Ferritin

[Tinacros]

My ferritin levels came back at 21ug on Friday. I have been feeling unwell and having hairloss. The locum doctor said this Is fine as some of my other results were at the low end of normal. But ok. Just said take some OTC iron if I wanted 😏

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Tinacros

So, since last September, your ferritin level has dropped from 62.8 (13-150) (according to a previous post) to now 21.

The locum doctor said this Is fine as some of my other results were at the low end of normal. But ok. Just said take some OTC iron if I wanted

What are these other results? An iron panel to see if you have iron deficiency? A full blood count to see if you have anaemia? Without those other tests being done you shouldn't take an iron supplement because you don't know if you need it. If you have a decent level of serum iron already, taking an iron supplement will likely take it over the top. If you have iron deficiency or anaemia then your GP should prescribe and monitor.

[Tinacros in reply to SeasideSusie]

I had lots of bloods for different things. Which should I look at. X

[Tinacros in reply to SeasideSusie]

Which should I look at? X

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Tinacros]

Tinacros

A Full Blood Count will say just that, then list quite a few different tests - white blood count, lymphocytes, monocytes, etc. Also platelets, red cell count, haemoglobin, Mean Cell Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH). Out of those results the important ones are Haemoglobin, MCV, MCH.

An iron panel consists of Serum iron, Transferrin Saturation %, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), so see if you have those as well as ferritin,.

[Tinacros in reply to SeasideSusie]

I’ve had all those I think 🤔

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Tinacros]

What are the results?

[Tinacros in reply to SeasideSusie]

MCH 28.8pg(27-37)

MCV86.8fl(76-100)

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Tinacros]

Haemoglobin?

Iron panel?

[Tinacros in reply to SeasideSusie]

I didn’t see that x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Tinacros]

Tinacros

OK, then without an iron panel we can't say if you have iron deficiency. At the moment we just know you have low ferritin and don't know if you need iron supplements or not - your iron panel would tell us that.

Your MCV and MCH are low in range, that doesn't suggest anaemia but you'd need a haemoglobin result as well, if that is below range that could suggest anaemia.

[Tinacros in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thankyou.

[Tinacros in reply to Tinacros]

Had full blood count and a few other things can’t see anything about iron x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Tinacros]

Tinacros

OK, then as I said, without an iron panel you can't know if you have iron deficiency and if you take an iron supplement with good serum iron levels you risk your serum iron going too high, too much iron is as bad as too little.

It's up to you whether you ask for an iron panel or just go ahead with an iron supplement.

[Tinacros in reply to SeasideSusie]

I think I’ll just go ahead and buy a supplement for now. I can’t be doing with all this telephone appts.. I feel u can’t get ur point across x

[Tinacros in reply to SeasideSusie]

She did mention MCV which is 86.8fl(76-100) she said this was ok even though it was at the lower end

[Hkm2281]

My came back as 17, gp didn't wanna know said it was in normal range.

[Tinacros in reply to Hkm2281]

Did u take OTC. She told me to just buy spatone or other brands x

[Hkm2281 in reply to Tinacros]

No I didn't bother I just left it. I was annoyed as my MCH and MCHC were all below and red blood cell distribution above. He just didn't wanna know!

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption

dailyiron.net

Links about iron and ferritin

irondisorders.org/Websites/...

drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...

This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.

Helpful post about iron supplements and testing

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Tinacros in reply to SlowDragon]

I’ve got haemaglobin estimation of 139

[Tinacros in reply to Tinacros]

Range 115-165 so that’s not bad x

[Tinacros]

My daughter is type 1 and her ferritin was 11. She was so lethargic and snappy, losing hair etc. when we went to see her endo he went mad that the GP thought it was ok. He said at her age her thyroid wouldn’t function properly, hence her low results. Since she’s been on ferrous sulphate she’s like a different person x

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Tinacros]

Exactly