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Posted 2/18/2017 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
Last May my ferritin level was 45

I just went through my blood work...and realized that my Ferritin has risen. Last May it was 45 and I was concerned ('probable' iron deficiency)...but just now I looked through my labs and saw that it actually had risen - the prior test was a year before.


26 in May/2015
45 in May/2016

I started Bartonella treatment in end of August, 2015. I wonder if that is why?
We know bart loves the cardiovascular system...

I'm feeling much better that there has been an increase...not as worried about it now.
Posted 2/18/2017 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
Girlie that's great news. My ferritin goal is 70.
Posted 2/18/2017 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I do want mine to go up....My Dr. (GP, not lyme dr.) wants it around 100...

Interesting though how the '45' number had me worried...but now that I see that it has risen...(without iron supplementation) - I am happy with the '45'.

I should have it tested again.

Here's the ranges from my lab report:


Adults: <15: diagnostic of Iron Deficiency
15-50: Probable Iron Deficiency
51-100: Possible Iron Deficiency
>100: Iron Deficiency unlikely
Posted 2/18/2017 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
I've never had mine checked that I know of. Just saw an article that says that anemia is an indication of low ferritin levels. So am I right to assume that if I'm not anemic, my ferritin levels are are ok? I'm clueless here, lol.

Not sure why, maybe I was checked at some point in time, but my llmd told me not to take iron supplements and put me on a multi without iron. Ill check with her in a few weeks to get the scoop. I am post menopausal so I'm sure that has something to do with it.
Posted 2/18/2017 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
Purrsiankitty - my hemoglobin, red blood cell count has all been good...just low Ferritin.
You might not know you're anemic...until it gets to a certain point.

My Dr. said something like the hemoglobin/rbc count is still good because its pulling from my iron stores (ferritin) - but when that gets depleted then my hemoglobin/red blood cells will drop.

(I think I said that right?)

You may not know you're anemic until you're very low.

I have no symptoms of anemia because my hemoglobin/rbc count is up...
I don't have the typical fatigue.

So you could have low ferritin...and not know it/feel it...like me..until it drops really low and affects the hemoglobin/rbc
Posted 2/18/2017 10:35 PM (GMT 0)
Well answered. Pretty soon I'll know enough to graduate from medical school 😆
Posted 2/18/2017 10:37 PM (GMT 0)

Purrrsiankitty said...
Well answered. Pretty soon I'll know enough to graduate from medical school 😆

I know, right?
Posted 2/18/2017 11:03 PM (GMT 0)

Purrrsiankitty said...
I've never had mine checked that I know of. Just saw an article that says that anemia is an indication of low ferritin levels. So am I right to assume that if I'm not anemic, my ferritin levels are are ok? I'm clueless here, lol.

Not sure why, maybe I was checked at some point in time, but my llmd told me not to take iron supplements and put me on a multi without iron. Ill check with her in a few weeks to get the scoop. I am post menopausal so I'm sure that has something to do with it.

Anemia is often not evident. The only way to truly know is to test your ferritin. Also, you can take lactoferrin, eat liver, or take liver pills to raise it. I do liver pills.
Posted 2/18/2017 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
Ok so is it ok to take liver pills without knowing your ferritin?
Posted 2/18/2017 11:53 PM (GMT 0)

Purrrsiankitty said...
Ok so is it ok to take liver pills without knowing your ferritin?

I'm not sure what liver pills are - if they contain substantial amount of iron..then no, you should be tested first.
You do not want high ferritin.
Posted 2/19/2017 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
OK. lol. Trying to be proactive even if it kills me 😲
Posted 2/19/2017 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
I think slightly low ferritin is better than high ferritin.

If you were really low, I'm pretty sure you'd feel it.

I didn't feel it at 26.
Posted 2/19/2017 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
When my son first got sick, Oct 2015, his ferritin was 18, and his GP and paediatrician weren't concerned. Which I thought was weird for a teenage boy. It has slowly risen to 48. Someone said don't take iron, it feeds lyme???

I would like his ferritin to be 100. He is not eating beef right now, and won't eat shellfish. So it's hard to get the heme rich food sources.

Be sure to drink orange juice (or vitamin c) with your protein for improved absorption. Don't drink milk with your iron, calcium interferes with absorption.
Posted 2/19/2017 1:02 AM (GMT 0)

1000Daisies said...
I've been chronically low. I'm finally figuring it out, and I've been supplementing with non-yeast Floradix. I have pretty extreme fatigue issues, and I'm wondering how much of that is caused by my chronic yeast issue or my pretty low iron levels. Guess we will see.

I was thinking I would retest in a couple of months. I'd be happy over 50, personally.

How often do you retest this? I suppose I can just wait until my next LLMD appointment.

