What's the difference? Anemia/Low iron? - Anemia Message Board

getbetter · 09-04-2006, 09:32 PM

Hi, I have just got test results back, and I'm a bit confused. My ferritin level is 16, range is 15-165. What on earth does the range mean? And what does this level 16 mean? And what is the difference between anemia and low iron???

Any help would be very much appreciated, I asked the doc all these questions, but I couldn't understand her explaination – it was very technical and nothing made sense to me!

Thank you!

dh2 · 09-10-2006, 07:33 PM

Your ferritin level is your iron stores. The lower that goes, the more you are apt to become anemic (low hemaglobin and hematocrits). You can be anemic and not have iron defiency anemia. They can tell by your ferritin level if you are iron deficient or not. It sounds like yours is on the low end. Did your Doctor say you were iron deficient? The lower that ferritin level, the less able your body is to restore your iron in your blood. Hope that helps a little.