Well, sort of bummed....it could be worse.

Brief history: Found out last July that I was anemic. My hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBCs were slightly below normal. It took awhile and lots of pushing to get more tests. Bottom line, I found out in November it was iron deficiency although a ferritin was still not done.

I tried several OTC iron supplements but all made me sick. I started using Spatone in November. On January 2nd, I had my first blood work since Spatone. My "anemia" numbers (hemoglobin, crit, RBCs) all went back into the normal range. I had my first ferritin done at this time. It was a 5. So, my GP told me to continue with the iron and come back in 3 months. In the meantime, he wanted me to have a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy.

In Feb. I had these GI tests. Colonoscopy was good. Upper was not so good. I had gastritis and stomach bleeding most likely from Motrin use (which I had stopped in December). I sort of thought this would be my answer. I healed my stomach and continued with the Spatone.

I had labs done last week and the results were just okay. My hematocrit and hemoglobin are still in the normal range so I am not anemic. They are a "tad" lower than they were in January, but still okay.

My ferritin was STILL at a 5. My doctor is not happy about this and wants me to continue with iron but have more labs in one month.

He thinks I'm having a malabsorption problem. I also take Prilosec which we are suspecting is PART of my problem with iron. So, my body is using the Spatone iron and keeping me from being truly anemic, but either I am not taking enough so there is not to store, or my body just won't store it.

I'm so depressed about this because I just want it FIXED!!

Am I insane to think that oral iron therapy is going to work for me? I am really against getting involved in the infusions. I think they are going to make me ill as I am sensitive to everything. Even some iron supplements make me itch!

Any thoughts?
Christine

Have they tested your ferritin at various times of the day or the month? My ferritin level stays around 5 even when the other values are in normal range, so I have decided that the 5 value is normal for me. If you have not been tested in the morning while fasting or in the late afternoon after normal day of meals I would do that to see if there is a difference in numbers.

Both times I had my ferritin checked, it was in the morning. I was not fasting on either test because it's not required.

I was told that ferritin did not flucuate (not like a serum Iron test would--that changes all day long, especially in response to meals). Ferritin is a stored protein and is very stable.

Hi Christine,

If your doctor thinks you may have an absorption problem, it wouldn't hurt to have your b12 and folate levels checked.

Hi Christine,

If your doctor thinks you may have an absorption problem, it wouldn't hurt to have your b12 and folate levels checked.

It's been about 6 months, but I did have them checked initially and they were VERY normal.