Low serum iron levels and high white blood count

[Hazeleyes48]

Hi I’m currently signed off work due to feeling exhausted and generally feeling unwell. I am currently taking 50mg of prednisone for GCA. My doctor sent me for a full blood count yesterday as my heart rate was high. The results have come back that my serum iron level is 7 and my total white blood count is 14 which is high. I have a routine doctors appointment on Tuesday to discuss the results. I was in hospital 5 weeks ago with a suspected stroke, thankfully was told it was not a stroke. I was then told I also didn’t have GCA and was told to come off the steroids. They told me I had a migraine despite all the symptoms. Anyway the rapid Steroid withdrawal left me really poorly and all the symptoms of GCA came back so my Rhuemy is certain I do have GCA so has increased the steroids again .

I just don’t understand how my iron levels have decreased so quickly. When I was in hospital I was told my blood tests were unremarkable but since being out of hospital all my blood tests are coming back abnormal.

My GP thought I was depressed when I saw him on Tuesday and I asked to be signed off work. I don’t feel depressed I just feel exhausted and feel that I have aged about 30 yews during the last few weeks. I can’t concentrate on anything and I am getting breathless easily. Any advice would be welcome.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Sorry to hear your woes. Hopefully the increase steroid dose will get you feeling better on that front -and that other anomalies can be easily sorted.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Thisi s what i wrote on the other thread where you asked first:

It is certainly pretty low and definitely would account for a lot! There is a form of anaemia that is associated with chronic inflammatory disease but to know if it is that there are other test results they need to take into consideration. I'm a bit appalled that it wasn't spotted in hospital though! Hb doesn't fall that fast unless you have heavy loss of blood in an accident or operation.

Have you done the colon screening poo test in the past?