Does anyone have slightly lower red blood count and ferritin (iron) levels with PBC?

Can't help wondering. A couple of days ago I had my repeat bloods but last time they were coming up slightly below the normal range.

[zipitydoo]

Yes, Have been on iron tablets for over a year now but still low. Also folate has gone low aswell now so have had to add folic acid.

[Pandemonium]

Yep. Been on iron tablets (2x200mg/day ferrous sulphate) for about 3months for low ferritin levels.

[Silvers]

I have just been told that my hemoglobin is slightly low but no treatment required. This concerns me as this may be ok with someone who has no other issues but I have PBC and underactive thyroid. My thyroid results TSH 7.55 and FT4 15 and I have already upped my thyroxine to 100mcg. My last LFTs came down, some by the 100s and I don't take Urso as it makes the itching/ burning worse. So confused at the moment. My periods are heavy and had only 21 days between last two. I nearly collapsed last week which is so unlike me. I asked for ferritin result and they didn't do it!!!! Aargh I could scream sometimes!! Sx

[Hidden]

Last time I had the bloods it included also Vit Bs and folic acid both of which came out as normal, one slightly higher than normal but nothing to bother about as your body can rid itself.

You normally have the VitBs and folic acid (folate) done if the HB (haemoglobin or red blood cell) is low as well as ferritin (iron) as low HB can signify the VitB and folic acid are low.

Actually as I discovered the HB if slightly lower than normal like mine has been for a few repeat bloods (the iron was only rechecked Oct last after 2yrs) it can mean that he system has it at that as a sort of normal range. The body can adjust to a slightly lower HB level and it causes nothing of significance. Like I think myself, you too may be like this but as said earlier, the GP did state to me last yr that normally if the HB is a bit lower than what is considered the normal range then one would be checked for what I have already mentioned, the iron being one of them (are you on Vit B or folic acid at all?).

Does not surprise me in the least to read that you found out your iron levels weren't done. I had my repeats supposedly done last Sept but on getting a print-out I noticed there were the liver ones and the GGT missing, the all-important ones with regards to taking urso and having PBC! Had I not have got a print-out with a battle as per usual, then I'd have not been any the wiser as I waited for the GP to state over his telephone appt that he said was all was required for the results to me, 'they were all ok with the exception of the bit low in HB'. It was me who had to ask where the liver and GGT ones were as I thought I'd been missed a bit of print-out, were they missed and his reply was, "It appears so". So I sent back Oct for the repeats again and had the VitB, folic acid and ferritin.

Could it be possible thyroxine is altering any blood tests at all? I don't know about this as I've just got PBC complete with the itch!