Never had an iron result like this?!

[SquirrelsAreGo]

Hi, I've had trouble with iron / ferritin levels over the decades, generally a combination of serious period problems, and gut absorption stuff. NOT coeliac. Or at least not the twice I had biopsy.

So, where I live we can get sent copies of our results, and sometimes I can see them before my haematologist has gone through them.

This time, my haem (iron) level, is 27 with 10-30 range (so actually pretty high for me and most women), but ferritin is still relatively low. High for me, but low at 45, when she's always said it needs to be at least 70, preferably 100 (on the 15-300 range).

Before menopause, I was often between 6-12.

So, bottom line, does anyone know why haem can be relatively high, whilst ferritin is low?

I haven't been taking any iron supplements in the past 6 months.

Your ferritin isn't low. Most pre-menopausal women would have ferritins less than 45 because of having periods. It may be optimum to have a higher ferritin, but doesn't mean it is currently low.

I've just had bloods done and was told my ferritin was low (needed treating) at 23.9. They said normal range was 22-322 which seems very wide! So I can see how they'd prefer it higher.

Gloschick. I'm not going to start arguing, I know my own history, and the reasons I see a haematologist. I also know what my ferritin has been like for the last 7 solidly post-meno years. I also know that most pre menopausal women may have low ferritin, it doesn't mean they SHOULD. It is common now because diet and periods are commonly abnormal these days.

I was interested to know what would cause the particular combination of a high haem, and lower than normal ferritin.

I guess I'll find out later this week.