Help with blood test results

Hi, everyone! I just got my latest lab work back from the doc, and was told everything was good. However, I just wanted to hear from some of our experienced members about a couple of things. The following were listed under "Iron and TIBC": Iron Bind.Cap. (TIBC) 329 Ref Interval 250-450 UIBC 240 Ref Interval 150-375 Iron, Serum 89 Ref Interval 35-155 Iron Saturation 27 Ref Interval 15-55 Can anyone comment on these readings? I have seen folks talk about iron readings before, but the numbers mentioned very low numbers, so I'm thinking this is a different test than what they had. Also, does anyone know if having your B12 be too high is bad? Mine read at 1320, and the reference interval is 211-911. BTW, it has been high every time I've had blood work done since WLS. Thanks a bunch for your help. I do appreciate it. I read here quite a bit but don't post all that much. Carlita

Your iron studies are fine. This is a series of tests that reflects how well the red blood cell holds on to iron. Yours are doing fine. This test should not be confused with hemoglobin which is the carrier of iron on the red blood cell--that may be the other test you are remembering in the ~11-16 range. Confusing enough? About the B12. B12 has a low toxicity & high intakes are not thought to be dangerous. Actually it is good that you have a good level--many by-pass patients are deficient because of the section of the intestine that is bypassed. Hope this is helpful information.

Thanks for the input. Appreciate that. I'm not totally in the dark about this stuff, but it is confusing. And I do TOTALLY trust my doc and feel they have my best interests in mind. Here's my hemoglobin - 14.1, and the reference range is 11.5-15.0, so I'm assuming this is a good thing. Thanks again!!! Have a wonderful day. Carlita

Carlita, Your levels like great. Nicely in normal range. Your B12 is great. Too high isn't a bad thing. Mine was over 1400 and my doc said "Your B12 is high. We like it high." Nerve damage can happen in the low end of the normal range so it is definitely better to be on the high end if not a bit above. I think the low numbers that people are showing are hemoglobin as the other poster listed. I've heard 5s and 7s. Yikes! Kathy

Thanks so much, Kathy. I'm really happy to know that my B12 is high, and that's a good thing. Checked the hemoglobin on the "roster list" of tests, and it's 14.1, with the range being 11.5-15.0, so I'll take that as a good sign as well. Thanks again so much for your response. Carlita

Carlita, those iron #'s are great, also you want high B-12 numbers, my last results were almost 1700 which is high but I feel great. The lab I don't see is ferritin (iron stores). This is the number that many don't get and end up anemic because their stored iron has crashed. Might get this lab drawn if you don't have it. Dana

Thanks for the heads-up Dana. I don't see the ferritin test listed on my results, so perhaps I will ask about that one for the next time. I appreciate your response. Have a great day. Carlita

http://www.labtestsonline.org/ This is a very useful website for understanding your bloodwork.

Carlita the labs you listed are great results but as Dana mentioned and I will echo this, please get a ferritin drawn. Before surgery I was in the habit of getting regular blood work since I have always been anemic. If we hadn't run the ferritin I don't know what would have happened to me. My reading was "unreadable" but there was no difference in how I felt. March and again in Sept I had to have iron IV (called InFed) infusions. All my other numbers were good. Now my ferritin is normal, my platelet count is high again so you really need to stay on top of these tests. You are the best one to know what you need. Seems like sometimes the Dr's are writing the orders and forget to include this. My surgeon runs it everytime I go to see him as well I see a hemotologist every few weeks but that is because I have been anemic my whole life. Re; B12, mine was high also it was 1185 last drawn and I got on web looked up lab values and I read its okay to have high B12. I did ask my hematologist and he agreed.