Lab Result Questions

I just got a new PCP (whom I do not like and I am switching). I had RNY in another state in 2014, so currently not followed by a surgeon (I can make an appointment as soon as a new surgeon's office gets and reviews my surgery reports). However, I am feeling pretty bad right now and the PCP is saying my labs are fine. Um, I am not so sure.

Here are a few that stand out to me:

TSH Ultrasensitive - 1.35 mIU/L

Range .045-5.33 mIU/L

Iron Serum/Plasma - 51 ug/dL

Range - 45-160 ug/dL

Iron Saturation % - 12%

Range - 15-56%

Ferritin Serum/Plasma - 12 ng/mL

Range - 11-307 ng/mL

Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy - 23 ng/mL

Range - 13-62 ng/mL

Copper Serum - 94 ug/dL

Range - 80-155 ug/dL

Zinc Serum - 82 ug/dL

Range - 60-120 ug/dL

Hemoglobin A1C - 5.5 % (I was previously Diabetic and on Metformin but taken off after surgery)

Range - 4 - 6.0%

Parathyroid Hormone - 51 pg/mL

Range - 12-88 pg/mL

I have several symptoms - light headed, weakness, very thirsty, exhausted, no stamina, lack of concentration and memory, canker sores. Off the top of my head. I feel like I am losing my mind.

:(

Add shortness of breath, headaches and low pulse. My pulse was 60 at the PCP last Thursday.

Your symptoms are all related to low iron. Your iron saturation and ferritin are the very low end if normal. We need to keep our labs on the high end if normal. My hematologist prescribes infusions when my ferritin is lower than 50. Your ferritin is 12! I think you need to increase your iron supplementation. Carbonyl or Heme Iron are the best absorbed. You will need to add 400 gm of Vitamin C for every 60 mg of elemental iron.

Your Vitamin D level is kind of low too. We want to be close to 60.

I did not see a B12 test on your list. We want that number around 1000

b12 was > 1500

I have a worksheet with "normal" values posted here, it may be helpful.

I would be most concerned with your iron. A ferritin of 12 is WAY low. It may be helpful to see if you can get a referral to a hematologist.

My exact thoughts. I am anemic. :(

The good news is that anemia is something that can be fixed! :)

You can try different types of iron pills or patches to see if you have better luck. Make sure you take your iron pills at a different time than your calcium, and also wait a few hours between iron and coffee/tea. Taking vitamin C with iron can help the absorption as well.

I take Vitron-C. I think its 65 mg.

Isn't there different types of iron? I know I was anemic 2/2016 and had Iron Infusion and came home on liquid iron (oh boy, that stuff is nasty! LOL).

Yes, there are several kinds, and you may absorb some kinds better than others.

Vitron looks like it's ferronyl iron.

Lots of people here take carbonyl iron, which tends to be easy on your stomach. Feosol Gentle is one brand, though I know there are several good ones out there.

My hematologist had me start on a double dose of ferrous sulfate, which didn't get my levels up very well. I switched to Proferrin, which is heme (animal) iron, and I'm feeling much better since I started the switch.