Re: More than three months after clearance (BUMP)/iron panel

[Guest guest]

Hi, Lethal Lee.

I am also a little worried about iron results and I see you have a lot of

knowledge (and I reckon Valery may be busy ). Val already sugested I may take

a little more iron but there are things I still don't understand, particularly

why transferrin is that low. I haven't been feeling so well after clearance,

lots of ups and downs and I would like to know why...

Can you have a look also at my iron panel (I do think I followed the protocol

correctly)

Is the transferrin result odd in respect to the other values?

Iron Panel:

(Was done just after finishing the period)

Iron: 94.0 mcg/dl (40-140)

Transferrin: 202 mg/dl (200-350)

TIBC: 296 ug/dl (245.52-412.92)

Ferritin: 62.8 ng/mL

sat-Transferrin: 31.7 % (20-50)

Just after clearance, 3 months ago) ferritin was 120 (didn't have an iron panel

then, the above is my first ever), and then I stopped iron supplementation.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

> Is the transferrin result odd in respect to the other values?

> Iron Panel:

> (Was done just after finishing the period)

> Iron: 94.0 mcg/dl (40-140)

> Transferrin: 202 mg/dl (200-350)

> TIBC: 296 ug/dl (245.52-412.92)

> Ferritin: 62.8 ng/mL

> sat-Transferrin: 31.7 % (20-50) [calc 94/296=31.75%]

>

I see what you mean your Transferrin is almost bottom of range & TIBC is only

30% in range. Saturation at 30% is good too. Not too high & certainly not low.

Have you had any of these in recent times (last few months)...?

CBC

ESR

Fibrinogen

Homocysteine

CRP

LFT (Liver Tests)

Were you ill either at time (or few weeks before) of original 120 result or

result result?

Any other medical conditions?

Taking any other meds besides T3 & HC?

Taking high dose Vit C?

Started Estrogen, Testosterone?

Liver Function good?

Protein intake good?

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This link http://www.irondisorders.org/tests-to-determine-iron-levels/ says to

do repeat test avoiding certain additional things...

" Various foods and conditions can influence serum iron. You may wish to request

a repeat fasting test with a stricter 72 hour pre-test avoidances of foods and

substances: red meat, supplements, alcohol, vitamin C rich juices or high sugar

foods/beverages. These items can increase iron absorption or alter results. "

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This source says Transferrin is low when protein intake low OR have

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/tibc/test.html

" Liver disease

It is customary to test for transferrin (instead of TIBC or UIBC) when

evaluating a patient's nutritional status or liver function. Because it is made

in the liver, transferrin will be low in patients with liver disease.

Transferrin levels also drop when there is not enough PROTEIN in the diet, so

this test can be used to monitor nutrition "

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http://health.yahoo.net/galecontent/iron-tests-1/2#interpretationoftestresults

" Medications and substances that can cause INCREASED SERUM IRON levels include

chloramphenicol, estrogen preparations, dietary iron supplements, alcoholic

beverages, methyldopa, and birth control pills.

http://health.yahoo.net/galecontent/iron-tests-1/2#interpretationoftestresults

Medications that can cause DECREASED SERUM IRON include aspirin, cholestyramine,

cortisone, methicillin, and testosterone.

Medications and treatments that can cause INCREASED FERRITIN levels include

dietary iron supplements, oral contraceptives, theophylline, and x-ray therapy.

DECREASES in FERRITIN levels are seen with antithyroid therapy and high doses of

ascorbic acid (VIT C).

Medications that can cause INCREASED TRANSFERRIN levels include cortisone and

cortisol. Those that can cause DECREASED transferrin levels include oral

contraceptives and carbamazepine.

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Certainly if results are accurate there is nothing to suggest you are Anemic or

that your body thinks you require Iron.

Possibly the drop from 120 to current levels reflects LESS inflammation after

clearing Rt3?

Possibly the fact you tested just after Period may be a factor? Are your periods

long and/or heavy?

