Iron level of 71 is low???

[ebon_aurora]

Not according to what I've read on the web as well as here. I've been sick for over 2 years with no known cause and just recently my doctor found out that I'm severely vitamin D deficient. When the supplements she prescribed didn't make me feel better she tested my zinc and my iron. According to her they were both low normal with a zinc level of 63 and an iron level of 71. According to what I'm reading here 71 is almost nowhere near being too low for a female. Maybe a male. But my doctor told me that according to the reference range she had that 70 is the absolute lowest. Don't know what the upper limit is though.

I've been going through the posts here and reading other people's results and not once have I seen a reference range saying that 70 is the absolute lowest for a female. I'm mostly seeing 30 or 50.

I just think its frustrating because I was glad that there was finally something else to explain why I've been feeling so horrible after all these years. I hate to think she's wrong and that these supplements won't help at all.

While I'm here, I'd like to ask this...my doctor decided to put me on Tandem F (106 mg of elemental iron and 1mg of folic acid) to treat my "low iron." Lets just say that iron deficiency is the cause for my symptoms. How long will I have to be on the supplement before I feel a difference? I've been on it for a month and still feel the same.

I would also like to know if anyone else here ever had a value close to mine and how did they feel when it was at that level?

Thanks, everyone.

[ChristineVA]

It would be helpful if you could get a hold of that lab report and post the exact name of the test (was it ferritin or serum iron) and also the exact ranges of the test. While most labs follow a similar range for the ferritin test, it could be that the lab you used measures with a different range and the result of 70 might be low. This is just a possibility though as I've not seen anyone here report that as a low-level range. I'd be very uneasy taking iron supplements with a ferritin of 70 and no anemia present.

As for as *if* the iron was truly an issue, it could take weeks to months to notice some improvement.

[ebon_aurora]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

It would be helpful if you could get a hold of that lab report and post the exact name of the test (was it ferritin or serum iron) and also the exact ranges of the test. While most labs follow a similar range for the ferritin test, it could be that the lab you used measures with a different range and the result of 70 might be low. This is just a possibility though as I've not seen anyone here report that as a low-level range. I'd be very uneasy taking iron supplements with a ferritin of 70 and no anemia present.

As for as *if* the iron was truly an issue, it could take weeks to months to notice some improvement.

My ferritin was fine. It was a serum iron level that was "low". I'll give them a call tomorrow and find out and then I'll post exact levels and ranges. My doc must use a strange lab for them to say that 70 is low normal...

[ChristineVA]

Serum iron is not a good indicator for diagnosing iron deficiency anemia. Especially if your ferritin is fine. Taking iron, when not necessary, is not a good thing. I would seriously be questioning this course of action.

[ebon_aurora]

Well. My symptoms certainly fit. But as I've learned over the years, it could still be any number of things. Oh, well. I just called the doc's office and I should either be hearing from them today or tomorrow. I'll post the levels anyway.