Very High Ferritin - Help Please!

Hi Everyone,

Sorry about that -- let me try again.

I am almost 10 years out and have been reading this site about every day since Christmas -- Thanks by the way - I have lost 18 pounds in 2011 -- Whooo Hooo DS still a great tool!!!!

My reason for posting is I just had my annual labs run and I will post more in detail tomorrow when I pick up a copy at the Dr. office in the morning.  But ...... My PCP called because my Ferritin is 1,102 -- way to high!!!  My other iron numbers are in the normal of normal ranges.

On a positve note I started taking Dry D from Vitalady in Dec/Jan and my Vit D is now 64.9 not great but much better than the 12 it use to be -- this also brought my PTH down from 77 to 47 so that combination is headed in the right direction.

Any ideas on what to do to keep my other iron number good but reduce my ferritin would be greatly appreciated -- Anyone else have this problem?

Just for a little more background I have been taking 1 Niferex Forte prescription Iron since I was pregnant with my first child back in 2004 -- had really bad anemia when I was preg. with her and again in 2008 when I was prego with son.

Thanks again for taking time to read and respond!

Jennifer

What does the test result mean?

Ferritin levels are often evaluated in conjunction with other iron tests. A summary of the changes in iron tests seen in various diseases of iron status is shown in the table below.

 

Disease	Iron	TIBC/Transferrin	UIBC	%Transferrin Saturation	Ferritin
Iron Deficiency	Low	High	High	Low	Low
Hemochromatosis	High	Low	Low	High	High
Chronic Illness	Low	Low	Low/Normal	Low	Normal/High
Hemolytic Anemia	High	Normal/Low	Low/Normal	High	High
Sideroblastic Anemia	Normal/High	Normal/Low	Low/Normal	High	High
Iron Poisoning	High	Normal	Low	High	Normal

Ferritin levels are low in people who have iron deficiency and are elevated in those with hemochromatosis and other excess iron storage disorders and in those who have had multiple blood transfusions.

Ferritin is an acute phase reactant and thus may be increased in people with inflammation, liver disease, chronic infection, autoimmune disorders, and some types of cancer. Ferritin is not typically used to detect or monitor these conditions.

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Is there anything else I should know?

Normally, most ferritin is found inside of cells with only a small amount in the blood. When there is damage to organs that contain ferritin, such as the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, ferritin levels can become elevated even though the total amount of iron in the body is normal.

What does the test result mean?

Ferritin levels are often evaluated in conjunction with other iron tests. A summary of the changes in iron tests seen in various diseases of iron status is shown in the table below.

 

Disease	Iron	TIBC/Transferrin	UIBC	%Transferrin Saturation	Ferritin
Iron Deficiency	Low	High	High	Low	Low
Hemochromatosis	High	Low	Low	High	High
Chronic Illness	Low	Low	Low/Normal	Low	Normal/High
Hemolytic Anemia	High	Normal/Low	Low/Normal	High	High
Sideroblastic Anemia	Normal/High	Normal/Low	Low/Normal	High	High
Iron Poisoning	High	Normal	Low	High	Normal

Ferritin levels are low in people who have iron deficiency and are elevated in those with hemochromatosis and other excess iron storage disorders and in those who have had multiple blood transfusions.

Ferritin is an acute phase reactant and thus may be increased in people with inflammation, liver disease, chronic infection, autoimmune disorders, and some types of cancer. Ferritin is not typically used to detect or monitor these conditions.

^ Back to top

Is there anything else I should know?

Normally, most ferritin is found inside of cells with only a small amount in the blood. When there is damage to organs that contain ferritin, such as the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, ferritin levels can become elevated even though the total amount of iron in the body is normal.

You might want to post this on the DS board. There are differences in the malabsorption in the surgeries and they would probably be better able to answer you.

Thanks for all your replies -- I will post to DS board -- I am not very computer literate!

Thanks
Again!!!