What are your temps like are they optimised?

What are stomach acid levels like good? Do you take any HCl?

Taking extra painkillers since last test eg Aspirin?

Lethal Lee

[Guest guest]

Hi Lethal Lee,

Thank you very much for your thorough mail. Let's see what can I add:

Before e¡supplementing with any iron.

January 2009:

ferritin: 38.25 ug/mL (10-204)

iron: 120 ug/dL (40-150)

At the end of Mars 2010 (I had been supplementing iron for quite a while) I had

this labs done (I was on 30 HC and 75 T3, it was day 6 of my cycle):

CBC:

Red blood cell (RBC) count: 4.31 (4.5-5.5)

Hemoglobin: 13.0 g/dl (13-16)

Hematocrit: 38.7 (38-52)

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV): 90.00 (75-99)

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH): 30.1 (27-34)

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC): 33.5 (30-37)

Red cell distribution width (RDW): 10.3 (13.3-17)

The numbers above haven't changed in years, before supplementing iron and B12

were very similar.

ESR (1 h.) : 3 (2-15)

Homocysteine: 7.27 umol/L (Less than 10)

Ferritin: 121.7 ng/ml (12-200)

vit B12: 655 pg/ml (108-850)

> Any other medical conditions?

> Taking any other meds besides T3 & HC?

> Taking high dose Vit C?

> Started Estrogen, Testosterone?

> Liver Function good?

> Protein intake good?

I had been supplementing iron and Vit. B12. I don't think I was ill, and I think

I did the correct protocol for testing iron.

I was also taking 10 mg Anafranil, DHEA (15 mg), and supplements (vit B complex,

vit.D, Q10. Last time I tested liver enzimes was 2008 and everything was O.K. (I

have tested regularly in my lifetime and have always come out good).

I think my diet is pretty good. I eat low carb because my blood sugar tends to

be a bit high, but I am not diabetic (don't think I am even pre-diabetic

acording with standard levels). I don't drink at all.

I did have relatively high EBV antibodies in a test I had in 2008, and I often

get sore throats, but I really don't know if I have to do something about it.

IgG anti-EBV: 230 (negative is less than 20)

> Certainly if results are accurate there is nothing to suggest you are Anemic

or that your body thinks you require Iron.

>

> Possibly the drop from 120 to current levels reflects LESS inflammation after

clearing Rt3?

I just think it reflect I stopped supplementation, because ferritin was low (38)

before I started supplementing, then went up to 70 and finally to 121.

>

> Possibly the fact you tested just after Period may be a factor? Are your

periods long and/or heavy?

My periods are not at all heavy, but I spot and bleed at the end of my luteal

phase (before the period proper). This has been happening to me for several

years and is driving me nuts (I desperately want to get pregnant!!!!!). When the

worse comes to the worse (usually if I am traveling and stressed) I bleed quite

a lot " down there " , but also my nose bleeds which I don't understand (although

once I did a google search and it seemed not so uncommon during the period/or in

pregnancy)... It only happens during the luteal phase which makes me think it is

something hormonal. I have been doing regular gynecological check ups and it all

seems O.K. I am having an appointment very soon again.

>

> What are stomach acid levels like good? Do you take any HCl?

I don't know,I think so

> Taking extra painkillers since last test eg Aspirin?

Nop, I take painkillers very rarely.

> What are your temps like are they optimised?

My temps came up after clearance, they are quite good, but fluctuate a bit, when

they are highest (even a bit on the limit of being too high) is when I feel

better, but I don't seem to be able to keep them there.

I don't know if I am optimized, really having problems reaching some stability.

Personally I think is adrenal because I just can't tolerate any stress. Even the

" stress " of being all the time worried about myself is exhausting me. But I seem

unable to control it by supplementing cortisol (and Alsosterone is fine...).

But, one thing at a time! Let's see what shall I do with the iron and then I

will consider adrenals further...