High iron levels?? What could this mean? Very worried...

[Whatiswrong]

I had some blood tests recently, to check my hormone levels (I had gone to see GP about skin problems/hair loss). Anyway, hormone levels are fine but she rang and said that I have unusually high iron levels and I need to have another blood test.
I am really worried now, particularly that while saying it was not super urgent, she did say I need to come back for another test.
Last year my iron levels were actually a little low, and I have not been taking any supplements, or eating lots of meat or fortified cereals, or anything like that.

Has anyone else had that problem??

was it iron or total ferritin levels?

Misi - I didn't think to ask - she just said something about how normal is 20-something and mine is 40, and that it's unusual if I am not taking supplements...

If it is High Ferritin levels then it may be Haemachromatosis

Which my DH has,and the treatment is giving blood weekly/Monthly etc.Its rarer for women to have problems before they reach menopause though,as periods seem to help keep the Iron levels down.

Well, when I googled it, I did come up with Haemachromatosis, but I would have thought that if I had a genetic disorger, it would have been picked up by now?? Or not?

sorry, that was meant to be "disorder"

no, haemochromotosis is not often picked up, many GP's are not sure about what is it anyway. firstly, if you had low iron just last year, then I would not even think about HC just yet as it will take a bit longer than a year for these to build up unless you have really been overdoing the supplementation
. in women, HC doesn't often manefest itself to later in life years after the menopause as your periods usually keep iron levels lower.
It may have been just a blip, if you have been or are taking iron supps then you may have been overdoing it.

even if you have a ferritin test, it still won't be certain that you have HC, you need a genetic test to confirm. and the chances are not that great of having HC. if you have no celtic blood in you then no chance at all really. both parents need to have both variants of the gene for it to be passed on and even then, there is only a 1 in 4 chance that any offspring will get full blown HC. a 2 in 4 chance od being a carrier and a 1 in 4 chance of not having it at all.

don't worry about this at all please. even if it is HC then you arer only at the real beginning stages and is so easily treatable. in the meantime, look at your diet and supps if you take any, cut down on green leafy veg and red meat to reduce iron intake and stop any iron supps if you take them and see what the next test throws up!!

Thanks for the reassurance Misi !