Question about Ferritin & Iron
I just had my 6 month labs drawn and everything looks really good except my Ferritin. My surgeon doesn't order Ferritin as part of the labs he wants, but I have my PCP add it based on the suggestions I've read on here.
Anyways, my Ferritin dropped from 47 in November to 27 now. My iron, on the other hand, is high - it's 199 (the reference range says it's 37-145).
So I'm confused about what all this means and if I should be concerned.
Can anyone help me interpret these numbers?
Thanks in advance!
Kim
Kim
HW 372 | SW 338 | RNY 8/28/2013
I just had my 6 month labs drawn and everything looks really good except my Ferritin. My surgeon doesn't order Ferritin as part of the labs he wants, but I have my PCP add it based on the suggestions I've read on here.
Anyways, my Ferritin dropped from 47 in November to 27 now. My iron, on the other hand, is high - it's 199 (the reference range says it's 37-145).
So I'm confused about what all this means and if I should be concerned.
Can anyone help me interpret these numbers?
Thanks in advance!
Kim
No helpful advice, but thankful you posted this...I am a bit fuzzy on this myself (how one can be so great and the other not so great) and hope someone can chime in and share in a way I will understand. :)
HW333--SW 289--GW of 160 5' 11" woman. I only know the way I know & when you ask for input/advice, you'll get the way I've been successful through my surgeon & nutritionist. Please consult your surgeon & nutritionist for how to do it their way. Biggest regret? Not doing this 10 years ago! Every day is better than the day before...and it was a pretty great day!
An analogy that people sometimes use is the iron lab result is like money in your pocket -- how much you can spend right now. Ferritin is like your savings account -- how much you have put away for the future. In your case, you are ok right now, but your future iron reserves are getting pretty low. Start taking more iron, and that savings will increase. If you don't, your pockets will be empty, and you'll need iron infusions. That can happy pretty quick, so don't delay.
6'3" tall, male.
Highest weight was 475. RNY on 08/21/12. Current weight: 198.
M1 -24; M2 -21; M3 -19; M4 -21; M5 -13; M6 -21; M7 -10; M8 -16; M9 -10; M10 -8; M11 -6; M12 -5.
An analogy that people sometimes use is the iron lab result is like money in your pocket -- how much you can spend right now. Ferritin is like your savings account -- how much you have put away for the future. In your case, you are ok right now, but your future iron reserves are getting pretty low. Start taking more iron, and that savings will increase. If you don't, your pockets will be empty, and you'll need iron infusions. That can happy pretty quick, so don't delay.
Now THAT, I can understand.
Merci!!
HW333--SW 289--GW of 160 5' 11" woman. I only know the way I know & when you ask for input/advice, you'll get the way I've been successful through my surgeon & nutritionist. Please consult your surgeon & nutritionist for how to do it their way. Biggest regret? Not doing this 10 years ago! Every day is better than the day before...and it was a pretty great day!
