Suspect low ferritin again

[Clara9]

Can I start supplements before possible blood test or will that scew the results?

How long shall you hold up before test?

[Nanaedake]

If you need NHS to investigate and provide supplements it will not do so if your results are good.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Clara9

Are you talking about supplement vitamins and minerals? If so, how will you know what to supplement and what dose if you don't test first?

[Clara9 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I'm talking about iron. I have been low before and haven't been supplementing for 8 months. Am taking vit d and b12

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Clara9]

Clara9

It's important to do an iron panel and full blood count, not just ferritin. Iron is complicated, and even if ferritin is low, serum iron could be high and supplementing wouldn't be the correct thing to do. Also, a full blood count would indicate if there is any iron deficiency anaemia, in which case the dose of iron supplements would likely be higher than what you'd take for low ferritin.

When taking iron, you should leave it off for a week before testing.