Iron Deficiency Numbers- Can anyone interpret this?

[njshep]

I have been dealing with very heavy periods fir over 4 years, have a fibroid and had an ablation and myomectomy (fibroid removal) without much success last year. Next step is a hysterectomy. My recent blood tests show tge following:

hemoglobin: 120. (Normal)
ferritin : 17 ( up from 6 last year). ( normal)
tansferrin saturation: 0.12 (or 12%) (low)
tibc: 83. ( high)

a year ago my saturation was at .21, so now that is down and ferritin is going up.

iDoes anyone know if this profile is considered iron deficiency?
I will be following up with my dr, but not for several weeks.
If I knew iron was headed upwards I would maybe hold off on a hysterectomy. I’m 51.

Any insight appreciated.

My Ferritin was 13 so Dr gave me iron tablets. From what I read online 12/13 is borderline low, normal 13-100+ so 17 is very low still.

I also had to have a blood transfusion as my HB was 75.

Can an iron infusion or tablets not help get your levels up?

Ferritin
Adult male 25 - 350 ng/mL
Adult female 10 - 300

https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/our-services/services-we-offer/pathology/haematology/haematology-reference-ranges/

You are on the very low end. I believe it needs to be in the range of 70 for healthy hair growth so it really is low but the UK don't really care as long as you are in their range. Get some iron supplements, I've been using the mouth spray version and I can feel a massive difference.

EDIT - I might be wrong but I'm sure ive read that the more anaemic you are the heavier the blood loss. Try getting your levels up to 70 before making any decisions.

I have been taking iron supplements actually for years! One 65mg of carbonyl iron lost days…..

If you’ve already been taking iron supplements then 17 is low. Hope you get it sorted.

Are you taking it with Vitamin C, and avoiding caffeine or chocolate 2 hours either side?

You’re right, the don’t seem to care. No wonder my hair doesn’t grow these days!

I only started taking with vitamin C so will see if that helps. It’s like trying to fill up
a bathtub without a plug bc periods are so intense.
I am not even sure how much to take a day. Very little guidance given with this.

Tbh I've never heard of carbonyl iron, it's generally been ferrous sulphate or ferrous fumarate as the go to types.

I use the Better You mouth spray with a Vit C tablet before bed, this way I know I haven't had a cup of tea or chocolate two hours before or taken any heartburn tablets , so I'm more likely to absorb it properly.

My ferritin shot up when I started taking ferrous sulphate every 48hrs with vitamin c tablet on and empty stomach and no food or drink for a further 2hrs.

Wrnt from 16 - 71 in three months.

Also at the time started using TXA with my periods to stop the flooding.

Then a few months later had the mirena fitted which has been life changing.

I take mine when my alarm goes off at 5am so I can have coffee at 7am.

No stomach issues with it.

I’m am going to try and hammer away at the iron, but unless this bleeding gets under control it’s had to get ahead of the loss.. At 51, Im past trying the coil or attempting another fibroid removal. 12-14 day periods happening every 23-26 days. It’s insanity.

OP would you consider a hysterectomy? It sounds brutal to have that much bleeding.

Although it's within the normal range my dr said they like it to be at least 80.
I'm currently struggling myself.
I tried ferrate but they didn't work for me so am now on gluconate.
You might need a different supplement

Tranexamic acid is a total game changer for heavy periods. I suffered for years before a locum doc suggested I try it. No more anaemia (I do still take the Holland and Barrett cheapo version of Floradix twice daily though).

The meds have zero side effects and have lightened my periods beyond comprehension! Do give it a shot x

Yes, I’ve been given tx acid and am going to start that soon as well. My gynea is contacting me again in June at which point he told me that a hysterectomy would be the next option if nothing changes (it’s getting worse). I can muscle through a lot of it if I knew menopause will be end it all, but it’s this chronic anemia issue that dies me in. Weirdly, I have a lot of energy- I teach all day and have a a houseful
of teenagers myself. I am very active, but my life is so disrupted by these periods. Literally cannot go to the gym (which I like to do 5x) a week bc clots are quite literally falling out of me (sorry!) and my headaches are never ending.