Help me understand my blood test result?

[Drummend01]

I’ve been feeling tired for a few months now, had comments from my parents about dark under eyes and looking pale. I have improved my diet, work isn’t more stressful than usual, I sleep well, very active etc. I have had a couple of incidences of near fainting, always when standing. First time on the bus, second on the tube and third when I was chatting in a queue. My heart races and I feel faint and sweaty, need to sit down and loose my vision. My mum and auntie have iron deficiencies.

I went to the doctors and they referred me for blood tests which came back as normal, the only thing that stands out is:

Serum ferritin: 26ng/mL (normal range 20-204). A normal result.

Im not really sure what to do from here because they say it’s normal, but something isn’t right. Although it’s in the normal range it’s very low, should I ring the doctors and ask more questions?

It's normal, but it's on the very low end of normal. It certainly may help you to take some iron supplements.

That said, lots of things can make you feel rubbish besides low iron. Did they test for any other deficiencies? How is your vitamin D? B vitamins?

If they didn't test them, it could be worth having them done privately, which doesn't cost much.

Not a doctor but also have a low but normal ferritin level. My consultant advised to eat more iron rich food. I have been doing that and also taking an iron supplement. Only been a week so can't say if it will help but can't hurt! (Just don't go crazy on iron supplements cos that can be dangerous)

Just take iron tablets anyway. You can buy the same tablets over the counter as the GP would prescribe, or just get some from Boots/Holland & Barratts.

Take with vitamin C and avoid caffeine for a few hours before/after.

Yes that's low end of normal. Your GP may suggest supplements and/or a follow up blood test in a couple of months.

Also meant to add have they checked your thyroid?

I was on iron tablets and a multivitamin before but they asked me to stop taking them in the lead up to the blood test so the results were more accurate, I’m back in those now

Thyriod result was 0.97 mlU/l (normal range 0.35-4.94)
comment: euthyroid or adequate replacement rarely, patients with pituitary/hypothalamic hypothyroidism can have normal TSH

B12: 524pg/mL (normal range 187-883)

I can’t see anywhere about checking vitamin D

thank you for the replies, I’m going to monitor it over the next couple of months and see if there is any improvement. If not then I will make another appointment