Bloods don't seem OK.

[SJP306]

My partner, female 34. Is under hospital for ITP, low platelets as shown here. She's been feeling unwell chest pain breathless dizzy and sweats alot. Her GP sent her for blood tests and messaged to say that basically everything is fine. AIBU in thinking after looking at these results on the NHS app they don't seem fine? What would others do? Just very worried about her and obviously I'm not a doctor !

I'll add that B12 and all other results seem okay.

Am I reading it right that ferritin is 15? I have heard so many different views of what okay it for ferritin (I have low ferritin). When mine are 6 or 11 they tell me to take iron but one dr said 15 is okay, another said 25+ is okay.

I’d want to know what the cause of the low readings are and also what’s the symptoms being experienced?

She’s iron deficient, and her platelets are low which is the ITP.

Talk to the GP about iron supplements, or start eating lots of red meat. The results aren’t unusual in women who menstruate.

It's the haemoglobin and mean cell volume that concerns me as they're both below reference limit, but he never rang just had a message come through from the surgery saying everything is fine in regards to bloods which I find confusing.

I'm not medical but like you I'd be surprised to hear that all is "fine" when so many of the readings seem low and want more info. Is your partner at home at the moment or in hospital? If at home I'd try to arrange a call with the GP/message back to ask about the significance of the different readings and if in hospital I'd flag up those results. You'd think they'd be aware but they might not have easy access to them/know to look if they didn't request them. Wishing your partner all the best, OP.

She's at home currently, she sees a consultant at Haematology every few months for her platelets. She's just been feeling quite unwell and fatigued and after reading these I was concerned but the GP hasn't said anything is a problem, just very confused!x

Are they 'normal' for her? With her past history and being under consultants for related conditions in the past, it sounds more likely they're within her usual ranges. I'd assume he's comparing them to her previous results as opposed to the reference values. With the assumption these results aren't causing her current symptoms because it's how she's been for months/years?

I'm not a doctor or saying that's right, BTW.

She had haematology on Monday her usual quarterly appointment for platelets, she went to the doctors on Thursday because she's been feeling unwell he said her HB was low as he could see her blood tests from haemotolgy, so sent her for more blood tests at a hospital so they could be done quickly. I do not know the results from Monday they aren't on her app. These ones are from Thursday. But it says on them below reference limit, however he messaged to say her bloods are OK and hasn't mentioned anything at all about follow ups and she's still feeling unwell x

NICE guidelines say ferritin below 30 is an iron deficiency so I’d recommend supplements for that. Folate also looks low to me and likely b12 even if in range is low so suggest supplementing for both of those as well. Plus vitamin d.

often one low vitamin or mineral level can cause your body to be unable to properly use others.

Some of the reference ranges are about what the lab sees and averages not necessarily about what’s needed for optimal health. Means issues aren’t always flagged.

Im not a dr but have suffered from number of low vitamins and minerals and have done a lot of reading.

Will definitely get some vitamins in! Thankyou

She's anaemic, has absolute iron deficiency, and has low folate. I don't get how any doctor can say that's "fine," especially given her symptoms.

Does she consent to you sharing this info?

My sister was breathless and had all sorts of issues with a ferritin at that level. An iron infusion later and all was sorted.

All signs of iron deficiency. How a GP can't see that is baffling. Her consultant WILL thankfully.

Spatone is a great way of adding natural iron too.

It's not like we're going to say" oh that's Samantha at number 5 ,doom streets blood results " is it.?

You need the whole of the FBC to interpret it properly (the haemoglobin isn't in the results above so you can't tell if she's anaemic or not). The rest of it does suggest iron deficiency, but it needs interpreting in the context of previous bloods to say whether that's what's causing the symptoms (assuming the symptoms are newish).

Yes she consented, she doesn't use mumsnet, thankyou for all your replies I'll definitely be getting some Iron tablets in and get her to get in touch with her consultant. Thankyou all!

This is the whole set.

The haemoglobin is in the normal range at 130 so she's not strictly anaemic but she is low in iron. We would just recommend iron supplements over the counter.

So is the mean cell volume and mean cell haemoglobin nothing to be concerned about @DrFoxtrot ?x

low MCV and MCH just reflect iron deficiency.

My ferritin was 15 and I was put on iron. My daughters was 8. We were both dizzy and weak with levels that low. It should be much higher

Could

Yes my ferretin is currently at 8 due to malabsortion but I feel fine somehow! You've all put my mind at ease thankyou