Does anyone know anything about iron deficiency? My neuro tested blood with the CBC panel and told me I was showing mild anemia (slightly lower than normal hemoglobin and hemocrit and red blood cells) and therefore I should see my general practioner. The GP ran the CBC again and it came back normal. So she thought the first test was a fluke. However, my ferritin (iron) level was 20 and the range is 10-220. The GP still said "well, it's not 'generous' but it is still within normal range." Based on some reading I've done online some doctors think 20 is low. My hair has been falling out a lot and I have fatigue. I've always looked pale too!

Questions:
1. Should I make an appointment with the neuro again and ask her what she thinks of the ferritin levels? My GP doesn't seem concerned although she is making me give a stool sample to check for intestinal bleeding.
2. I'm worried about constipation from iron supplements as I've had chronic constipation for years from other meds. Is constipation unavoidable?
3. Does anyone know anything about IV iron? Doesn't that work a lot faster? Is it safe?

Thanks!

Hey Natalie~ Well, I could have almost written your post. My Neuro told me my ferritin level was too low, too. *around 23 I think*. So, he put me on iron supps. I was concerned, as I too, had ventured onto the internet and became alarmed, so I went to my Gastroenterologist, who immediately took me off the iron supps.

The ferritin level is the ''bank'' that hold extra iron for your body, should your iron levels go low. The supps were causing painful constipation, dark stools and IBS. *which I already had, so it made it much worse* My Gastro checked for blood in my stool, etc and all was well, so I decided to try and add iron to my diet through iron rich foods.

My Gasto told me that my Neuro should stick to what HE knows best and not alarm me. BUT, I DO think you need to make sure you are not low on iron due to other problems. A stool check, etc would definitely be a good idea. I do not take anything like that lightly, as my Father passed away from Colon CA. My PCP echoed what the Gastro said, so I guess I'll just say, that I think you should listen to your PCP.

Oh, and my Gastro told me that ferritin levels have such a wide range b/c they can change when a person's immune sx is low or depending on if you'd had a cold, etc. He said that everyone is diff, so guess that's why your PCP was also not alarmed.

Do what you feel is best for you, but my Dr told me to listen to him and not the internet. (I still go online and do searches, ha~~~ he can't tell me what to do... My DH has been trying that for years.

Take care Natalie and keep us posted.

Hi Natalie - a month after my DD #2 was born I hemorridged and ended up with a very low ferritin level - it was 2... I can't remember high much iron I was taking but I know it was a high amount to get my iron level up. (Note: this was almost 18 years ago) I was also put on a high iron level diet - Turkey is very high in Iron! Go figure!

I slept most of the time - and had no strength what so ever!!

Keep us posted and good luck!

Good on you folks to get your blood tested.

Iron deficiency is all too common. Especially for females.

Supplements are a good thing, but you definitely need to be speaking with a 'professional' when it comes to iron supplements.

Too little is bad news, but too much can be harmful.

Let us know how it goes for you hun!

*raising hand*

I do I do...I am currently under treatment for iron deficiency. Happy to tell you everything I have learned from this experience.

Mine is from heavy bleeding due to my periods although they did all the gastro tests (colonoscopy etc) to rule out GI bleeding. I guess the heavy periods are coming from that lovely perimenopause. I am guessing when I reach menopause my iron will get better on its own but for now it needs help.

I also have an absorption problem. I think iron is supposed to be a large molecule and not easily absorbed. And as we age we all absorb less nutrients. So no matter how much iron enriched food I was eating I was not absorping enough of it naturally.

I had some classic symptoms...pale, easily fatigued, racing heart upon exertion and frontal headaches, plus cold. And restless leg syndrome.

My ferritin was 23 which was borderline. Basically over time I had blown through my stores and whatever iron was going in was bascially supporting me and going out with my periods.

My endocrinologist said she wants my ferritin levels in the 50 to 60 level.

They also did the following tests with the ferritin tests.

Total iron
Iron binding capacity
% saturation
You really need the above tests in conjunction with your ferritin level otherwise you are only looking at one piece of the pie. You may have low stores but how you use iron and your saturation could be fine.

Another test that is specific to iron deficieny anemia is

Transferrin

And you should also have them test your folate and B12 because they can also show a type of anemia is too low.

