Anaemia

[ninja1]

my mch and Mchc have been falling over the last 5months but just saying abnormal on my doctors notes my ferritin dropped but is 53 and said no action as it just a bit out of range my Mcv is now

folate was less than 7 but I took some folic acid now it’s ok 26. My active b12 is 40 just in range fo I need iron supplements im taking a b12 tablet but I feel very anaemic

[Orchard33]

Your ferritin could well be too low for a PA person. 100 considered optimal. Ferritin at 53 and falling indicates your iron stores are depleting which is why you feel anaemic. Suggest haem iron.

[ninja1 in reply to Orchard33]

I’m not diagnosed with b12 or p a

[FlipperTD]

Here we go...

Scientist, not medic. I can't advise you on what to do, but I can comment on what you've posted.

Firstly, you're definitely not anaemic. The Hb level you have would not cause you to feel anaemic either.

Your MCH and MCHC are on the lower borders; however, your MCV is [still] normal. Your ferritin level is normal, but you don't tell us what it was previously. It's much better to compare results against time because that way, trends can be spotted.

We can get very excited about iron levels, but it's better to have a proper iron profile performed first if possible, because ferritin is an acute phase reaction protein, and doesn't always reflect iron status accurately if anything else is going on. Iron is toxic in excess and therefore needs treating with caution. This is definitely a case of realising that if 'some is good, more isn't always better.' Although we see stuff advertised on the back of buses, I'd sooner take the advice of a registered practitioner.

Iron deficiency isn't a condition in itself; it's a symptom of something else going on.

Listen to your doctor!

[ninja1 in reply to FlipperTD]

My active b12 is falling it was 88 but now 40 my Mcv was 89 and is falling my ferritin was always in the 80s earlier this year but is continually falling my folate went below 7 but I supplemented it with. 5mg I just feel that is there anything I can do to stop this tiredness and these levels continually dropping I have thyroid problems as I had total thyroidectomy 30 years ago I wouldn’t want iron supplement as my stomach been a bit off last couple of months and also my grandmother had p a

[FlipperTD in reply to ninja1]

Are your analyses always done by the same lab, because if not, that can become confusing.

Good luck!

[ninja1 in reply to FlipperTD]

Thank you