Can anybody advise on my blood test results (for iron)

[Notss123]

See picture attached.

I'm just within the normal range on two of the charts but I feel so fatigued. Walking upstairs leaves me light headed, out of breath and with painful legs. I'm only 29. Anything uphill is nigh on impossible. I'm ever so slightly into the overweight category but only just, besides I have friends alot bigger than I am who don't have any of these problems.

Would you expect somebody with levels like mine to feel rough or not?

If you have iron deficiency anaemia (a lack of iron in your blood), your iron level will be low but your TIBC will be high. You can see your iron level is low, as is your transferrin (an iron storage protein).

Low iron can make you feel absolutely exhausted. I'm not surprised you feel rough with those levels. Many 'normal' ranges don't give any idea of an optimal level, below which you may feel dreadful.

What is your diet like? Do you eat red meat?

Your ferritin is borderline, you should be on supplements.

I have a good diet and don’t have heavy periods yet mine slips to borderline often enough to need supplements at times.

Thank you for explaining. That's really helpful as it's all a bit confusing to me.

I eat a decent amount of red meat IE steak a couple of times a week, spaghetti bolognese, chilli etc. I don't get enough fruit and veg if I'm being completely honest.

Is 'transferrin' the same as 'ferritin' as I've seen ferritin levels mentioned on similar threads but am not familiar with transferrin?

I'm having surgery in the morning and my consultant put me on iron tablets to get me 'optimal' for recovery but my stomach has really struggled with them.

Would levels like this make me eligible for an infusion? I'm wondering whether it might be worth asking when I'm admitted tomorrow.

I forgot to mention, I suspect heavy periods are to blame.

Crossed posts, thank you for clarifying

Is 'transferrin' the same as 'ferritin' as I've seen ferritin levels mentioned on similar threads but am not familiar with transferrin?

No not the same thing, but they are both iron storage proteins. Transferrin carries iron all around the body in the blood to various organs. Ferritin stores iron in cells.

Heavy periods wouldn't be helping you.

Take the iron tablets with orange juice. Also I take mine at night, seems to help my stomach

No you’re not eligible for transfusion unless your levels are below 8 or you cannot absorb iron through the gastric system.

I take Hemaplex soft gels as I could never cope with NHS iron pills. No side effects.

I had symptoms of anaemia when my iron was low but not into the anaemia range. Iron supplements did sort that out.