Ferritin test results

[joepublic]

Is 154 ng/mL (15.0 - 300.0) what is expected in the 'normal' range after Ferritin test?

[Madlegs1]

In that particular lab , 154 is within their range of 15 to 300.

So your Dr will tell you it is normal.

He would say the same for a result of 16 or 299.

Which means that a "normal" result is rather ridiculous.

In answer to your next question , yes-- it would be regarded as ok for RLS.

But you might benefit from supplementation with Gentle Iron to try and bring it up to maybe 200.

Good luck.

[joepublic in reply to Madlegs1]

Thanks for the help.

[ChrisColumbus]

Over 100 is OK; 154 is pretty good: 200 would be better. Had you followed Joolsg's advice for the full panel fasting blood test?: if taking iron supplements stop taking 48 hours before; have the test as early as possible in the morning having fasted after midnight?

If not, the reading could have been inflated: in my case a test later in the day can give a result 50ng higher than usual, and I don't take iron supplements.

[joepublic in reply to ChrisColumbus]

No sadly it was an 09:00 test without fasting.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to joepublic]

Not optimum but probably still OK

[DicCarlson]

Additional info here...

bloodtestsresults.com/iron-...

[WideBody]

how did you take the test? Was it in the morning? Ferritin is lowest in the morning. Was it fasted? Ferritin levels change depending on what you eat. Did you do the full iron panel? Some doctors think Transferrin Saturation Percentage is a better indicator than ferritin. What was your TSP? Finally, did you supplement at all before the test? Usually I stop supplementing a week before the test.

[joepublic in reply to WideBody]

how did you take the test? Was it in the morning? - yes 09:00

Ferritin is lowest in the morning. Was it fasted? - No

Ferritin levels change depending on what you eat. Did you do the full iron panel? - No

Some doctors think Transferrin Saturation Percentage is a better indicator than ferritin. What was your TSP? - not done

Finally, did you supplement at all before the test? - No

[WideBody in reply to joepublic]

Knowledge is your best defense.

mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

Good luck

[Graham3196]

Some RLS patients need their ferritin to be raised to over 300 to get relief. Doing this is so slow with oral iron as to be useless. In the opinion of some highly respected experts the best thing to do is to have an iron infusion to raise your ferritin over 300 (say 350) and see if it helps.

The recorded experience is that about 60% of RLS patients get some useful benefit from an iron infusion and perhaps 40% get total relief. I haven't read the original data so I don't know if these patients were doing anything else that might have contributed.

In my opinion its worth trying an iron infusion as soon as possible just in case you are in the lucky 60% and can get some relief. Or in the lucky 40% .........

Its like everything else with this disease it doesn't work for everyone and there is no way of predicting if it will work for you without trying it.

An iron infusion didn't work for me but has worked 100% for others. I have since found great relief from controlling my diet. That doesn't work for everyone either!

Warning GPs are generally opposed to iron infusion for RLS so you need to shop around.

Good Luck

[joepublic in reply to Graham3196]

OK thanks - how is it done?

[Graham3196]

If you mean the procedure for an infusion? Its very simple. I went to a major hospital where they had an infusion room with about 30 seats for infusions. Then all you have to do is sit and have a tube installed in a suitable blood vessel then wait for about 2 hours while the product drains from a plastic bag into your body. Just a reverse blood donation. Its a very common everyday process for many diseases. Shame it's not on "the list" for an RLS treatment.

Getting a prescription was the hard part for me but others walk in and just ask their GP. I have read that sleep clinics might be more willing to provide a prescription. Some people have luck and find that their regular GP is well informed or at least willing to listen. I had some problems but eventually found a GP who rang around specialists until she found a willing one on my behalf.

[joepublic in reply to Graham3196]

OK thanks - seems straightforward. I am waiting for a sleep clinic appointment so will ask then.