Blood tests - high ferritin

[Lilythepink3]

Hi, posted this yesterday on another board but thought might be better suited here.
Hi, I'm really worried as have just checked my blood test results online and my ferritin level is over 400 - I think normal is 200.

My doc ordered the test as I have been feeling unwell for a few weeks, lightheaded, tired and just feeling out of it. Had various tests all clear but my ferritin just came back high yesterday.

Ferritin - 442 (top of range is 290)
TSH 1.14
CRP 4
RBC dist. width 11.7%
MCV 87.7%
Red cell 4.46
Haemoglobin 142
MCH 31.8
MCHC 363 (just over top of range 360 and is what caused the Doc to do the ferritin level)

I haven't been too well in last few weeks and my symtoms sound very much like those described for Anaemia of Chronic Disease. I'm just worried that as my ferritin is so high do I have an underlying problem. Can ferritin be high without a disease cause?

Would really appreciate any insight into the results if anyone has any. Wishing hadnt looked at the results on the weekend and Monday seems ages away.

Thanks x

could be some sort of inflammation

Yes I thought that, it seems to point to it. Was wondering if anyone had raised ferritin and what caused it? I'm not aware of any underlying cause so just a bit concerned.

Not a medic however high levels of ferritin can be an indicator of haemochromatosis, a genetic disorder sometimes associated with Irish or Celtic people.
www.irishnews.com/lifestyle/2016/11/23/news/awareness-call-as-genetic-disorder-haemochromatosis-silently-destroys-lives--794299/

Haemochromatosis ??

Alcohol. Had a blood test after I came back from a holiday in Ibiza. A loooot of booze was drunk.
My ferritin was through the roof, waited a month with no booze in the meantime.Was retested and my levels were back in the normal range.
Please don't think I'm making any insinuation that you are a drinker.
Just sharing what caused mine to be so high.

Thank you, will mention that condition to the Doctor.

Andshewas - do you mind me asking how high your ferritin was and how long after the holiday you had the test? I haven't had any big blow outs but I was reaching for a glass or 2 after work recently!

Thanks

@Lilythepink3 . My levels were quite high, cannot remember the exact numbers but I know it was at the higher end of 300 (must have been a lot of boozin going on ) I went for my blood test less than a week after I came home from holidays. HTH

Thank you so much for sharing your results! Is reassuring to hear the levels can be affected like that. Off to the Docs tomorrow to see what they say as my legs like jelly last night so maybe I do have a bit of anaemia too or a nasty virus. Just want to feel normal!

Thanks

AndSheWas85 I went back to my Doctor today and she suggested doing my test again tomorrow. I only had the other one on Thursday. Were you told that you needed a month for levels to return to normal? I am so nervous about all of this now, so worried it could be something serious.

Thanks

@Lilythepink3 Try not to worry, my cholesterol was high as well, so my GP wanted to give me a good few weeks on some tablets and then retest to see if it had come down, which it had

She also told me that ferritin levels that are high can be down to a bit of minor inflammation and will sort itself out quick enough. So say if you had your bloods done a week or so ago that inflammation should have run its course and this will show in a lowering of ferritin. I'd say that's why your GP is getting another test so soon, just to confirm this.
I'm sure everything will be fine

@Lilythepink3 sorry don't know if the first part of my last post made sense. I went for my bloods and was tested for liver function and cholesterol, which along with my ferritin came back high. My GP started me on some meds to reduce the cholesterol, but these would have taken a good few weeks to work.

So my GP said just come back in a month or so time and the cholesterol should have gone down and I will check the ferritin levels then too.

And naturally because I wasn't boozing my ferritin levels when back down too.
She didn't really seem concerned about the high ferritin levels, as it can be quite common and easy to get back down to a normal rage again. Take care x

There's a simple test for heamachromatosis as it's genetic iirc. It's in my family.

@AndSheWas85 Thank you for message and reassurance! I went today for the Ferritin blood test along with further iron studies tests. Hopefully will get the results tomorrow. I'm still not feeling too well but a bit better than last week so just hope those numbers have come down. Your GP sounds lovely, mine was all very factual and not particularly comforting! Thanks again for posts!