Adrenal problems

[carolinegodlonton]

I'd like someone to advise on some results I received last week. I have just had an adrenal "crash" so to speak and my previous post was about my thyroid meds. I'd like to know where in range ferritin and iron should be.Ferritin 113ug/L (11-307)

Haemoglobin estimation 128g/L (115-165)

Hematocrit 38.8% (36-46)

MCV 94.4 (77-100)

MCH 31.1pg (27-32)

MCHC 329g/L (315-345)

Distr Width 13.2% (11.6-14)

Many thanks

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

carolinegodlonton

I'd like to know where in range ferritin and iron should be.Ferritin 113ug/L (11-307)

It's often said ferritin should be half way through range; however, some experts say that the optimal ferritin level for thyroid function is 90-110ug/L and personally I would be happy with that. Ideally when testing ferritin then testing CRP (an inflammation marker) would be tested as well, this is because ferritin rises with inflammation. If CRP is elevated then you'd know that ferritin is falsely raised due to inflammation and wouldn't be a true normal level.

As for iron, have you had serum iron tested? Optimal iron panel levels according to rt3-adrenals.org/Iron_test_... are:

Serum iron

• 55 to 70% of the range

• higher end for men

TIBC (total iron binding capacity) or Transferrin

• Low in range indicates lack of capacity for additional iron

• High in range indicates body's need for supplemental iron

Saturation

• optimal is 35 to 45%

• higher end for men

You can use the thyroid calculator to work out percentages for serum iron and TIBC, just put the figures into the TSH line (or either of the others)

thyroid.dopiaza.org/

The other results you've posted above from your full blood count don't suggest anaemia.

[carolinegodlonton in reply to SeasideSusie]

I asked for iron to be checked and this is what I got back so seems I will have to do a home test. Previously my ferritin was always near the 300 mark and suspected inflammation. This is the first time it's been so low. Iron was 51% through range and TIBC was bottom of the range. Saturation was 45% and CRP 1.87.

I know these were a year ago so need to get new test done.

What is the use of Haemoglobin estimation test, which us what they did? Just trying to understand why they don't do serum iron.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to carolinegodlonton]

What is the use of Haemoglobin estimation test, which us what they did?

Haemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body and a haemoglobin test measures how much haemoglobin in your blood. If your haemoglobin result is low, ie too few red blood cells, that would indicate anaemia.