Could stand for long enough or sit!!

The ferriton levels a mystery considering without any supplements it used to be 61

[buster_uk]

It seems to be a common thing with ferritin dropping. Despite what some may say I believe when you are very low in the start and have a lot of repair to do all neutriants in the body are used up quickly and over a long period of time. Sometimes maybe little and less often b12 injections may do better. Of course I could be wrong.

Dr. Told me that when you are very low with anemea b12, potassium, b9, b6, iron and magnesium are some of the main component used to repair.

[Nackapan in reply to buster_uk]

Yes does seem odd. I didn't have macricytosis when your blood cells are big. When b12 defiency first diagnosed. hb has always been fine. But like you say repair must be using it as when my level was 61 I didn't take iron. I've also been eating more red meat and liver with vitamin C! ! That's raised my cholesterol. Can't win! Pottassium fine and folate above normal range at last test. This one not printed off .

Perhaps my body missing the iron in red wine lol. Not had any on 10 months.

Oh well odd on . I'm on 2 weekly b12 injections which doesn't feel over the top. Hope your symptoms improving

[Nackapan in reply to buster_uk]

Realised I've repeated myself ....oops. Fatigue! !

[deniseinmilden in reply to buster_uk]

I couldn't agree with Buster more and clinical evidence seems to bear this out.

Lots of people need to supplement with iron once healing starts when it wasn't a problem before.

Last year I needed 10 or more of the Solgar Gentle Iron, so at least 200mcg per day, plus red meat or fish 3x a day (to cover my haem iron requirements) just to ward off iron anaemia symptoms but gradually this has settled down and I can get away with only 2 much smaller portions of meat/fish a day and an occasional 20 mcg capsule.

My need for additional supplementary folate, potassium and magnesium has dropped to almost nothing now after 4 years of needing levels that would have been toxic to most people (and me too now I'm better!).

I'll never know what the improvement is due to but I'm guessing it's healing from long term high level B12 treatment.

[Nackapan in reply to deniseinmilden]

Yes I've gone back to ferrous sulphate 200mg every other day. Was having solgar and spartone daily . It's just kept me bobbing along at 29-32 for the last 10

months. I've never taken iron before. I know in theory it shouldn't be needed but my blood tests say different.

I responded very quickly to folic acid gnrsiumso cut down. It's vitamin d and ferritin I absolutely have to watch at present. I am eligible lover and a good diet . Veg from the allotment. Pity my cholesterol raised now (probably all the red meat) thanks for your reply as it just wasn't making sense.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

ferritin is a protein that binds to iron allowing the iron to be used - its a reasonably good measure of iron status but shouldn't be taken as an absolute measure of iron status - other tests required.

Iron isn't affected by B12 but if you have a B12 absorption problem there is a good chance that you will also have problems with other vitamins and minerals - particularly iron and folate - so it may be that your PA is now affecting your ability to absorb iron and you are developing an iron deficiency.

[Nackapan in reply to Gambit62]

Okay thanks that makes sense with an absorbtion problem. My folate was above top of the normal range on the last blood test soon I decreased my folic acid from 400 to 200 mcg. Folate result was missing on the print off.

I've been told I havent got PA.

So if an absorbtion problem with iron I what do you do ?

I have been taking iron supplements that I thought could absorb more easily. A variety. Solgar. Spartone. And ferrous sulphate. Not all together! ! Alternating days. I see the doctor next week. A full iron count was done. She never seems concerned about the levels dropping

I am ,as so so fatigued and heart racing again. As well as all the other symptoms .

[Nackapan in reply to Gambit62]

I didn't put the result I got today! Ferritin 29

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Nackapan]

I think you need to discuss with your GP.

Iron and ferritin levels do vary and I suspect the variations over the last couple of months aren't significant.

Might be worth revisiting the iron panel to see if there is evidence of a downward trend there.

[Nackapan in reply to Gambit62]

The level was 61 in October 2018.it has been around that for years the odd time bloods were done.

So in 10 months it's more than half ed. Rest of iron panel consistent.

Definitely involved with b12 defiency. I just don't understand how vit d was absorbed. Folic acid very readily absorbed as level increased ×4.magnesium also went too high so cut back. But all the iron rich heam and non heame food not and not the supplements. Is iron harder to absorb than other nutrients ?

Yes will discuss with GP. I posted as seems to happen to alot on here with PA Or b12 defiency and having frequent injections.

I will post gps response

[Hidden in reply to Nackapan]

Iron needs an acid environment for uptake which is why sometimes we are recommended to take it with Vitamin c which is ascorbic acid.

You say you don’t have PA but if you did that would explain the lack of acid and the low ferritin.

I do have PA and I have either low or no stomach acid. My ferritin fell below range and I needed an iron infusion. This tool levels to just over range. Within two months they fell to 172!!

I take 3 sachets of spatone a day and I’m keeping my ferritin at 185 and even at that my level of iron in the blood is 14 (14 to 32) and my T sats are 22.4 (20 to 55).

You might need more iron. People go on about taking too much but if you are that low and you check it every 3 months you will be fine. That’s what I do.

Also despite every day injections and iron levels which are fine and minerals and vitamins all in range (I got them all tested A D E K and all my B bits and selenium, magnesium, copper, zinc etc - and s on NHS) I’m still knackered at the end of the day!

[Nackapan in reply to Hidden]

Thank you . I do take cider vinegar or lemon and vit c (veg and fruit juice at each meal. I'm back on ferrous sulphate every other day at present. I got everything checked just waiting g fot folate as wasn't on form?? Thankyou for reply as I feel I'm doing everything right side was rather alarmed. I may have PA?? Just told I've not going on the parietal antibody test. I'm still needing 2 weekly injections and far from functioning even to do normal chores on a regular basis. Fatigue is awful. Would need mind if I'd actually done much

Life so has changed . Used to run walking looking after my mum and helping other family members Can't work. Just as well able to afford not too at present. Right I shall keep going with the iron and good food until I see the Gp next week. Some of my symptoms tie more in with low ferritin

Hope so as csn improve it.

Thanks again.

[Nackapan in reply to Hidden]

I hasten to add I've put in 36+ years working

[Hidden in reply to Nackapan]

Good luck and let us know how you get on. I just live with the fact my iron is low probably due to my PA.

I’m like you I do all the right things but am now working on my mindfulness as I believe the mind and it’s neural pathways can help significantly.

I’m intrigued at how your GP appears to have ruled out PA. None of the tests are specific but I have parietal cell antibodies and IF antibodies so I definitely have it.

You could get them to run a serum gastric test or you could get one from Medichecks. If that’s sky high it is very likely you have PA as gastrin is turned off through the action of your parietal cells which produce acid.

Keep going. You’ve made great progress since you first came in here!

[Nackapan in reply to Hidden]

Not heard of a serum gastric test. Thanks. Hope you are still making improvements too