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Blood test results

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fiona74320
fiona74320

I discovered my ferritin result was high when having generic testing.     Given my mother has Haemochromatosis in her family my gp decided to test me and these are my results:

serum transferrin 1.71

iron saturation 66.3%

serum iron 28.5

ferritin 351

I am awaiting the genetic test.  I’m a 38 year old female.  Do these results look like it could be Haemochromatosis pending result of the genetic test?

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • sheryl37154
    sheryl37154 fiona74320

    Posted

    Yes, the saturation % >45 is a good marker for HH.  You are lucky to have it diagnosed so early before any damage has been done,  Given that you are probably still menstruating, your ferritin level is more than twice what it should be.  But don't worry, it is still low in the HH tree, and you should be able to get your level down to <50 quickly then go on a maintenance program.

     

  • fiona74320
    fiona74320

    Posted

    Thanks Sheryl, that’s really helpful.
  • selina58849
    selina58849 fiona74320

    Posted

    My levels are similar to yours and I have HH , am 42 and have just started donating blood once a month to get my levels down. I am still menstruating also so should work in our favour. My last count was 66.8% iron saturation and 415 ferritin. Like most of us I freaked out and panicked when I first found out I have this blood disorder but have since come to terms and am following a much healthier lifestyle now.

  • fiona74320
    fiona74320

    Posted

    So the GP surgery called to say I need to make a routine appointment to discuss my test results. All I could get out of them over the phone about the genetic test was that the GP has written 'carrier variants HFE gene'.

    Does this mean I'm therefore a carrier and do not have HH?  Can you still suffer from iron overload if you're a carrier?

  • fiona74320
    fiona74320

    Posted

    The results of my genetic test say I am a compound heterozygous for C282Y & H63D.

    My blood results were:

    serum transferrin 1.71

    iron saturation 66.3%

    serum iron 28.5

    ferritin 351

    The GP says I am at a very low risk of experiencing iron overload and my blood results show that my iron stores are normal and I therefore do not have iron overload at the minute.  He suggested running the blood tests again in 6 months to monitor.

    Does this sound reasonable?

    • sheryl37154
      sheryl37154 fiona74320

      Posted

      No.  If you are post menopause, the accepted level is 300.  If you are still menstruating, the level is 100 and something?  Sorry for vagueness, but been post (surgical) menopause for 28 years.

      As it has been confirmed you have HH and your ferritin is 351, then some venesections are called for even if perhaps one per month to start with to get it <50, then about every 3-4 months after.  If dr is ignorant about this, print off some official information and take it to him, or go donate blood yourself.  Do not mentioned high iron or HH or you will be sent away.

      351 is not high, but over the accepted level, but it is best to not wait for it to get worse.  Not an emergency though.

      And be thankful you have been diagnosed early.

       

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