Low ferritin, celiac, and hemochromatosis revealed??
Posted , 3 users are following.
Ok, so need some advice. Two months ago my ferritin levels were rock bottom, 3 and 2 respectively. my iron panel ( non fasting) revealed:
Total iron: 12
TIBC :413
Saturation: 3
( see reference ranges below- they're the same)
Suspected celiac as a result of this iron deficiency anemia , went through blood tests and endoscopy for celiac and confirmed celiac disease( not advanced). So on October 20 , just over 1 month ago I started gluten free diet- strict and supplemented with 45 mg of ferrous bisglycinate ferrous ( no iron supplements previously).
3 weeks later, iron panel tested again ( again non fasting) and got CONFUSING results yesterday:
Ferritin: 11 (ref 10-154 ng/mL)
total iron: 224 ( ref 40-190 mcg/dL)
TIBC:359 ( 240-450 mcg/dL)
Saturation: 62 (ref 11-50%)
Do I have hemochromatosis?? Was celiac masking this? Could my iron supplements cause overload? Why such drastic jump but low iron? Iron avidity? Are these levels dangerous? Remember they were not fasting results for either test I stopped supplementing with vitamin iron this morning. Do I need to see a blood dr ( hematologist)? Any info appreciated! Thanks in advance!
1 like, 4 replies
Guest amy45282
Posted
I'm pretty certain I read that recent iron supplementation can cause artificially increased iron and saturation levels. I don't take iron supplements, which is why I was so confused over my lab results. My Dr. said she wants to draw labs again in a year, since my ferritin was still low, even with the high and rising iron and saturation. She said if my ferritin levels go up, then we'll do genetic testing for hemochromatosis then. Hope this helps. Sorry to hear about your recent celiac diagnosis.
amy45282 Guest
Posted
Thank you! That's good to know about recent supplementation!
sheryl37154 amy45282
Posted
Whether you have haemochromatosis is yet to be revealed. Your only indicator so far is a high TS%. Do you have relatives with HH?
Vit C supps and OJ or other high vit C juices with meals will help increase your iron. Avoid calcium and dairy with meals in the meantime until or unless it is proven you have haemochromatosis. Then reverse the above.
However, your gluten free diet will naturally increase your iron anyway, and normalise it or overload if you have HH.
amy45282 sheryl37154
Posted
Thank you for those thoughts. No relatives to my knowledge have HH- but Irish descent definitely and gluten issues in the family. I'm the first to be formally diagnosed celiac. Will have to keep monitoring it.