Low iron test results and a way forward please

[yorkshiregirl4]

I had some blood tests recently and am wanting advice on a way forward, please. My serum iron level and my transferrin saturation index are both below the minimum level on the reference ranges. My serum ferritin is only just above the minimum on the reference range.

I am struggling with symptoms I remember from 30 years ago when I had several units of blood because of iron deficiency anaemia. My progress with B12 injections has been hijacked by this iron deficiency even though I have been regularly taking slow release iron capsules, because these are the only type I can tolerate.

Is it possible that the parietal cell antibodies could be preventing my body absorbing iron from these capsules or might I simply need a lot more iron than I can get through oral iron supplementation? Is an iron infusion the answer?

I cannot discuss this with my GP because he is simply not interested and getting an appointment is extremely difficult to impossible! Many thanks in anticipation.

[FlipperTD]

Scientist, not medic.

I doubt that Parietal Cell Antibodies will affect iron absorption, but can't be sure. There is little doubt you're Iron deficient. Stomach acid does help iron absorption. If you're unable to maintain your iron levels as measured by the tests, and also shown by your FBC values [MCV & MCH, and Hb] then it's worth remembering that Iron Deficiency isn't a disease, it's a symptom of something else. For that, you do need the help of a medic who is interested.

Good luck with this.

[yorkshiregirl4 in reply to FlipperTD]

Thank you for your informative reply. This information will encourage me to get some medical input and gives me confidence to do so. After being ignored and not listened to for so long this sort of advice and support is invaluable. Kind regards.

[Rexz]

Hi yorkshiregirl14,

You've indicated you have definitely been diagnosed with PA. Knowing that is a symptom of Autoimmune Metaplastic Atrophic Gastritis (AMAG) your body is fighting constant inflammation. As a response to this your body is sequestering iron to make it unavailable to what it thinks is a virus or bacterial infection. This is a natural response as viruses and bacteria need iron in order to replicate. This normally is a short lived phenomena but with AMAG it is chronic and everlasting. So with AMAG/PA you are presented with a double whammy so to speak as your body both sequestering what iron you have plus you will have an iron malabsorption issue. This iron deficiency may not show up as anemia, in other words your hemoglobin and RBC will look in the normal range so doctors trained to look only for iron deficiency "anemia" will naturally rebuff you since your bloods will not show that. The solution to this is iron IV infusions. Personally I crashed with no iron the first part of this year. I eventually had to take the papers to my doctor and convince them that Iron Deficiency Without Anemia (IDWA) was a thing. Since that I've had 7 iron IV infusions this year and my ferritin is now up above 100 ng/mL. Now we just monitor and maybe have to have an occasional iron infusion.

Take a look at my IDWA post and there are some references that you can have a discussion with your doctor.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

Best wishes, Rexz

[yorkshiregirl4]

How astoundingly kind of you to explain this to me. There is a lot to take in but I am currently experiencing palpitations, fatigue, restless leg syndrome at night in the same way I did many years ago when I was first diagnosed as severely iron deficient anaemic.

I believe my GP has already dismissed any problem with my blood test results as he has not agreed to see me to discuss them with me. I will investigate all your information and take that with me when I can get an appointment with my GP. This is so interesting because it does explain my apparently contradictory blood test results and the symptoms I know I am experiencing. You have just confirmed my reality!! Thank you so much.