I Am On Folic Acid,and Iron Pills 3 Times A Day Trying To Get My Iron Back Up,the Iron Pills Are Really Upsetting My Digestive System.has Anyone On Here Had A Problem With Low Iron Or High Homocystetine Levels?i Have No Bleeding Anywhere That I Am Aware Of.thanks

Just had an appointment yesterday with the hematologist and was told that I am a "carrier of the homocysteine gene". I still am not completely clear on what it all means, but I didi have a low platelet count as well. He re did the platelet count test and said that the one that showed low (90,000 from 200,000 last week) actually was a "bad test". The test itself wasn't bad, but all the blood had clumped together in the tube which caused the machine to give off a low reading. They ran it again adn it was 160,000. Not sure what it all means yet. Do you have a better way of explaining to me what significance the homocystiene levels have? I am 7 weeks pregnant which puts me into a high risk catagory. I have clotting issues in my family as well.

I have low iron levels but no problems w/folic acid. Mine iron storage was 6 and my binding was 410. I was prescribed 325mg x2 a day. (since age 12) stopped taking for about 5 years...I have to watch my intake to avoid stomach problems. Can't help w/ the rest. I will have to continue iron therapy for the rest of my life.

miseryweeps-when I went to my infertility dr. one of the tests they did was to check for the gene mutation that causes what they call MTHFR and it is a gene that ultimately can cause increased homosysteine levels. It is passed either from one or both parents. One thing it can do is cause miscarriages and blood clots and heart disease. Is this what they tested you for? If it is, it can be controlled by taking a supplement (I'm on folgard) of B vitamins and folic acid. I would get clarification from your dr. for sure.

i had low iron and extremely high homocysteine. the homocysteine thing caused me to have premature athersclerosis which in turn cause several arteries in my head to narrow and clog which in turn gave me a stroke. for the iron i take palafer and for the homocysteine i take b6, folic acid and b12 shots.
janet

High homocysteine can mean cardiac or B12 problems.