X-Post: VSG, PPIs, Gluten, Iron Absorption - my research & experiment

Blood draw last Friday, meet with the hematologist on Thursday, but got my labs in hand today so I can have them on a spread sheet, see trends and have a few days to gather intelligent questions. :}

He pulled CMP, CBC, ferritin/folate, B12, all of which are the standard

But he also pulled a GGT, LDL total, and a uric acid.  I have been poking around to find out the whys that these would be important but figured I would share here in case anyone had that knowing somewhere in their noggin and could explain and I could find out more from him.

Also, H&H are normal, ferritin *crawled* from 18 to 23 (from December 29th) following the iron rules and double dosing the Proferrin, but my iron saturation is above high normal, as is my total iron.

Dubya Tee Eff. 

Anyway, putting it here in case anyone has any knowing to share, and off to plant some more flowers in the yard. 

***edit to update.

The GGT, LDL and uric acid were pulled because my hematologist is also an oncologist and that is just part of their standard panel - and those things are to test and see if the chemotherapy is killing other stuff and whatnot. 

For me, the saturation versus ferritin gives the weird and rare picture is of hematomacrosis with iron deficiency, usually you do not have iron overload and iron deficiency at the same time (welcome to freakhood).

So he pulled a genetic test on me today.  The issue is not monsterous now, since I am still having cycles, but if it IS hematomacrosis, the problem will start when I stop cycling, because the body will not have a way to dump the iron in my blood and will start storing it places where it will end up doing damage.

So.  That is what I learned about that.  Hooray for more learning.

So I am having the DNA lab drawn and continuing to take my double proferrin.

We shall see what's the what in 3 more months.

 "Also, H&H are normal, ferritin *crawled* from 18 to 23 (from December 29th) following the iron rules and double dosing the Proferrin, but my iron saturation is above high normal, as is my total iron."

That happened to me too. My surgeon said that they weren't that high and, if I was concerned, I could just give blood and they'd go right down to the normal level.  I did stop double-dosing my iron though.

Were you taking 2 kinds of iron, Marie, or just heme?  Somewhere in the banks of my memories I thought you were taking 2, but I could have dreamt it :}.

My ferritin without the double dosing is a delightful 18, which still seems pretty low.  Ah well.  Tomorrow I shall ask the hematologically-specifically educated Dr. F.

We shall see!  Thanks for sharing what's happening with you.  Your protein still better since you are stiller?  I still am 6.7 with the 3 scoops a day.

What is "not that high?" 

Hematologist has a different thought about it other than the not a problem.  the weird and rare picture is of hematomacrosis with iron deficiency, usually you do not have iron overload and iron deficiency at the same time (welcome to freakhood).

So he pulled a genetic test on me today.  The issue is not monsterous now, since I am still having cycles, but if it IS hematomacrosis, the problem will start when I stop cycling, because the body will not have a way to dump the iron in my blood and will start storing it places where it will end up doing damage.

So.  That is what I learned about that.  Hooray for more learning.

Sounds like you have a lot of blood donations in your future. :)

This is my own theory based on various things I've read:

The iron in your blood can vary quite a bit and there are rules for how to test it and get the most accurate result. I tend to violate these rules because the rules for a lot of the other tests is first thing in the AM after fasting for 12 hours.

So maybe my iron was high because of a fluke in the test and maybe it was high because I was storing it as fast as I could but not fast enough to clear it out of my blood. If the later, it would have gotten stored eventually I'm thinking.

My iron was  189 H  and my iron staturation was  51%.

I had my VSG in Nov '11.  I had to have two units of RBCs yesterday for "profound" anemia.  I don't know yet what my ferritin level was, but my hematocrit was 21 and my hemoglobin was 7.  I went to my usual dance class Wednesday night after a week away on vacation, and 15 minutes into a routine I have been doing for months, I was so SOB I thought I was about to have a panic attack!  So scary!  I had been feeling more and more tired, but I thought I had a little anemia, and was trying to self treat with a change in diet and supplements.   (that's what being a nurse will do to you...make you think you can fix anything yourself!!)