GP agreed to iron panel blood test. Results (receptionist says all OK) but would appreciate any comments:
Iron: 26 (10 - 30 pmol/l) TIBC: 44 (45 - 72 pmol/l)
Transferrin Satn 59% (16 - 50) (consider Haemochromatosis if: ➢50% (female)
Wondering if taking an iron supplement would be OK to increase Ferritin from 41. GP said in phone conversation that he didn't know anything about Ferritin levels and hair loss.....at least he's honest, but didn't seem particularly interested either!
notpink
Wondering if taking an iron supplement would be OK to increase Ferritin from 41
No, it wouldn't be OK.
Optimal levels according to rt3-adrenals.org/Iron_test_... are:
Serum iron: 55 to 70% of the range, higher end for men - yours is 80% through range so is high.
Saturation: optimal is 35 to 45%, higher end for men - yours is 59% and the notes have pointed out that over 50% for a female to consider Haemochromatosis.
Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC): Low in range indicates lack of capacity for additional iron, High in range indicates body's need for supplemental iron - yours is just below range so no capacity for supplementing iron.
If you supplement with iron tablets there is no doubt you will take your serum iron and transferritin saturation too high and risk iron poisoning.
All you need to do is raise ferritin, so consider trying to do this by eating liver regularly, maximum 200g per week due to it's high Vit A content, also liver pate, black pudding, and including lots of iron rich foods in your diet
apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/in...
Eating liver is raising my ferritin level but hasn't changed the other aspects of my iron panel. I can't guarantee that it will be the same for you.
Thank you so much for your reply. Was so unsure and needed your input. What a relief to get some much needed clarity. x
I have got hemochromatosis no iron over load I and with that comment on the blood result get the iron retested as maybe an error and if that is still over 50 I would ask for genetic testing or ask to see heamotolgist and if the result comes back positive then you need to go see a heamotologist as one your ferritin isnt in tune with your iron bloods so they will understand the bloods more than a GP would excess iron can do a lot of damge so you can prevent any damage if you catch it early enough.
I was told by my heamotologist never to eat Liver , liver Pate or take Vitamin C ever again as will cause me to get iron overload in the future !
it may be ok to take if you haven't got genetic problem but if you have it could create more problems so just be careful as liver when you have that gene fault will increase iron levels,,
iron overload can cause hair loss so untll you know you have or havent got heamochromatosis I would leave the liver , iron or Vit. C alone till you know.
Heamochromatosis is quite common in Celtic people so if you have Irish or Scottish in you I t coud be that. ...they call it the Celtic curse...
More new information for me.....thank you so much. I was wondering about the high Transferrin Satn, and also aware of GP's overload/dis-interest, not sure which. Maybe the profession as a whole have an extremely positive outlook on all blood tests, certainly relating to thyroid - as all are 'generally OK'! Anyway I shall take up your suggestions and follow this through. Are you receiving treatment for your haemochromastosis?
No Im lucky I found the gene fault before iron over load , they have sent me on lots of liver scans to check me out, The hemamotologist thinks because all my life I suffered endemetriosis heavy periods it may have saved me but he said it will start to go up slowly so dont encourage it with liver and anything with iron in it also alcohol could make it go high, I dont drink much these days so im fine with that,
But he said I may have had it when younger as thats when I was hyperthyroid and heamochromatosis can cause thyroid problems as well as other Endocrine problems , which I have quite few Endocrine things that seem to be going a bit mad recently, they didnt really know when the iron overload does the damage , it may happen before the levels go up, My liver and pancreas were good which is the 1st thing its supposed to attack but got dodgy bile ducts what ever that means , all consultants have been canceled due to covid so when thats all over will find out..
Have you got Scotish Irish i you ?
I have a double HFE CYP haemochromatosis gene fault, my parents never had it that I know about but got one copy from each one , my dad had a rare blood order called Porthyria which I think is quite similar
Im discovering even the specialists dont know much Thyroid either or Adrenals they seem clueless I m beginning to think Endocrinologists are glorified nutritionalists for Diabetes type 2 anything other than that many havent got a clue..
I had an excellent GP but he left , one other good GP in the surgery shes good on thyroid but doesnt know about genetics or much on Adrenals but thankful shes good with the thyroid 
Interesting to hear your story - it's a subject I'm pretty unfamiliar with. At least you've got a GP whom you can relate to, although getting someone whose knowledge is sound is hard to find. Roll on some normality with Covid receding. Yes I'm Scottish (Scottish father/English mother). I have had gastro-intestinal problems for the past year and have lost 1½ stone. Diverticular disease and osteoporosis. My Endo. (works in a diabetic clinic) arranged for a short synatchin test (I privately got a cortison saliva test) which I emailed him - this prompted him to arrange the synatchin test. Anyway all fine he said in letter to GP (copy to me). I haven't actually seen the results, so just take his word for it. I do have hypothyroid symptoms, so know something's not right, whether it's thyroid medication or what. It's like trying to crawl through a thick fog sometimes and feeling like a hypochondriac for raising any issues. Moaning finished! Thanks a lot for your help. x
Sorry to hear you are suffering I hope you can get it all sorted soon have you had antibodies tested for Pernicious anemia? I had gastric parietal antibodies come back positive with hemotologist to which he said he didnt think I had pernicious anemia because bloods for the B12 were good, silly man I told him I was on B12 shots as My GP had given me a trial and I felt better with them and as my dad had PA that we kind of suspected I had that so even they dont listen , god help us
What were you saliva cortisol results my am was something like 3 below range I showed GP them he said we dont normally take notice of tese but will do an 8 am one, I had that done and had a call later that day he said one more point lower its adrenal insufficiency did I want trial of steroids I said no thanks im not taking them
I had synatchen test done but passed but as say on meds that would affect the test madness as been waiting to get another done but COVID in the way, I also have nightly hypoglycemia confirmed by Continuos glucose monitor Im not diabetic wel not yet that I know of no doubt I have that to come as that can be set off by hemo as well. oh the fun of what I will get next I cant wait !
