Iron level

I just wanted to pop in for some quick advice before my appointment tomorrow so I know whether to push when meeting with the clinic. Wondering about my iron levels...

y ferritin levels are out of control so cannot be used as a true guide, my doctor said that ferritin is an inflammation marker so it will cause abnormal results if there is any inflammation or infection. My results even since significantly prior to surgery have been three to four times the normal limit (ie 764, 903 etc compared to the recommended range of 5-272 ug/L) so this is not a good assessment level for me as to whether things are dropping or not. It remains high now so thinking I need to disregard this and look only at my actual iron number...

My iron level for the six month blood work is 11 umol/L, prior to surgery it was 15 umol/L. The Canadian accepted range provided on the test was 11-34 so I am just right on the border. I am not taking iron supplements up until now as the clinic told me not to unless they advise it is needed based on bloodwork. My thoughts are I don't want it to fall any lower but am wondering if because I am right on the line of normal if I'll be told that I don't need it. Looking for some thoughts from others. It's not a huge drop from 15 to 11 so I'm not sure if that's part of some normal variation but also don't want it to be in too much of a downward trend before addressing it. Should I push anyway if they say it's not needed?

I think hematologist can help you with that question. Not internet.

Over the 10 years I have been post op - I had low iron and normal ferritin, and I also had had high iron, low ferritin, as well as low iron, low ferritin.

Since ferritin represent iron stores- iron "saving" account, IMO they are the best to indicate if a person need more iron or not.

I am not sure, but hopefully hematologist can help you to distinguish between high ferritin due to inflammation and high ferritin due to high iron "saving account".

Fyi- I know a few people who have Hematomacrosis- their body stores too much iron.

Getting more iron when your stores are already high can lead to a serious side effects.

Thanks...they did not refer me to a hematologist because they did rule out hemachromotosis. My doctor believes it's just inflammation because all of my other iron indicators are in the normal range.

I guess I'll just wait to see if my actual iron level drops further or not, the clinic was not concerned about it being right on the line of normal.

Maybe just push to have the detailed conversation and a more frequent follow up either way? Pre op, when I"d intermittently be having anemia issues, my PCP would doy blood work more frequently.

Thank you...I am not suppose to have blood work again for another six months but I'm going to ask my family doctor to repeat it in three months to see.

Prior to surgery I had to donate blood to keep my iron levels down. Now my iron is normal but I still supplement with pre-natal.

Joe

I was wondering about that but not sure if my ferritin being high and my iron being right on the line would mean that if I donated my iron level would end up even lower or not. Thanks for the suggestion though!