Iron panel results

[Fizzyinch]

In early Sept my ferritin came back: 25.9 (10-291) so I asked for an iron panel.

I am a bit confused by the transferrin result as I have read that if low iron then transferrin should be high? Mine is below range.

Oct 22:

Ferritin: 28.9 (10-291)

Iron serum: 13.7 (9-30.4)

Transferrin: 2.42 (2.5-3.8)

Saturation: 25% (16-50)

CRP: 7 (0-9)

Dr has prescribed Ferrous sulphate 200mg twice a day as a trial for a few months.

Any thoughts?

[humanbean]

It's too late for me to go through this thoroughly, I'm tired. It's after midnight. Just wanted to say that I had low in range ferritin, below range serum iron, low in range transferrin saturation and below range TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity).

TIBC and Transferrin are interpreted in the same way - see this link:

rt3-adrenals.org/Iron_test_...

Like you I was baffled as to why my TIBC was below range suggesting I had plenty of iron or even high iron, when all the other values suggested my iron and ferritin were desperately low.

I've seen a few other people reporting similar results on the forum. I've had it suggested to me by a member on the forum that my liver is misbehaving and this must explain it. But my liver results are fine so I still have no explanation.

I decided that three out of four of my iron panel results showed I was low in iron, so I ignored the TIBC. I then went on to supplement ferrous fumarate 210mg, 1 tablet, 3 times per day. I did find that my absorption was very poor though, and it took a very long time (21 months) to raise my ferritin to mid-range. Despite managing to raise my ferritin my serum iron stayed quite low in range, although it did improve. But increasing my iron/ferritin made me feel a huge amount better, and my TIBC actually went up, which is the opposite of what should have happened.

Ferrous sulphate is the cheapest iron supplement that the NHS prescribes, and it is often poorly tolerated. If you want to try something else, and want to know more about your options for supplementing iron see this reply to another member:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

One possible explanation I came up with for my odd results is that I have a genetic problem. All the females on my mother's side of the family and even a couple of my male cousins have struggled with low iron and repeated anaemia all their lives - 7 of us in all. So I think it could be a genetic fault.

[Fizzyinch in reply to humanbean]

Thank you for replying so late in the day.

I was trying to look for any other previous results that would show the same pattern but I couldn’t find any unfortunately.

Will see how I get on with supplementing