With a bit of Scottish could well be Hemo so do get it tested, tbh I hadnt heard of it before or if I had I hadnt taken any notice of it,
I was quite ill for about 15 years on T4 and then got a bit of T3 added I felt much better but was short lived although was better than I was on T4, tried NDT went down hill and I am now on T3 mono I feel better on that but still something is not quite right
I have very low cortisol and had a synatchen test the Endo never told me not to take certain meds when I had the SST test
I did make sure I got the results though as my faith in Drs had gone by then and now I ask for results of everything my baseline was below range and they said was ok, a year later because COVID Ive still not got tested.
They have a clinical trial on saliva cortisone testing going on at the moment in sheffield hospital its for future testing for adrenal failure so no synacthen needed I found it when researching , so called the Dr who is doing the trials and he said I can be in it, I live miles away from Sheffield and because Covid hes going to send me the saliva test down ( for once Covid has worked in my favour ) the 1st one and I am to have a 7am serum cortisol done same day, thats not easy to get Im finding out I I have managed to get GP to do one at 7.30 but have to check thats ok with the trials to be half hour late , its all hard work . He said I was to get a SST done if the test comes back low and he will send more samples for that but if I cant find an endo to do it I could go up and see him when lockdown is over he sounded really nice and as Im not having much luck with Endos my way I may as well go see a decent one
You could ring the Endos secretary up and ask for copy of results you had done you are allowed to know the results and get ranges as well as different at most hospitals if they say no just phone medical records up and ask for the whole of medical records you will get them then EU law says they cant say no to that, or failing that you can ask the GP to phone up get the full results and ranges, I think the answer they are ok isnt good, did they not call you same day and give you the results ? as they are supposed to I got the result no ranges it took me 2 months to get ranges I had the its a nightmare but you can get there in the end ,
it sounds like we both got bad Scottish genes lol
Just to thank you for all your advice, especially about the iron panel result - I will make an appointment and hopefully get somewhere. Also the SST result - try and get this sent to me with ranges. I have never been tested for PA....still one step at a time. Am just wondering what to do about flu vaccine (have an appointment next Wedesday) and am swinging for and against repeatedly! Feel there's enough going on in my body and feel risk is quite low......not going anywhere or mixing. You mentioned your saliva cortisol result being low - mine was: Unit nmol/L
AM - 12 (Range 7.0 - 30) Noon - 3.9 (2.1 - 14.0) Evening - 4.5 (1.5 - 8)
Night 1.3 (0.33 -7.0) DHEA - 33 pg/ml (106 - 300) IgA - 135 ug/mL (75 - 330)
There's a lot of stuff to follow through and try to understand relating to the endocrine system. I just wish science/maths/physics made more sense to me. You've certainly got the right attitude and doing all you can to improve your own health. It is a battle though. Wishing you strength and success in tackling it all. x
I was very unwell with flu jab but wondering if was my low cortisol god knows , I now just take 2000-3000iu Vitamin D3 some take with K2, I use omega 3 with mine,,, I was the only one in my area not to get flu for last 4-5 years I have also discovered Im very sensitive to eggs so that may be why as flu jab made with eggs ,
How is your Vitamin D. its supposed to help protect you getting Covid bad so worth taking anyway.. most are deficient in UK as we are not near enough the equator, 80% of coveid patients who get it bad are Vitamin D defiecient, My GP who is good said I must take it I said Ive been taking it years so dont worry,,, some saying take Vitamin C but wth my genes I best not Zinc as well but not on that one yet I have levels now 150 which is good I dont take so much in summer as we get some sun our foods do not give us enough Vit d but you probably know about all that, Im allowedd to get Vit D tested once a year at surgery stays pretty level on that amount
Your DHEA is not good problem is NHS wont supply that unless you have Addisons, you can get online I think some take about 25mcg but read about before taking it, Im holding off taking till fully tested as my cortisol is very low. they dont sell DHEA in UK but can get online best to do a Bing search as cant find websites on google that sell it maybe ask in another post if anyone knows where to buy it in another post to PM you the details..
Good luck with the Drs let me know how all pans out be interested to see if you have heamochromatosis be 1st time I know someone else with it if you do, hopefully not that though.. x
Iron Panel Test Results - Any feedback welcome
Iron Panel Results
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