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High or low iron and ferritin

Crux

Senior Member
Messages
1,441
Location
USA
@Gondwanaland ,

I just remembered that RBC is synonymous with erythrocyte, and their elevations are found in iron overload / hereditary hemochromatosis .

There are many SNPS that can effect iron loading, so just because someone doesn't have the classic ones for HH, it doesn't mean they don't have it. Says I.

Also, with polycythemia vera , there are usually elevated platelets, among other things.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2581906/

EDIT : Scratch this, RBC count is different from RBC indices....derp.
 
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Gondwanaland

Senior Member
Messages
5,094
@Gondwanaland ,

I just remembered that RBC is synonymous with erythrocyte, and their elevations are found in iron overload / hereditary hemochromatosis .

There are many SNPS that can effect iron loading, so just because someone doesn't have the classic ones for HH, it doesn't mean they don't have it. Says I.

Also, with polycythemia vera , there are usually elevated platelets, among other things.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2581906/

EDIT : Scratch this, RBC count is different from RBC indices....derp.
We are just back from the hematologist who said the main issue to be addressed is the MetSyn. I have baked/cooked all sort of low carb recipes, but I can't beat the bottles of coke, grape juice and OJ :rolleyes:
I am going to set an appt with a low carb dr and ask him for a IF approach (24/7) for DH, this must have an end since it's compromising his immunity :mad:

Thank you so much for the links and input @Crux :hug:
 

Crux

Senior Member
Messages
1,441
Location
USA
I'm sure you know that iron overload is a primary cause of diabetes.
http://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/pdf/S1550-4131(13)00055-7.pdf

It is tough to wean off the sweets. I bought some stevia, but haven't tried it yet.

When I first went low carb, keto actually, I got the dreaded 'keto rash'. Some was clustered around the liver area, some around the pancreas. I wonder if it was the release of iron.
Iron is excreted through the skin.
Copper supps. got rid of the rash.

Copper deficiency is associated with glucose intolerance and other stuff.

I hope for the best for you and DH !
 

Belgiangirl

Senior Member
Messages
108
I have gilberts too.

My ferritin / ferrum / iron is most of the time strange.

eg
- iron too low, rest normal (between limits)
- ferrum too high, rest normal
- ferritin very low, rest normal
- iron and iron transerin very low

cant relate it too symptoms.
 

Belgiangirl

Senior Member
Messages
108
@barbc56 @Crux

I am on a Tetracylcine and Clarithromycin.

something really bad is going on. 6 days ago, I woke up REALLY sick and have been that way since. I haven't changed anything..I am on the same treatment I was on months ago when I was doing very well. The only thing is, I have been on Feramax for like 2 months ago.

I emailed my CFS specialist to ask if it could be the iron.

@barbc56 i am not sure if the units being used here are the same, but my ferritin is 7. I think the normal range is 20 - 200 or something??

I am using the word Iron interchangeably with Ferritin..is this not correct? sorry my fog is insane

I cant see a haematologist easily...in Canada it would take a lot of time....and they likely wouldnt know much about this condition.
xox

Now, my GP once explained me the link but I forgot.
I believe the one is the storage in the liver, the other one (iron) is the lose fraction in the blood.

As long as your iron is low, but your ferritin is still fine, your ferritin reload your blood with the necesarry iron. So I heart when I got this (low iron in blood but still okay ferritin). Then you dont need to take iron supplements.

(Although one might wonder on which point exactly will your liver be so sweet to fill up the iron in the blood again? Maybe its something circadian?)
 

barbc56

Senior Member
Messages
3,657
As long as your iron is low, but your ferritin is still fine, your ferritin reload your blood with the necesarry iron. So I heart when I got this (low iron in blood but still okay ferritin). Then you dont need to take iron supplements.

Not necessarily. Both low ferritin and low iron are types of anemia. This is why it's important to see a hematologist. What's interesting is how a hematologist reads the numbers. Sometimes, a reading will be incorrect when you look at all the other tests. I was surprised when my neurologist referred me to a hematologist as my ferritin was normal. However, my iron absorbtion(?) was low. He also said that sometimes you factor in how a person is feeling after an iron infusion,which surprised me. Iron supplements really did a number with my stomach. I have IBS.

The infusion is now about three hours and for me no problem. For some types of iron you need a small dose to see if you are allergic, with a nurse ready to give you Benadryl if needed. However, there are other options where the chances of an allergy reaction is very low. I am going by my memory, so please keep that in mind.

I am showing my ignorance herr but what Is MelSyn.

Like you my downfall is cola. I can't keep it in my house!

How are things going with your husband?
 
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Gondwanaland

Senior Member
Messages
5,094
How are things going with your husband?
Thank you so much for asking. Still in the 1st week after the blood donation, we were expecting a greater symptom relief, but still early perhaps.
Like you my downfall is cola. I can't keep it in my house!
That is my husband's additiction. I haven't drank soda in years (I wish I could enjoy the benefits from it, but perhaps I am enjoying and things could be much worse for me, who knows)
I am showing my ignorance herr but what Is MelSyn.
Metabolic Syndrome.
 

Daffodil

Senior Member
Messages
5,875
@Belgiangirl @barbc56 thanks for the info. so i asked my doc if i should take the iron supplement...he said to take a low dose (i got the impression he didnt think it was a big deal either way) so now i am taking feramax every other day.
 

Gondwanaland

Senior Member
Messages
5,094
The 1st time my husband donated blood was back in 2014, we didn't notice much from it and I didin't take any notes.

Now a month has passed since his 2nd donation and he felt a bit crappy (nothing major - the usual IBS-D abit worse though), but in the meanwhile he went to the dentist anf found an infectioned tooth - a pretty severe infection that didn't cause pain in the tooth itself but rather facial pain (sinus area) and swollen lymphnodes in his neck (and probably the main cause for his pneumonia last year).

Now that he is treating this tooth he has been feeling much better. So I believe it was this infection that was keeping his iron ferritin high and giving him recurrent sinusites.

Additionally he always has greatly benefitted and still does from drinking Rooibos tea, which I suppose is a decent source for copper. He feels calmer, it slightly alleviates his IBS-D and helps him with sleep. ( @Crux @Peyt )
 
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Crux

Senior Member
Messages
1,441
Location
USA
Not sure about infection raising serum iron - it usually lowers it - sequestration into macrophages to withhold it from microbes.

Copper can really help to regulate iron so that it's not lost in blood and tissues. Copper is necessary for function of B cells, etc.

I'm getting less infections now, but still susceptible. It's possible things will improve as time goes on.

I still take copper glycinate, 2 mg. daily.
 

vortex

Senior Member
Messages
162
Not sure about infection raising serum iron - it usually lowers it - sequestration into macrophages to withhold it from microbes.

Infections cause inflammation and apparently the inflammation causes the high ferritin. google ferritin and inflammation.