I am new, please i advice me.... - Anemia Message Board

haritha · 01-21-2008, 03:17 AM

Hello friends,

I read some of your posts. I too have problem with my ferritin levels, due to which i have heavy hair loss.

in august/2007 my ferritin level was 3.70NG/ML.

with ranges:

Male: 22 - 322, Female: 10- 291.

which is of lower end. then i took iron supplements. i changed my diet totally.

then again in December/2007 i have undergone ferritin test. which was the same 3.00 NG/ML.

with ranges:

Male: 21.81 - 274.66, Female: 4.63- 204.

my doctor says my levels were not improved. And we have a doubt that what ever the iron i took was not observed.

So I want to know is their any test which shows whether the iron I am taking is observing or not.

Please notice the ranges what ever I mentioned per each test, which differ a lot. I too want to know whether the range difference has any effect on my ferritin level.

Please any body help me.

I will be waiting for the reply

ChristineVA · 01-21-2008, 05:39 AM

Even though the two different labs have different ranges, I believe ferritin is only measured in one manner so that your result would mean the same no matter which lab you use. I know that some labs use different assays for some tests so the ranges can be very important, but I don't think this is the case for ferritin.

As far as I know, there is no test that can determine whether iron is being absorbed.

What you need to do next is determine:

1. Are you losing blood anywhere (gastrointestinal tract or menstrual losses) that make it so that you are just losing so much blood that no matter what you do with iron tablets, it is just not enough. Or:

2. You have a malabsorption disorder such as celiac disease which makes it impossible for you to absorb the nutrients.

I think you need to have a full GI workup. Endoscopy, colonoscopy, and celiac testing.

FLFLOWERGIRL · 01-21-2008, 08:41 AM

I agree with Christine's post. All of these things have to be ruled out or you will (probably) never fix the problem.

It doesn't help that you had different lab values either. I would try to repeat the same lab next time as your first one if possible to compare.

My ferritin was a 2 and it took about 6 months and to correct the bleeding (heavy periods), before I could raise my ferritin just a little. It stayed 6-9 for a long period. Anything under 10 means no iron stores.

You don't say how much iron you are taking. If it is not taken correctly or not the right amount your stores may not budge either.

Blood loss is the number 1 reason for IDA. A simple blood test should to tell you if there is an absorption problem. I would see a GI doc and go from there. Good luck to you. FLFLOWERGIRL

haritha · 01-21-2008, 07:48 PM

I feel very happy to see replys from you. thank u very much. but both of my tests were from the same lab.

ok i will take the supplements for more three months.

and then i will go for further check ups again.

once again thank you for spending your valuble time to read my post.

-Haritha

gclaec · 01-22-2008, 09:09 AM

I was just scrolling for celiac disease information and questions and this thread popped up. I went through several years of unexplained anemia, was on iron pills, then even went for IV therapy for anemia and iron, had transfussions, nothing seemed to help. I was diagnosed with Celiac disease in 2005, and my anemia has almost disapeared (without any more treatments). I think anyone that has anemia (unexplained) should be checked for celiac disease, because treating anemia without finding the cause is like spinning your wheels in mudd.

Wish you lots of luck,