I haven't been taking any iron supplementation for a while. I tested because I've been ill (chronic urticaria) and haven't been able to tolerate iron supplements.
Fasted over 12 hours beforehand, didn't take anything with biotin for over 10 days.
Doctor wanted to do full blood count but thought I'd get a proper panel done beforehand.
It looks like possible anaemia to me, though Medichecks says it's good. If so, well hurrah!
But I find it strange considering no supplementation and being so unwell.
humanbean can I take the liberty of asking for your input, much appreciated!
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Alanna012
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It looks like possible anaemia to me, though Medichecks says it's good. If so, well hurrah!
It's the full blood count that's going to tell you if you have anaemia, the iron panel can only tell you about your iron status, ie if you are iron deficient. You can have iron deficiency with or without anaemia. Check the FBC and look at haemoglobin and haematocrit, if these are below range that suggests anaemia.
Medichecks are saying your results are good because they're within range; however, they're pretty poor.
Serum iron: 55 to 70% of the range, higher end for men - yours is 8.2 (6.6-26) which is 8.25% through range which is very low
Saturation: optimal is 35 to 45%, higher end for men - yours is 12% (20-55) which is very low
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 71 (41-77) which is high in range
Ferritin: Low level virtually always indicates need for iron supplementation; High level with low serum iron/low saturation indicates inflammation or infection; High level with high serum iron and low TIBC indicates excess iron; Over range with saturation above 45% suggests hemochromatosis -
Ferritin can be raised when inflammation is present and your CRP, although in range, is suggesting possible inflammation otherwise it would be nearer the bottom of the range. Therefore I think we can deduce that your ferritin level is higher than it would normally be due to some inflammation.
This leaves us looking at the other 3 tests within the iron panel and they suggest that you may benefit from iron supplements. You should discuss this iron panel with your GP along with your FBC results. If you are prescribed iron supplements then your GP should monitor you and do a full iron panel regularly.
I would be tempted to contact Medichecks and query this:
Saturation: 12% (20-55)
Ask them how they can say a saturation level well below range can be good.
I thought it suggested maybe Anemia of chronic disease or something but the medichecks response made me doubt myself.
I've added the response.
I'm getting lip swelling and severe digestive discomfort taking Iron...even SpaTone.
Still...I am a red meat eater, eat lamb, oxtail or beef several days a week, add liver when I can..eat some sort of leafy green veg with most meals. Am eating less food overall due to symptoms. But still.
Have you tried heme iron? When my digestion was at it's worse I started with half a tablet and a week later upped to full. Did that for another week and was able to add in another half and then the whole the following week if I recall .
Hi Imaan, no I haven't tried it. Did it get levels up? Does it cut down symptoms? With ferritin so high I'm not quite sure what to do, if supplementing will make it worse.
I cant really comment on the ferratin aspect but heme iron really helped me out because it was gentle on my stomach.
I did find 3 tablets ( 33mg) kept me hovering around the midway point or a little lesser but I prefer when my ferratin is aroun 70-80% through the range or I'll get symptoms like air hunger, vertigo, more insomnia and a racing heart.
Been using optifer for a few yrs but just recently switched over to 3 arrows heme plus. It has 20mg per capsule and a little of b12 and folate. They have one that's only iron.
My digestion has been improving and I've been tolerating Thorne iron bisglycinate as well with my heme.
Thank you Imaan that's good to know. Alright, going to look it up 3 arrows iron.
My GP has added a thyroid panel to my blood count test, so if I have it, I risk my levo being cut so I'm wondering if I should just try and address the iron issue myself or face levo being cut and request further investigation with a possible iron infusion. But if inflamed that may not be wise.
Do you guys have walk in clinics in the UK? A few times when I wanted to dodge having my thyroid meds changed I just went to a walk in clinic and asked for bloodwork. I've found most of them accommodating and they would give me a requisition. I did that 2 weeks ago.
It doesn't always work and some would only want to test TSH and free t4. If yall have it just tell them you're feeling tired and ask them for a CBC which includes HEMOGLOBIN and stuff
Another option is to go get the blood work with your doctor's requisition but tell them at the lab to not include the thyroid panel. I've done that for all sorts of tests in the past.
Unfortunately - well as far as I know - there's no such facility in the UK. You could, feasibly (and you'd likely be considered to be taking liberties, if not turned away) turn up at A&E on a very quiet day complaining of extreme lethargy but even there they would look through your records and probably still demand a thyroid panel. That's if you're lucky. Sometimes they won't take any bloods just refer you to clinic.
I don't how you would contact the lab processing your bloods, no idea if these wre done in house in the hospital or sent out.
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