Update

[Sparklingsunshine]

Hi

Had a phone call on Friday asking me to contract the surgery, following my over range ferritin results. I've now got to have a TIBC, iron and TSAT blood test. I think I need to be honest with the surgery and say I've was supplementing with iron tablets until recently and this is likely to have caused my ferritin levels to rise.

As you may be aware I've been struggling with my health since October and I've had one test after another, trying to get to the bottom of my problem. I started feeling, weak, breathless and very fatigued, even climbing the stairs was an issue. and as I've a long long history of iron deficiency I did wonder if this was the problem again.

Pre menopause I was on iron tablets for much of my adult life. I'm a strict vegetarian and additionally don't seem to absorb vitamins very well. So for a few weeks I was taking ferrous fumarate tablets, twice a day. However I didn't feel any better so stopped them and I'm now wondering if this is why my ferritin is raised, although its not by much, last week it was 163, range 13-150.

I really don't want unnecessary blood tests, especially if there's an explanation for them. Additionally my surgery has once again requested yet another liver profile test. This will be the third one I've had now in about 2 months. They come back in range so God knows why they keep testing it.

I know members will probably tell me off for supplementing with iron but in my defence it did seem an avenue worth pursuing due to my issues with iron and anaemia in the past. I'm so fed up with feeling ill.

I've got a face to face with a GP next week about my dizziness as I've asked for my ears to be looked at before being referred to ENT. So am going to mention the iron tablets.

[QUE6T-33]

Hi sparkling sunshine, yes you must tell GP what your supplementing. You don’t say how much, or what your previous Ferritin results were. Your GP will take that into account. I would ask your Dr why he feels it necessary for another LFT, he must have a reason. If he hasn’t, just say you feel it unnecessary. Are you hypothyroid? Have you adrenal fatigue?

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to QUE6T-33]

Hi

I do have hypo, no idea about adrenals. I don't think most conventional medics even recognise adrenal fatigue as a thing.

[greygoose]

How long ago did you stop taking the iron tablets?

One reason for high ferritin levels is high CRP, an inflamation marker. Doctors don't seem to know that, and don't always test for CRP. But if CRP is elevated, that could be the reason for your high ferritin.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to greygoose]

Hi

I stopped about 3 weeks ago or so. I took them for a couple of months as I thought they might help me feel a bit better. I'm post menopause so will just have to wait for the levels to go down over time I guess. There's nothing to suggest an issue with my liver at least. And my recent FBC was all in range. Its just the slightly elevated ferritin. Doesn't look like they've ordered a CRP test.

[greygoose in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

It would be a good idea to get CRP tested, if you can. But, it's not much over-range, you doctor will probably say it's fine, anyway.

[Jazzw]

Without knowing any more details and just going by what you’ve said, it’s a bit of an overreaction to insist on a new blood test—yes, that ferritin is slightly overrange but not very much.

You know that you can refuse, don’t you? You don’t even have to explain why but there’s no harm in explaining that you were taking iron tablets.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Jazzw]

Hi

I'm seeing the doc next week and yes I'm going to say I don't want it. It's only slightly raised and a lot of post menopausal ladies have raised ferritin. Seems like a waste of time and blood tbh.

[Gingernut44]

If I were in your shoes, I would be happy for the GP to do an iron panel, I’ve had to pay for private testing. I would also ask to have your CRP measured at the same time.