Blood work

[Tbone87]

I recently got my blood tested so I could check for ferritin levels and my ferritin was at 329. I had gotten my blood test a year ago when I first saw the doctor for RLS but they’d didn't test ferritin levels at that time. My doctor just messaged me about my new results and said my results showed elevation in numbers, particularly my reticulocyte count. While these elevations are minor she thinks it might be beneficial for consult with hematology.

I found this online in regards to increased reticulocyte count-

Higher than normal reticulocyte count: Acute or chronic bleeding (hemorrhage) or increased RBC destruction (hemolysis) can lead to fewer RBCs in the blood, resulting in anemia. The body compensates for this loss by increasing the rate of RBC production and releasing RBCs sooner into the blood before they become more mature.

When this happens, the number and percentage of reticulocytes in the blood increase until a sufficient number of RBCs replaces those that were lost or until the production capacity of the bone marrow is reached. Reticulocyte count is also higher than normal when a patient with iron deficiency anemia or megaloblastic anemia (due to vitamin B12 deficiency) is treated with supplementary iron or vitamin B12.

My ferritin was high on my test. Could this increase in reticulocyte count be related my RLS?

[DesertOasis]

What is your red blood count and hemoglobin? Is B12 normal? There’s something called anemia of chronic disease where ferritin is somewhat elevated and hemoglobin is somewhat low.

[Tbone87 in reply to DesertOasis]

RBC and Hemoglobin were at normal levels.

[DesertOasis in reply to Tbone87]

Yep, time for hematologist. That’s a rather high ferritin. I would be curious to see what your ferritin was at any other point in time. My second guess is still some type of low level infection or inflammatory condition that is causing your body to sequester iron out of your bloodstream, and store it, as part of a defense mechanism. If that’s what’s happening then that is likely the cause of your RLS.