DS got low ferritin and FBC satisfactory, help what does this mean?

[Embelline]

DS is three and has been on iron supplement for nine months after a blood test for something else flagged up low iron.
He had a check up bloods recently and it's come back low still - normal range 12-32 and he's 11. I know this is only just outside the range but he's been on daily iron (7.5ml per day) all that time and has an iron rich diet (mince, apricots, raisins, broccoli etc) so I was a bit surprised.
It wasn't flagged as a concern, in fact it was labelled as 'abnormal but expected' and when I asked about the rest of the blood count they said it was satisfactory and 'all fine'.
It was only after that it occurred to me that satisfactory may not actually mean 'all good' - and when I asked if I needed to speak to the Doctor they said there was nothing noted.
I've requested to speak to them anyway but I can't do that til very end of next week and as I have health anxiety I am already dwelling on it and worrying about things like leukaemia etc...

anyone got any insight? Thank you!

No advice op but my ds (4) also has low ferritin

Have you got to the bottom of what causes it? @AelinAshriver

OP you should ask to see the full blood test results.

Ferritin of 11 is very low, your DC is anaemic. For it to be that low after 9 months of supplementing suggests there is a problem absorbing iron. It really needs to be looked into. He must be really tired / with low energy.

@DewinDwl that's the strange thing, he's not at all, if anything he seems full of energy. He sleeps well overnight - 12 hours, but doesn't ever nap during the day unless he's unwell and is always running around. If we'd not had the other blood test for another reason, we never would have suspected low iron because he has none of the symptoms apart from being pale, but he's very very fair like all the other children in the family.

I was surprised they deemed it 'abnormal but expected' and didn't seem to think it required following up in any way.

I'm also not sure the full blood results will make any sense to me :-/

@AelinAshriver do you know his levels by any chance? As in the number?

Please do not take this as exact but I’m hoping it may put you at ease and is what was explained to me.
I have low ferritin currently and it was explained to me as the iron our body stores. So I’d take it as your DC has the right levels in the other bloods therefore feeling well and that they aren’t able to store any “extra” for if they needed it.

Thank you @PeanutButterFalcon
both times he had blood tests I think he was in a growth spurt (eating lots, sleeping really well) so I’m wondering if that affected it too.

im a worrier at the best of times so anything out of the ordinary medical wise sets me off, especially to do with DC.

Im comforted by the lack of urgency or worry by the GP though as ours are really good and thorough, probably over cautious usually if anything.

I just wanted to be armed with a few questions for when I speak to them next week and to have an understanding of what it could mean and whether I should be concerned.

Has he been tested for celiac disease? Low iron can be a symptom

If the FBC is normal your son is NOT anaemic. Ferritin is just a measure
of iron stores. Iron is needed to make red blood cells, so if levels are low it may cause an anaemia in the future if you don’t replenish it.
did he take the iron on an empty stomach?
did he take the iron with a source of vitamin c (eg orange juice or a supplement). Both of these things help to increase absorption. Things like calcium containing foods can reduce iron absorption.
a huge number of children are iron deficient, it’s difficult to get enough when they’re growing so
fast. Speak to your dr for reassurance

@Swimswam no he hasn’t it’s never been raised/suggested.

@BungleandGeorge thats really interesting, I know last time he had blood tests the doctor said it was just the ferritin, other levels were fine which is why they weren’t worried.

he doesn’t take it on an empty stomach no, he has to have it three times a day so tends to be around mealtimes I’ll switch it so he has it before with a little drink of orange juice as we haven’t done that either.

OP have a look at the guidelines below, it might put your mind at ease. It explains the criteria for diagnosis, what the different indicators are and what they mean all in language i can understand

cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anaemia-iron-deficiency/

The only time I've had a "satisfactory" blood test result (versus the usual "normal" or "abnormal") was when my results were borderline - my hemoglobin was one point below the lower limit. It could be something like that? My Dr's are always happy to share test results.

@DewinDwl thank you! I’m actually wondering if it’s the ferritin result that is making the blood count satisfactory not good if that makes sense