I’ve just been reading some of the above posts and wondered if you could advise me??
I have Sjögrens and hypothyroidism and over the years I’ve been low on all vitamins tested eg, vit d, folate, vit b12 and recently I had a ferritin test at 31 ( range 13-150). I suffer with rsl . I’ve suffered with being very poorly for ten years but since diagnosed and treated with Levothyroxine I’ve improved. I’m still not quite right and suffer with severe anxiety and insomnia which I’m now trying melatonin. I’ve been prescribed with iron tablets now but I decided to get a private iron panel done. It was disastrous as only two of the four results came back. My query is my ferritin is low but my iron was 21 when top of the range is 26. So does the iron vary each day and the ferritin score is more reliable in detecting iron anemia???
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They haven’t said so. I was thinking of emailing them to ask? There was no apology with the results. How important are the other two results? I’ve been asking on iron deficiency anemia community to see if people know what’s more important the ferritin or the iron levels? I’ve had quite a few responses so hopefully I’ll get an answer. I’ll see how I go with the iron tablets. I stopped the melatonin for a week but I’ve started it up again as I think I was ill fir eight days feeling sick and then violently sick with really bad headaches that I just had to stop. At least I know the side effects of this but I do think it coincided with my four day flares and doubled it. I need to retry to be sure. I’ll let you know how I get on. If these tablets ( according to the pack they say one a day for six weeks) help. It looks as if I’m only on it fir six weeks until I see the doctor. Im hoping I get vit b12 then toi.
(9) Occasionally the laboratories are unable to test samples sent to them. This may be because the amount collected is insufficient for full analysis, the sample has deteriorated or clotted or because it has haemolysed (where red blood cells damaged during sample collection leak their contents into the surrounding plasma). If the laboratory cannot test your sample, we will send a second sample collection kit to you free-of-charge for you to repeat the test.If you made your own arrangements to have a venous sample collected by a medical professional, you will be responsible for making these arrangements yourself again, and for any costs incurred as a result. You may upgrade and arrange to visit one of Medichecks’ partner clinics to have your blood sample collected, for an additional cost. If a second submitted sample cannot be tested, we will give you the option to visit a clinic to have blood drawn by a medical professional (for which you will pay an extra charge) or to cancel the order and request a full refund. We will issue you with a gift card or refund to your original payment method. If your whole test fails we will give you a gift card or refund for the amount paid for the test. If part of your test fails we will give you a gift card or refund with a monetary value relevant to the markers that failed and the price that you paid for these. Gift cards will have a 12 month validity period and can be used against any purchases that you make from Medichecks. Gift cards can only be used on orders placed online. Gift cards cannot be exchanged for money.
The retest process above does not apply to the Advanced Thyroid Function Blood Test when the finger-prick sample collection method is used and the failure relates only to folate (i.e. all other markers in the test are reported normally). Please refer to the test product page for details on the refund process should this happen. By ordering a finger-prick kit for this test you agree that a refund will be your only remedy in the event that you do not receive a result for folate only.
So as you had an Iron test, not the Advanced Thyroid test, you are entitled to a free kit due to the fact that the lab couldn't process all the tests from your first sample.
I’ve been prescribed with iron tablets now but I decided to get a private iron panel done. It was disastrous as only two of the four results came back. My query is my ferritin is low but my iron was 21 when top of the range is 26. So does the iron vary each day and the ferritin score is more reliable in detecting iron anemia???
Iron tests explained:
Serum iron: This test measures the amount of iron in your blood. If you have a good serum iron level then taking iron tablets will take it too high and too much iron is as bad as too little. Optimal level is said to be 55%-70% with the higher end for males.
Serum ferritin: This test measures how much iron is stored in your body. When your iron level is low, your body will pull iron out of “storage” to use.
Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC): This test tells how much transferrin (a protein) is free to carry iron through your blood. If your TIBC level is high, it means more transferrin is free because you have low iron so high TIBC tends to mean you need to supplement, low TIBC tends to mean you don't need to supplement.
Unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC): This test measures how much transferrin isn’t attached to iron. This isn't particularly useful.
Transferrin saturation: This test measures the percentage of transferrin that is attached to iron. Optimal level is said to be 35%-45% with the higher end for males.
According to NICE a ferritin level of less than 30ug/L suggests iron deficiency. Low serum iron would confirm this. With your serum iron being 21 with a range of 6.6-26 then your serum iron is 74% through it's range and doesn't suggest the need for supplementing with iron tablets.
Thats brilliant Seaside susie. I’ll contact them tomorrow and ask for another test although I loath doing them as I faint!! I’ve started taking iron tablets now as doctor has given me another appointment in a month to see how I feel. Not sure if thé test now Im being supplemented will scew the results. Does the iron in the blood go up and down quite quickly depending on your diet??
Can you ask to be prescribed liquid iron by your GP? I am on that and hopefully I am absorbing it better than iron tablets. I have to take it 3 times a day. I was also tested for celiac disease and my level was high and I am just waiting to have an endoscopy to confirm it. GP's don't seem bothered about our low levels and expect us to keep on functioning. My hair was coming out in my hands, especially when washing it. It has stopped doing it as much now, and I have been on iron for 5 weeks. It was thanks to my private Endocrinologist asking for a full iron panel and celiac test that I have found out. Apparently my iron had been dropping since 2013, but none of the Doctors bothered to tell me. Does RSL mean restless leg syndrome? If it does, I had that really badly too until I have been on my iron, and it seems to have stopped
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