Blood test results - comments welcome

[YodaDog]

Hi everyone,

I moved to Switzerland last year and tomorrow I’m finally seeing a neurologist in a university hospital sleep clinic that treats RLS. I’ve just got the results of my blood test taken last week and I’d like to be prepared as much as possible for my visit. I would appreciate any comments on the following results. I believe I might be on the low side for magnesium and potassium. Is my serum iron low? Thanks.

Serum iron = 27.3 micromoles/litre

% iron saturation = 48%

Total iron binding capacity = 56.8 micromoles/litre

Serum ferritin = 185 micrograms/litre

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) = 206 picomoles/litre

B12 active = 89 picomoles/litre

Folate = 30.2 nanomoles/litre

Potassium = 3.9 millimoles/litre

Magnesium = 0.85 millimoles/litre

Vitamin D = 44 nanomoles/litre

[Hidden]

Some blood test results may be "normal" for "normal" people, but people with RLS may need a higher level.

e.g. "normal" ferritin is anything above 15ug/L, but 50% of RLS sufferers may benefit from their ferritin being above 100ug/L. Yours is - so if you haven't benefitted from this you may be in the 50% who don't get any benefit. I read that some RLS specialists say it should be 350ug/L.

Your other results

Serum iron - Higher than Normal

% iron saturation (transferrin) - Higher than Normal

Total iron binding capacity - Normal

Vitamin B12 - Borderline Low

Folate - Normal

Potassium - Normal

Magnesium - Normal

Vitamin D - Low

It's debateable whether you need more iron.

You might benefit from Vitamin B12 and D supplements.

[YodaDog in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Manerva, I'll definitely get the vitamin supplements to see if they have any effect and I think I'll ask the neurologist tomorrow about iron infusions, just to see what the attitude to them in Switzerland is. Might be incredibly expensive though (most things are!)

[Hidden in reply to YodaDog]

I wish you luck with the iron infusion. I cant imagine getting your ferritin up to 350 without one.

.