Iron Levels

[cassa333]

Hi,

My Dr has been testing my iron levels every two months or so and after taking 2 x 210mg tablets it hasn't risen at all so am now on 3 x 210mg tablets a day.

What will they give if it still doesn't rise?

[boxtops]

Injections? It may depend on the reason for your low iron.

[cassa333]

Two months ago I was at 12 and still at 12 now. Thus the reason to up the tablets.

I had a gastric bypass so don't absorb as well now. Mind you by the looks of it I'm not absorbing any iron ... just every calorie that slips in lol

[Sqad]

You don't mean iron levels, you mean Hemoglobin levels.
12 is not bad, you can certainly live happily on that level.
I am assuming that it is an iron deficiency anaemia.

Yes, you could have iron by injection..........but i wouldn't.

[cassa333]

She said iron should be between 12 and 200 but I suppose she said the thing I would understand best... Iron is easier than Hemoglobin lol

[anneasquith]

im sorry but she may have said 12 but not 200.

[Sqad]

Anne....i think that her GP gave her serum iron readings.......normal for a female about12 ngms/litre...........160 ngms/litre (varies from one lab to another.

[slaney]

Serum iron is rarely used on its own these days, as it can fluctuate greatly.
The more useful test is a serum ferritin level which gives an accurate estimate of iron stores in the body. The normal range is about 12 -190ng/ml. I suspect this is what your GP has been checking.
It all depends whether your Haemoglobin level is in the normal range.

[cassa333]

If I wasn't confused before I am now LOL

She said blur blur blur to make hemoglobin blur blur low iron. it should be between 12 and 200 and 12 is v low so I have to up the iron tablets.

Give it another two months and I'll ask her again. :)

[cassa333]

Whatever level she was on about she is concerned because it is very low!!

[slaney]

I think she is saying your iron stores are low so you have to keep on taking the iron. You could ask her the next time if your haemoglobin is normal - I suspect it is , or she would have said.