Hello everyone. Just had a printout after a recent blood test. Can anyone tell me what this means - This is what it says next to serum Ferritin Level (XE24r) - 161ng/ml (23 - 300). Thanks in advance.
By the way I have been taking Gabapentin for a month now and am sleeping well with no obvious side effects. It's great to be off Pramipexole.
Your ferritin is fine. It needs to be over 100 which it is. That's great that the gabapentin is working !
Thanks once again Sue. Much appreciated.
Just about to say that!😆
Cheers. She's fast!
Hi Sue, I have sent to you on the 12th of May via notifications@email.healthunlocked.com my recent blood test results for knowing if my ferritin levels are satisfactory or not? Veneer. Thanks Kered
I don't know how to access that. The way to contact me is to click on Chat at the top of this page and then click on New.
XE24r is the lab designation for a standard serum ferritin test; 161 nanograms per millilitre is the result; 23 - 300 is that labs' assessed 'normal' range. So 161 is in the middle of the 'normal' range.
100 is the lowest target for RLS sufferers who have a morning blood test after fasting overnight and having abstained from iron supplements (if taken) for at least 48 hours. If the test has not been taken under these strictures, the result figure may be misleading.
It is said that raising ferritin to 100 or more measured in such a test will help the majority of RLS sufferers.
However, some need 200 or even 300 to reduce RLS symptoms (I've only had one result under 200 in the last 15 years, and that was 184). But as long as I avoid certain meds and certain foodstuffs, and take magnesium, I don't need to take any medication specifically for RLS.
But elevated ferritin levels don't help some sufferers at all/enough, and RLS medication - such as gabapentin - continues to be necessary to control symptoms.
Was your transferrin saturation (TSAT) figure between 16-50%?
But the important thing is that you're sleeping well without negative side effects.
Wow, that's such a comprehensive answer. I am so indebted to you. Many thanks for taking the time to reply in such detail.
Was this a morning fasted full iron panel? Did you also get Transferrin Saturation Percentage? Were you supplementing with oral iron supplements at all prior to the test?
Ferritin is just one indicator and probably not the most important one. At least in the beginning.
Yes your Ferritin looks fine if you weren't supplementing prior to the test and there are no know signs of inflammation. Inflammation blood markers like CRP and SED rate are helpful.
It is also possible to have normal Ferritin and Low Transferrin Saturation Percentage. If TSP is below 20% and infusion should be considered.
I think it is important to be specific at least in my case, mistakes were made.
You ask some very good questions. I had stopped taking iron supplements prior to the blood test, but I have no idea about the TSP. I asked for it but had no idea where to look on the print out I received. Sounds like I still have work to do. Thanks.
For Iron and RLS, I follow the bible
sciencedirect.com/science/a...
It's worth reading, highlighting and giving to your Doctor. Hope it helps.
Look for TSAT or transferrin saturation index.
Ferritin Levels
Ferritin levels
Ferritin level
FERRITIN LEVEL
Ferritin levels. 
