High Ferritin Levels
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi, I am hoping that someone can offer me some help.
Having being diagnosed with depression my gp suggested I should have a blood test to see if there was anything else going on. The first came back with high iron levels not massively high but 43% which is still just in the normal range apparently. So he suggested testing my Ferritin which came back high 606 ugl. So a third test was called for that came back with normal iron, normal liver but ferritin was now 646 ugl.
I have now been referred to a haematology specialist but of course this will take months to get an appointment by the sounds of things. I went back to my GP yesterday to ask a few questions such as what is causing the high ferritin? can I do anything with my diet? is it dangerous? I basically have very little information and am not sure whether I should be worried or not? My GP has been really good but he is not a specialist and didn't want to speculate to much other than to say it may be caused by an inflammatory disease as it didn't appear to be related to the liver. Although he did go onto say that we may just have discovered a problem early so it hasn't yet shown itself in the liver.
Does my story sound like a common one? and could anyone shed any light on the above questions. Any information would be gratefully received.
0 likes, 4 replies
Guest steve44387
Posted
Hi there
Sounds much like my experience so far although I've not yet persuaded my GP to refer me.
Keep us posted how things go and I hope you get a resolution soon
Best wishes
Bill
outremer84 steve44387
Posted
So, the normal protocol for iron overload is to check your ferritin (which is raised) and then to check your TIBC (yours sounds like 43%) to rule out inflammatory causes of raised ferritin.
A TIBC of greater than 50% is normally indicative of iron overload. However, the test is supposed to be conducted in a fasted state in the morning. When I had my first one done without instruction it was 50.5%, a month later fasted it was 85%.
The only way to definitively know if you have haemochromotosis is to get the genetic test done. It can come under hepatology or haematology depending on your location so your GP has probably steered you in the right direction.
If you're not happy waiting that long for the referral (and the test results can take a month), find a hepatologist at your local private hospital and get the ball rolling. Sure, it'll cost but how much quality of life will suffer worrying for the next couple of months.
sheryl37154 outremer84
Posted
sheryl37154 steve44387
Posted
Gosh you are lucky to have a dr who just doesn't just put you on antidepressants but do an Iron Studies instead. All good drs should do this test.
Serum iron is not usually measured as a % so I am wondering if it is your TS% that you reported. A TS% >50% for a male is a marker for haemochromatosis. This generally is cause for a dr to order a genetic test which you have not mentioned.
If it is not haemochromatosis then some other inflammatory event is going on to give you the high but not extremely high ferritin level. You might have a fatty liver which does not show up in blood tests. You need a scan for that. Reduce alcohol, sugars and starches.
Apart from the above, if you do have HH, you don't really need to worry about diet, Just don't have red meat all day or every day. Avoid Vit C supplements with meals, avoid Vit C rich juices with meals (these promote the uptake of iron). Instead drink tea, coffee, calcium products which reduce the uptake of iron.
Your dr may have done a CRP test which measures your inflammatory levels.
Also, have your Vit B12 levels checked. Some of us don't absorb Vit B12 even from tablets. If low you need injections. A deficiency in Vit B12 causes neurological problems like depression. (My husband had this for years until a deficiency was discovered - he drove home humming after his 2nd injection).
Vit D also causes problems if deficient. Vit D3 drops work better than tablets. This deficiency was my problem.