FERRITIN LEVELS

OK so a ferritin level test is a test that checks your iron levels according to Google. I reckon my local GP could do that test for me. I shouldn't have to bother my specialist about it aye?

[Hidden]

The ferritin level test is to check your ferritin level thats the test that shows how low or high your ferritin level is, for RLSers. the experts say it needs to be 100+ . So, you need to ask your doctor when you have it done and get the results WHAT the number is. Now raising your ferritin level MIGHT help reduce your RLS symptoms but it doesnt for most of us. I have Primary RLS, genetic inherited from my father, also a brother who has RLS. My ferritin level the last time i got it tested at my doctor's was 108, and i still have RLS, so its not the reason for my RLS.

[Neil46 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, I have to agree. My serum ferritin test came back as 220 but I still have RLS.

[Madlegs1 in reply to Neil46]

My ferritin was up to 1400 and mad rls. 634 at last count - after giving away copious amounts of the red stuff. And legs still restless.😢

[Hidden in reply to Madlegs1]

Well you got that down well. On going i take it. ?

[Neil46 in reply to Madlegs1]

Is that high ferritin level still safe Madlegs1?

[Madlegs1 in reply to Neil46]

I don't have any symptoms of illness - but itcould be storing up damage to various organs.

I will keep giving blood until it gets to about 100. Problem is that I keep getting anaemic. So have to take it slow.

[Graham3196 in reply to Neil46]

My understanding is that Ferritin is safe up to about 400 micro gram per litre.

Mine was 49 a month ago

I plan to give ferritin its best chance by taking iron biglycinate every night until I reach about 350 and if that doesn't help then at least I know I have reached a sensible limit.

Transferrin saturation is also said to be important. Mine is currently about 18% and the recomended range (by the path laboratory) is 16 to 60. I don't know but I am hoping my saturation level will folow the ferritin level

My preferred outcome is to have ferritin at 350 and saturation at 60% Then I want to find that my RLS is gone and I can eat anything I want.

I wish I could give others expert advice but this is the outcome of my gleanings from this forum and a couple of other (probably less reliable) sources.

My GP had no qualms about ordering ferritin measurements when I explained the reason for them. I am in Australia and these were free. That is all the other taxpayers were happy to make some American pathology lab richer in order to make me healthier.

Gee Whiz Madlegs 1 I wish I could swap you a couple of litres of my blood! Is there no quick way to eliminate iron? If you take vitamin C it is said to improve the rate of absorbtion of iron but I dont know if that means you just get lots more ferritin or if it makes it easier for your body to eliminate excess???

[Madlegs1]

Ferritin is how the body stores iron.

HGB ( haemoglobin) is the iron in the blood- making red cells.

There is also another iron measure which I don't know the facts of.- Serum iron level.

[Neil46 in reply to Madlegs1]

Is it wool, synthetic and cotton? Sorry

[Madlegs1 in reply to Neil46]

?

[Neil46 in reply to Madlegs1]

Sorry Madlegs, was responding to "iron levels" not serum iron levels. My iron levels are "crumpled pillow case" and "burned shirt". Forgive me - lack of sleep!! Brain asleep but fingers keep typing lol

[LotteM in reply to Neil46]

😂

Actually, rls it great to improve your iron levels; I've done quite a bit of ironing on rls-nights.

[Madlegs1 in reply to Madlegs1]

Sorry neil- only twigged it 2 hrs later - we don't iron in our house!

Briliant!

[Graham3196 in reply to Madlegs1]

A man after my own heart. I find that after ten minutes I can't tell if my shirt was ironed or not. I ironed a shirt for dinner last birthday because the family took me to a swish place.

[Hidden]

Hi LotteM, GREAT sense of humor. burmag

[Hoffie]

Yes, it's a simple blood test

[DicCarlson]

From Johns Hopkins website "Since the 1950s, it has been known that iron therapy, even without the presence of anemia has benefits for RLS symptoms. Studies have shown a strong relation between body iron stores as determined by serum ferritin and the severity of the RLS symptoms. A study has shown that in patients whose serum ferritin was < 75 µg/l, oral iron therapy (325 mg ferrous sulfate twice a day on an empty stomach) on average improved RLS symptom after 3 months."

Please note it says Brain Concentrations of Iron - you can only extrapolate serum levels to brain levels. There is more at play here that we do not know about. My Fe was 49, % sat 25% - raging RLS. Iron (ferrous bisglycinate) brought it up to 70's with daily supplementation - then to 108 with 3 days/week. Just had an update 85 with a % sat of 50 - no RLS. I don't take any Fe currently. Also you don't need Vit C with Ferrous bisglycinate only Fe Sulfate and other Fe preparations.