I now have my full blood results:-
Ferritin 67 (previous 50)
Transferrin saturation index 64% (previous 48%)
Se Iron 35umol/l (previous 25)
Can someone tell me what these results mean?
Can Sue/Joolsg shed any light on these results after 3 months of iron?
Your transferrin saturation is high / not low. Did stop taking the iron bisglycinate 1-2 d before the blood for the assessment panel was drawn? Ask your doctor whether the saturation percentage is too high, or more generally whether there are any risks at this level.
As you may know people with RLS should aim for a ferritin value of at least 100. Ferririn is a poor indicator of brain iron, the best known so far. But if the saturation is (too) high, absorption will probably be even lower than normal, and it may be wise to take a brake from the iron. See my remarks in the previous paragraph.
Hope you get it sorted.
Yes I did stop iron 48 hours before and it was a fasting blood. On my way to see my GP NOW
We’ll I’ve just got back from my GP who said he didn’t understand the results and would leave it to the consultant I’m seeing in the sleep clinic early October.
I am concerned about the transferrin and serum iron results. Should I stop taking iron?
Maybe it is wise to stop for now. Check posts/replies by DicCarlson , I think he is the one who had good results with iron but also frequently gives the link to a site with good info about iron values. Or maybe Madlegs knows ?
Yes I would stop taking iron since your TSAT is so high. You might want to see a hematologist who would specialize in this.
Raised Transferring saturation is the indicator for Hereditary haemochromotosis. Not time to panic about anything. From my reading - Currently, general genetic testing for HH only encompasses detection of mutations in the HFE gene, specifically C282Y and H63D.
If diagnosed this probably means iron supplements are out for you.
I was taught that high ferritin and low transferrin indicated haemochromatosis ?
Transferrin saturation tends to go up before Ferritin so catches HH earlier plus Ferritin can go up with lots of diseases like liver disease and hyperthyroidism. So saturation seems to be the preferred test.
I agree with @LotteM your TSP is high. I bet your were supplementing prior when it was 48% if not, then I would not have recommended oral iron. I think the limit is 45%
If you were supplementing , even if you stopped 48 hours prior, TSP will be high. So I assume you were supplementing with oral iron prior.
Are you supplementing at night about 2 hours before bed? Has the supplementation had any affect on your RLS symptoms?
How much iron are you taking? Are you supplementing daily?
Sorry, I don't think it is possible to answer your question with the information given.
I made a mistake, my previous TSP was 44%. I wasn’t supplementing with iron before that. I have only been supplementing for 3 months. I was using 28mg x2 iron bisglycinate on alternate nights. Perhaps a mild improvement in symptoms or I’m just managing them better.
It's possible both of them, which is what make RLS so hard. My doctor handed me at the worst of times a DA drug. I wanted that drug to work so bad.
Now I am more cautious. Does this help or doesn't it. I use a sleep tracker to help me figure it all out. A lot of times it can be placebo effect. I don't care if it is the placebo effect, if it helps, it helps. A lot of things helped for a week or even a couple days.
Sadly I don't think iron is the cause of your RLS.
Do you have any other symptoms of anemia?
I would stop supplementing w/iron 'till you get more professional assessment. Levels above 45% are indicative of hemochromatosis - but it is usually a genetic disorder. There are additional tests your doctor may want to perform.
What do you do in the night?
Blood test (Iron) results - likely the cause of my RLS?!
Advice on FBC Blood Test result
My blood test results are in, it's not low ferritin or B12
Blood test results - conversion table