How low are you last time tested, 1000Daisies?

I would wait a few months...I don't think it's a quick fix from what I've read.

So 2-3 months...even if it hasn't risen...it would be good to know that it's not dropping anymore.
Posted 2/19/2017 1:03 AM (GMT 0)

Lymiemomster said...
When my son first got sick, Oct 2015, his ferritin was 18, and his GP and paediatrician weren't concerned. Which I thought was weird for a teenage boy. It has slowly risen to 48. Someone said don't take iron, it feeds lyme???

I would like his ferritin to be 100. He is not eating beef right now, and won't eat shellfish. So it's hard to get the heme rich food sources.

Be sure to drink orange juice (or vitamin c) with your protein for improved absorption. Don't drink milk with your iron, calcium interferes with absorption.

I should remember...but I don't - does your son have Bartonella? I know he's been taking the Artesunate and zithro (babs?)...but is bart suspected?
Posted 2/19/2017 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
I think he has Bartonella, it was negative through dna testing, but that's like a needle in a haystack. He had such a crazy reaction to rifampin, he was def exposed, shin pain, many many extreme eye problems (had to go to the ER 4 times for extremely blood shot eyes/pain), striae on back.

Supposed to start houttunyia, but I'm scared to.
Posted 2/19/2017 4:04 AM (GMT 0)

Mister Mike said...
Fantastic news Girlie! Are you do anything specific to increase your ferritin?

Well when I got the 45 number last year, I bought the floradix (liquid) and took it for a few weeks...and then stopped.
The LLND I saw told me not to. (My GP wanted me to raise it)

Then when I happened to see today that the 45 was an improvement from before (how could I forget I was 26 a year before????) - I realized that number isn't too bad...lol

So I had not done anything between the 26 and 45 which now I'm thinking must be treatment related.I started treating Bart end of August, 2015
Posted 2/19/2017 7:36 PM (GMT 0)

Lymiemomster said...
I think he has Bartonella, it was negative through dna testing, but that's like a needle in a haystack. He had such a crazy reaction to rifampin, he was def exposed, shin pain, many many extreme eye problems (had to go to the ER 4 times for extremely blood shot eyes/pain), striae on back.

Supposed to start houttunyia, but I'm scared to.

just go really slow (I know you know this!!!)
Posted 2/19/2017 7:37 PM (GMT 0)
I found another Ferritin test result - yesterday...and it was 40.

So 26, 45, 40

I should do another one to make sure I'm not trending downward now.
The 40 was a few months after the 45
Posted 2/20/2017 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
This ferritin thing had been bugging me like crazy. I couldn't accept the fact that I've never been tested.

I started digging through old tests.

The fog is lifting lol

Are all of your tests done by quest with a reference range of 20-288?

Here's my test results.
7/7/15 24
2/9/16 37
10/5/16 240

I'm not complaing but is that big of a jump normal?

Thanks!

Also, I guess that's why my doctor put me on vitamins without iron.

Post Edited (Purrrsiankitty) : 2/20/2017 11:46:21 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/20/2017 6:57 PM (GMT 0)

Purrrsiankitty said...
This ferritin thing had been bugging me like crazy. I couldn't accept the fact that I've never been tested.

I started digging through old tests.

The fog is lifting lol

Are all of your tests done by quest with a reference range of 20-288?

Here's my test results.
7/7/15 24
2/9/16 37
10/5/16 240

I'm not complaing but is that big of a jump normal?

Thanks!

Also, I guess that's why my doctor put me on vitamins without iron.

I'm in Canada, so not Quest.

Here is the reference range from my lab report:
Adults: <15: diagnostic of Iron Deficiency
15-50: Probable Iron Deficiency
51-100: Possible Iron Deficiency
>100: Iron Deficiency unlikely


If I were you, I'd slow down on the supplementing, Purrrsiankitty.
Posted 2/20/2017 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks!
Posted 2/20/2017 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
Mine was high when tested in late December. The doc said it was a sign of oxidative stress...
Posted 2/20/2017 11:39 PM (GMT 0)

3HumpedCamel said...
Mine was high when tested in late December. The doc said it was a sign of oxidative stress...

what was your number?
Posted 2/21/2017 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
109 (they want < 70) ... My husband was much higher, in the 300s if I remember correctly. I mistakenly said I was out of range, but I was out of range for my clinic and their doctors... that's the only ranges I pay attention to now, so I am skewed in my mind with values that were 'off'.

The clinic ranges are much narrower. I was off on "normal" ranges w/ glucose (high), LDH (super low), and Eosinophils (high). There were probably 15 other things I was out of range on the clinic ranges... He did speak apecifically about ferritin and oxidative stress though.
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