Iron blood levels

[Cassandra]

Results of blood tests: receptionist had told me some of my results were low but GP had advised no treatment required. I am 71 under active thyroid but these results were all fine. At present I’m breathless coping with stairs or slight incline in streets and my hair is really thinning on top. I’m on Hiprex for 3 months because of bladder infections. I’m scared of supplementing iron myself in case it’s the wrong thing to do.

Serum iron level 10 umol/L (13-30) low

Serum transferrin 2.7 g/L (1.8 - 3.8)

Serum ferritin 199 ug/L (13 - 300)

Transferrin saturation index 15 (20 - 45) low

I don’t know if hiprex medication interferes with blood levels and I am not seeing gynae consultant until March. Any advice appreciated.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

humanbean or SeasideSusie might pop along and comment

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Cassandra

Serum iron level 10 umol/L (13-30) low

Serum transferrin 2.7 g/L (1.8 - 3.8)

Serum ferritin 199 ug/L (13 - 300)

Transferrin saturation index 15 (20 - 45) low

receptionist had told me some of my results were low but GP had advised no treatment required.

In that case the GP should be ashamed of himself. Below range serum iron, below range saturation suggest iron deficiency. Ferritin is quite high actually but ferritin is an inflammation marker so could be high due to inflammation/infection so could be connected to your bladder infections. Other inflammation markers should be tested as confirmation.

You need to discuss these results with your GP and suggest that surely a below range iron level and saturation level suggest iron deficiency. Don't discuss with receptionist, they're not medically qualified.

I don’t know if hiprex medication interferes with blood levels

This article shows that iron deficiency anaemia is reported by some people who take Hiprex and if you scroll down to the statistics they show that it's all females and all over 60 years of age:

ehealthme.com/ds/hiprex/iro...

If you are prescribed iron tablets (which seems very likely) take them 4 hours away from your thyroid meds, 2 hours away from any other medication and supplements, and take with Vit C to aid absorption. GP must regularly monitor you whilst taking iron.

[Cassandra in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for the information - can’t get speaking to GP even on phone so I don’t know why she hasn’t recommended a supplement- my daughter brought me a bottle of Floradix yesterday but unsure whether to start taking it or not

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Cassandra]

Floradix isn't sufficient for iron deficiency. Iron deficiency needs prescribed treatment and monitoring.

Is your surgery not offering any kind of appointments - face to face or remote? Surgeries are supposed to be getting back to normal and offering appointments, mine triages requests and when necessary some kind of appointment is offered, I've had a couple of face to face ones towards the end of last year.

I would ring up and tell the receptionist that your results aren't just low but suggest iron deficiency which suggests treatment is required and can you please have an appointment with a GP even if it's only a phone appointment. If denied then I would write to your GP.

[eeng]

Don't let them prescribe you Ferrous Sulphate - it's the cheapest form of iron supplement but also the least well absorbed and most poorly tolerated. You should be offered Ferrous Fumarate or Ferrous Bisglycinate. You can buy ferrous fumarate at superdrug.

[Cassandra in reply to eeng]

Thank you as I don’t seem to be getting any help from my GP.