So, for a while no matter what I did my ferritin was 23-25 but my saturation levels were very very low like 10%. For the most part I had blown through my stores and my continued periods led to low saturation levels which meant my blood was not carrying enough oxygen.

I tried the over the counter iron supplements but the gastro distress was terrible.

Finally I found a once a day (that is the great part) iron supplement that I take. Its called REPLIVA and its prescription and I really do not have any gastro upset from it, either diarrhea or constipation. The great thing is it is once a day and it has vitamin C in it which aids in iron absorption.

And I just got my latest test results back...giving you the current in black and the last set in red plus the ranges.

Iron 87 45 range 40-175
TIBC 312 367 range 250-450 (please note with this test the higher the number the worse the result.

% sat 28% 12% (very low was flagged) range 15-50
Ferritin 47 25 range 10-232

The above results are after 2 months on the iron treatment.

If you do pursue iron treatment do it under a doctor's care because too much iron in high levels is dangerous.

And I have to say also make sure they check your vitamin D status too, just in case.

Hope this helps.

Hello Natalie, I can not say anything from first hand but I took care of deb for a number of years, with same issues and hers, were at an extreme end, it can make you tired, big time, lucky for deb, they discovered what was wrong, See that's what they told deb too Shelley, heavy and she was, but it turned out she had pullets(Sp?) on her womanly parts, and had to have a total hyster. she didn't just have a few, her womanly parts weighed 4 times as much as they should, so by correcting her anemic issues it has helped deb out a lot, so hopefully yours wont go to extremes, and meds will be able to help you, I have learned it is not something you want to take lightly, I never even realized how serious and how troubling it could become

Shelley that is what prompted them to rethink her original dx, they were pumping iron in her through meds and herself through foods. and here readings were not good at all, even with the help of meds and foods, so, again Natalie i say prayers its is an easy fix, and you are feeling better soon, sorry if i scared you off any, I debated typing this, i didn't want to make you worry more, I am sure if those numbers were at critical levels the docs would be doing something Pronto

Thanks Frank ....I tried googling it but only got stuff about chickens (although it did resemble B2 ). Could you ask deb if she knows any more information on the pullets (?) I would like to investigate further. Intersting that her womanly parts weighted more. Sometimes mine feel really heavy as well and I know one scan shoeed them like twice their normal size.

While my numbers have improved I am thinking about undergoing an endometrial ablation to eliminate the monthly bleeding.

DM Thanks for your reponse. The internet can be a dangerous place as far as medical info goes!! Self-diagnosis, though, is so much fun. So your gastro and PCP both thought a ferritin of 23 was okay? Honestly, I can't say I'm interested in taking iron supplements as I've heard they cause major gastro-intestinal problems. So I'm assuming you still are not taking iron anymore? Have you been re-tested?

yeahbut Wow, you were at a 2? I guess hemorraghing will do that too you. I will start eating some more turkey! I already eat SO much red meat to begin with -- maybe my body is craving iron??

Shelley Thanks so much for the VERY useful information. I guess I was just confused as to why the first test showed mildly low hemoglobin, hemocrit, and red blood cells and the second CBC 3 weeks later came back normal.

I did get checked for folic acid and B-12. Folic acid was normal and B12 was 344 with a range of 250-1100. I remember a year ago my B12 was in the 600 something range. My vitamin D was very low at 17 last year when I was diagnosed. Got it up higher but she is checking that again (still waiting on result).

Iron serum was 85 with range of 35-145
Total IBC was 299 with a range of 250-450
Unsaturated IBC was 214 with a range of 155-300
% saturation was 28 with range of 20-50
Ferritin was 20 with range of 10-220

So I guess just listen to my primary doc.? She did not suggest iron supplementation of any kind. Although she thought the ferritin and % saturation were not "generous." (whatever that means??!!)

Oh yeah, I forgot I feel cold all the time. That's an iron deficiency symptom? hmmm...

So you see an endocrinologist for anemia related stuff? I thought a hematologist or gastro was in order??

Frank Thanks for info on Deb. Hope she is doing okay.

Dunno, but I certainly feel cold all the time as well. Cept when it's summer. But the last few nights here have been those of frost warnings (not at the freezing point, but close enough to!) and I've been 'cold to the bone' every day. Brrr!

Frost?? I'd give anything for that. It's still 90 degrees here every day.