Question about blood work and iron levels

I just got my lab work back and my Iron level is 551. Normal is 13-150. My doctor does not seem concerned about this. He said as long as I was not low I was okay. I also had very low potassium 2.5 normal is 3.5 to 5.2. He took me off the diaretic and has me on a huge potassium supplement pill.
Does anyone know if having such high levels of iron is normal because of the protein we consume.

No.  The protein wouldn't affect your iron like this.

What supplements are you taking?  And do you have any other iron counts (like a ferritin level, TIBC, hct, hgb)?


There is a genetic condition that means someone absorbs more than the usual amount of iron.  See, typically, iron absorption is based on the amount of deficiency.  So looking at a "normal" system (and for this, you're fairly normal), the body will pull more iron out of supplements and food if there is a deficiency present.  If there isn't a deficiency, then there is less absorption.  It's kinda a failsafe the body has.

But there are some conditions in which this does not occur.  One of note is called hemachromatosis.  And while I'm not saying you have this?  It's something that should be looked into.  This is something a hematologist should look at.

The only panel that I see is ferritin serum which is 551. What is TIBC, hct, and hgb? I have the CBC panel, the metabolic panel, the lipid panel, vitamin b 12 and the folic serum panel.

Okay, your ferritin is 551.  You need to be referred to a hematologist.  Period, end of story.  I don't know why your doc isn't worried, but this needs to be evaluated.


TIBC is total iron binding capacity; hct is hematacrit, hgb is hemaglobin.

The HCT and HGB would be on the CBC.


What supplements are you taking?  Multivitamin?  Iron?  Etc.

I am only taking a multiple vitamin without iron and thats it. He ordered some more tests for comp metabolic panel, lipid, hemoglobin, and vitamin d. I don;t see anything on thyroid and I have hypothryoidism. He has not changed my medication for synthroid in years. I am worried now about the ferrtin which he did not order again. I am going to write my concerns and make sure i am getting the right tests and he is paying attention to my thyroid and iron. Thanks for your input. I am in a panic at the moment

Well, I'd be concerned?  But not in a panic.

Panic does nothing.

Here's what he's checking for with the additional tests --  Ferritin can be falsely raised by inflammation.  If you're sick, have an infection, etc. ferritin can (and will) go up.  It's not a static number.  So he's going to do another draw to check it, make sure the numbers match up (and probably also to verify the lab values.. Labs. Screw. Up.  It's a fact of life.)

Now, if the numbers come back high again, THEN you'll probably go to someone to be checked further.  But this?  Right now?  Panic doesn't help.  Honest.  Guarded concern, yes.  But not panic.  Because there could be another reason for this.


As for your thyroid -- I've been on the same dose for.. hrm.. Many,many years.  In fact, I believe my last increase was when I was pregnant with my first child (and yes, post-op).  Surprisingly, while checked, I've not needed a dosage change.

Unless you're having some major symptoms of hypo or hyperthyroidism, I'd not be overly-concerned to panic here, either.  I imagine you had a screen fairly recently and there's no reason to draw again.  It doesn't change THAT rapidly (especially with no malabsorption in your gut).  Weight change really doesn't affect the thyroid.  Unfortunately.


So calm down.  Getting upset will only make things worse.  It can actually increase your ferritin level.  Relax, let the new tests be done and go from there.

And PM me when / if you get the results and I'll help you through them.

Until then, here's some info on some of the tests:  (in English -- I wrote them on my blog)

CMP
CBC
Iron series
Ferritin

With a ferritin of 551, you need to see a hematologist.  IT can just be due to inflamation in the body but it can be due to other things where you dont' process iron correctly causing a build up of iron - hemocromotosis  = it is genetic.  I had a ferritin of 400 for quite some time and they said if it got any higher they were going to screen me for this.  It ended up going down.

As far as your thyroid goes, you should have your TSH, T3 and T4 levels checked every 3 months.  If your doctor isn't monitoring your properly, go see an Endocrinologist.  They specialize in thyroid disorders.

My grandmother's doctor told me that thalassemia carriers - 1 gene only - may have to worry about iron overload because their red blood cells die more quickly than a non-carrier.  She has thalassemia, so it's possible that I am a carrier.  Google the symptoms of iron overload.

A quick fix to lower your iron levels is to donate blood.
You may be referred to a gastro if your levels are still high.
If you eat a lot beans this can cause your iron to go up. Mine does sometimes I donate blood and I am good.

Thanks........I just spoke to my doctor and he is ordering another test for iron in 5 weeks. How high was your iron? I have nothing to compare to because I never tested my iron levels before.