Can anyone help me understand my blood test-iron results

[thesurreymum]

Bit of a long one sorry. I have been struggling with tiredness, run down and mouth ulcers for a while. Have a history of low ferritin due to heavy periods. Been on contraception to manage the period and only now bleeding every 3 months.

I had a blood test on the 3rd of this month and serum ferritin level 52 Ug/L nhs normal range 30-250 so no action. Obviously this is low on the normal bracket.

I've just spent 3 days in hospital with a bad case of tonsillitis and all infection markers were up. Noticeably the mean cell haemoglobin concentration level was high at 352 g/l looking at google normal range should be 12.3 and 15.3.

I was under the ENT dr but he didn't seem concerned and presumably down to the infection. Was not really well enough to question it.

Should I be going back to my GP with this and asking for investigations or more than likely where I've been unwell. As mentioned periods significantly reduced and I'm not a vegetarian.

Thanks for any advice.

If that 352 is correct and the same measurement as the normal range numbers, then something is seriously not right and I would absolutely contact your GP.

Here's a picture of the results. They retested the bloods this morning but I didn't get chance to see those results so I don't know if the heamoglobin improved within the testing period

Normal range is 310 - 350 g/l, so on the edge of normal. I think you've looked up a normal range for different units.

What at your B12 results?

Few I hope that is the case. I was seriously panicking!

looks like you've looked up the normal range for something else/somewhere that uses different units of measurement. The ferritin may or may not be useful depending on when your tonsillitis started. Your doctor should be able to put together the whole picture.

Serum vitamin B12 level 261 ng/l normal range 200-900. So again on the low side of normal

The mouth ulcers sound a little bit like a lack of B12. I've suffered with similar symptoms for years on and off and am now on b12 injections which have helped ease the symptoms. Definitely keep pushing with the doctors if you are suffering

Ok just looked at the nhs and definitely got the levels wrong for the mean cell haemoglobin concentration level. Will calm down now.

261 is considered very low in other countries. Sadly the U.K. doesn’t have a handle on B12 treatment as it fails to recognise low B12 when it’s in your range. Try high dose sublingual b12 tablets daily for absorption, along with folic tablets daily (essential for absorption).

This along with giving up gluten stopped my mouth ulcers. For some people gluten can effect absorption of B12.