Labs are back, sorta worried

I got my labwork back today in the search for my lightheadedness. The result: all of the suspected culprits like sodium and potassium are fine, within normal limits.

But, something showed up on my iron values:

• ferritin was elevated at 242. Upper range of normal per my lab is 150.
• Iron binding was low at 222. Lower range of normal is 250.
• Serum iron is low normal at 36 and iron saturation is low normal as well at 16. Hemoglobin is normal at 13.2. Hematocrit was also normal at 40.3.

They want to retest in 4 weeks and if it's still off I may need to go to a hemotologist. In googling tonight I see mention of hemaochromatosis. I also see mention by some that normal range for ferritin is up to 300 so perhaps I am in range after all.

So, perhaps I am worried for nothing, but I'm curious to see what other folks know about this topic of screwed up iron levels. My mom had rheumatoid arthritis and so does my grandmother, so I wonder if there is something here I need to keep my eyes open about.

In the meantime, I guess I just need to switch to iron free vitamins.

Laurie

I will be curious to see how the-is is handled, did they change your vits and  supplement's? Do you need a referral or can you make the appointment and go? I have contacted several and only one is familiar and treats gastric bypass patients, good luck, I bet you will feel like a million bucks when they get you all on track, good luck, keep us posted:()

I hate when they don't give you enough information to keep you informed as to exactly what the problem could be!  I'm sorry that your labs came back off.  My prayers are with you that everything levels out and it's only a one time anomaly.  God Bless, Michelle

Hi There, 

I have had chronic anemia for a long time. The first time I saw a hematologist my iron level was 4. I thought I was going to die. Turns out I do not absorb vitamins as a rule anyway and give my self b-12 injections every month, take folic acid, iron by IV once or twice a year, prescription vitamin d, and any other nutrient you might need. I just don't absorb them. So I am on a lifelong vitamin therapy. Anyhow, your body is stressed from surgery so just hang in there until the doc sends you to a hematologist. They will work it out for you and make suggestions. 

 

I had so off blood work before my surgery and was sent to a hematologist, and when they looked at the history of my blood work they found out it has been this way for at least 10 years and they said not to worry about it ,it is my normal 

 you get the results on friday afternoon and there are things that say abnormal on it and you can't call your doctor till Monday so you Google it and find all the bad things it could be so you get scared ,then you see the doctor and they say its nothing

 well I hope yours is nothing , and that they find out what your problem is is minor like a sinus problem

Well, knowledge is power, but sometimes it scares us unnecessarily!  I go for my blood work tomorrow morning, so I'll be curious to see what it says.

Here's hoping it's nothing to worry about!  BTW, are you still feeling light headed?  I hope that's better for you too.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you. Hemaocromatsos runs in my husbands family. They go give blood a few times a month but otherwise live a normal life.

Sounds like you are taking a little too much iron. Cut back for four weeks and get retested. If you had anemia then I wouldn't say that. Iron is toxic so you don't want too much. Don't depend too much on what you find on the internet, it will always point to the worst outcome. You aren't all that much out of range though. Your light headedness is not coming from that. This time of year it's more likely something to do with your inner ear or hydration. Just my thoughts. 

How was your B-12?  Do you take a PPI  like Prilosec or Prevacid?

Right after surgery my ferritin was over a 1000. It went down each time I gave blood. I was referred to a specialist and they checked me for hemachromotosis. They do DNA testing of your blood. It turns out I was fine just had excess ferritin. My primary said that sometimes surgery can make weird things happen and things go up. Also it took almost a year until I found out everything was all right between doctors and all that. I never died.lol I think it is currently below 400 so I will be normal eventually. I do my one year next month so we will see where I am at. If you do have it you just have to give blood every so often.