my iron levels are falling and i don't know why?
Posted , 4 users are following.
I'm just looking for some advice regarding iron levels. by the way my haemoglobin levels are normal so i'm not anaemic.
Normal ranges: iron 10-30; transferrin saturation 20-50%; ferritin 15-300.
31/07/17: Iron 14; Transferrin saturation 20.1%; Ferritin 25.
?30/08/17: iron 8; transferrin saturation 11.8%; ferritin 21.?
Also, in September 2016 my ferritin level was 71.
?I am currently on anticoagulants but I am [u]not [/u]? having heavy periods (in fact I don't have any periods due to the contraceptive injection), nosebleeds, gum bleeding, blood when I go to the toilet, large bruising.
Any ideas guys?
0 likes, 5 replies
jenny19687 holly75952
Posted
Hi. There could be lots of reasons.
Low B12 and/or Folate
coeliac / gluten / ibs stopping absorption of iron
vegetarianism and/or lack of vitamin c
a bleed in the body like the bowel etc
realistically you should consult your doctor on supplementation and aim to get your iron stores (ferritin) much higher say middle of the range. If you haven't already get your b12 and folate tested.
Good luck
holly75952 jenny19687
Posted
I think that I have had my B12 and folate tested a few times before so my doctor would've flagged it up if there was a problem.
?my GP has given me iron tablets but he is still concerned about internal bleeding. It's a bit stressful for me because its the weekend now and I don't know if they are planning more tests or if they think that I will be fine
sweetmelissa holly75952
Posted
Dr.G holly75952
Posted
Simple anemic workup such as a stool sample would find any bleeding through bowels caused by chronic bleeding from ulcers ect. Lots can cause low iron. It's kinda odd that your hemoglobin would be normal, if your iron is low, being that iron is used to make hemoglobin. Im guessing your platelets were fine, from the cbc test? Other reasons for low iron are not eating enough of it, the body isn't absorbing it such as celiac disease, ect. I hope they find out please let us know.
sweetmelissa holly75952
Posted
Really, you can't be diagnosed with Iron deficiency without anemia either, as your ferritin levels are still in the normal range and with your hemoglobin in the normal range, you cannot be diagnosed with iron deficiency with anemia. I will tell you this. I get anemic on and off. Sometimes my iron and hemoglobin will be low the same and sometimes, just my iron will be low but the hemoglobin normal. I asked my doctor about why my iron was low but hemoglobin normal, as I was scared because of the causes I read on the computer, it says anemia of chronic disease is the most common. Anyway, he told me to just take an iron pill daily and that low iron with normal hemoglobin is normal before turning into iron deficiency anemia because it had to do with the life span of the RBC which is like 120 days. So it can take some time for the hemoglobin level to "catch up" with the iron levels. Of course, I can always be wrong. I am not a doctor, I just wanted to share what my doctor told me.