Should I Donate? Confusing Results

[johann]

What do you consider low ferritin?

I'm having problem with my Iron, as I have Hemochromatosis but my ferritin is at the low end but high iron and high saturation.

Johann.

 

[johann]

This is so confusing.
Like I said I have Hemochromatosis and my
Ferritin is 39
Iron 186 (59-158) HIGH
TIBC 292 (250-425)
Iron Sat 64% (20-50) HIGH
Transferrin 205 (200-360)

I dont know if I should donate or not, getting a new Hematologist that I will see 2 of Sep.

 

[CoastWatcher]

Are these results typical for you, or a new development?

 

[Vince Carter]

I too have low ferritin, much lower than yours, but my serum iron is mid-range. I've only had two ferritin tests and both are in the teens, the seocnd was after daily supplementing 62mg elemental iron and Vitamin C. But my HGB and RBC is still high, too. I'm havig trouble understanding the connection or if it's really anything to worry about at all. I did infact donate two weeks ago, at the finger stick it something like 17 or 18, getting close to the blood banks limits. I asked is that "iron", she replied "yes"...so....????

 

[GeauxBears]

Maybe Dr. Saya will respond to this one. Would like to know his opinion here...

Paging Dr. Saya!

 

[Dr Justin Saya MD]

Maybe Dr. Saya will respond to this one. Would like to know his opinion here...

Paging Dr. Saya!

Would really need to know Johann's Hemoglobin and Hematocrit to determine if he should donate or not. Hemochromatosis is, virtually by definition, an excess of iron in the body - so elevated iron in the presence of hemochromatosis is not surprising. However, an elevated hemoglobin and/or hematocrit would make the case stronger for the need to donate blood as it needs to be counter-balanced by the need to try to not drive ferritin into the ground.

Vince - the phlebotomists ALWAYS call it "iron" when they do the finger-stick test (I was just discussing this with a patient yesterday), but it is actually hemoglobin they are checking (an iron composed element of red blood cells)...they are not however checking the ACTUAL serum iron level.

 

[Vince Carter]

I knew the finger stick wasn't right, calling it "iron", I knew it was HGB but wanted them to tell me for the umph time it's "iron".

 

[[email protected]]

Un poco confuso la verdad

 

[meanbreen]

This is so confusing.
Like I said I have Hemochromatosis and my
Ferritin is 39
Iron 186 (59-158) HIGH
TIBC 292 (250-425)
Iron Sat 64% (20-50) HIGH
Transferrin 205 (200-360)

I dont know if I should donate or not, getting a new Hematologist that I will see 2 of Sep.

I just received similar results. Iron OVER 200, Sat at 62%. Ferritin a little over 100 though. HGB at 15 so that doesn't scream ‘donate!' Might I have this disorder? I meet with Defy in two weeks but curious for responses.

 

[HealthMan]

I just received similar results. Iron OVER 200, Sat at 62%. Ferritin a little over 100 though. HGB at 15 so that doesn’t scream ‘donate!’ Might I have this disorder? I meet with Defy in two weeks but curious for responses.

Check my post on the BLOOD WORK discussion part of this forum. In classic hematochromatosis your ferritin would be high (are you donating blood often?).

 

[meanbreen]

Thanks for pointing me to that. We are in similar positions but mine isnt as serious. My ferritin is over 100 and my HBG is at 15 so never donated. Scary that your satu is at 85%, hopefully you get that figured out. Definitely very serious.

 

[Saul]

OP, has a doctor given you a formal diagnosis of hemochromatosis? If so, did they say the cause?