Nonspecific findings...

I passed out at work last week, and because this has never happened to me before, the Doctor I work for sent me for a battery of blood tests to see if we could figure out what happened.

Everything was fine except for my Iron (10 umol/L) and ALT (58 U/L). I am guessing the ALT is elevated because of the IVIG I had the week before, so we're going to retest in a few weeks.

However, in researching iron deficiency I came across this list of symptoms:

- Fatigue (I'm always tired.)
- Pallor (I'm as pale as a ghost.)
- Hair loss (I shed worse than the dog!)
- Irritability (Just ask my husband...)
- Weakness (Often feel a lack of strength.)
- Pica
- Brittle or grooved nails (I can't grow my fingernails because they break off.)
- Plummer-Vinson syndrome
- Impaired immune function (You all know the ITP story.)
- Pagophagia (I LOVE to crunch on an icecube, but I wouldn't say it's compulsive.)

7 out of 10 ain't bad! It will be interesting to see if any of these symptoms improve with my new iron suppliment - especially the immune function!

Does anyone else have a low iron count with normal hemoglobin?

My iron has been fine, but my ferritin has been low. I started taking iron and noticed a big difference, mostly with sleep. I had restless legs for two years, only it pretty much affected my whole body. I was lucky to get 3 hours of sleep a night. When I discovered a connection between low ferritin and RLS, I started the iron and within 2 weeks, I slept. Not one of my doctors figured it out.

I have a lot of those symptoms (without the hair loss), but don't attribute those to ferritin. I think my weakness problem is the low D that won't go up.

Hauna - I had that problem with my nails for years. When I was on high dose D, my nails grew incredibly long and straight for the first time. Now that I'm off of it, my nails are back to their old tricks. I think there are a lot of vitamin deficiencies that cause symptoms that we don't even know about. I find out about mine by pushing for tests.

Do you know the reason why your iron is low? There are a few causes. How scary to pass out! I've come close, but never have.

Sandi,

Thanx for your input. We're not sure why my iron is low. My Ferritin and Hemoglogin. and Iron Binding capacity are fine. So, I'm thinking it's a nutritional defency. I've finally picked up the supplements and will start them today. It'll be interesting to see what happens...

Blessings,
Hauna

Good luck. Let me know how it goes.

Hi All
My husband is having ITP.(still no ANA antibody found)Diagnosed in march 2010 never had any symptom but he had low platelets(from CBC) since march 2009. Not on any medication and never had any till now. He always had low hemoglobin(normal but towards lower side like 139,144,148) for last 2 yrs. Recently he had low ferritin levels(around 41) Our family doctor suggested and prescribed him iron capsule supplements (300 mg) a day. She said his ferritin should be above 70 to 80.But our Hematologist we met him on Sept 24 didnt like him taking iron, he said its still good and he don't need it. But still he took iron.
On Sept 8Th when he did his CBC his plt-84 ferritin-41 hemoglobin-151(highest in last two yrs)MCV-85.7 and RDW-14.0. After taking iron supplements next 16 days regularly when he had CBC again Plt-81 ferritin-49(rise 8 pts) hemoglobin-146(lower 5 pts)MCV-87.6 and RDW-14.8(Slightly above normal of 14.5).
Our next appt with Hema is after 6 months he will do Coombs test to test for AIHA.
Do you think if some body gets response of low hemoglobin and increase ferritin and RDW and also MCV(But still is normal range) Points towards AIHA.
Do anybody got rise in RDW after taking iron pill with still normal MCV. I read that low MCV with high RDW is iron deficiency anemia. But what about normal MCV with raised RDW.
I am scared if its AIHA.
He stopped taking iron now because our hema never wanted him to take at the given ferritin level. And I am not forcing him to take bcos i am scared of raised RDW in just 16 days and lowered Hemoglobin.

Canada:

Here is a good article about AIHA. Have they done a Coombs Test? That would tell you more. According to this article, it can still be AIHA is the Coombs is negative, but the DAT will be positive. Have they tested that also?

www.suite101.com/content/coombs-negative-aiha-a46454

Why are you so worried about AIHA? There are many reasons for low hemoglobin. Has he had a B-12 test?

Hauna - hopefully you feel better with the iron. It can take weeks to months to rebuild your ferritin stores so try to stick to it. My ferritin was 16 in sept. Before ITP and now I've always had trouble keeping the level up - even with eating red meat (I was veggie for a few years).

ITPCanada- it seems odd to me that they would measure ferritin within two weeks. It takes a long time to see a significant increase.

Thanks Sandi for your response.

He had low b12 2 yrs before but then started taking daily 100mg b12 and now levels are in 400 in fact in each test B12 level increased. His Hema ordered Coombs test in next 6 months followup which is coming in march 2010. I am worried bcos is he expecting AIHA that's why he ordered Coombs test?, is it the start or precursor for AIHA? He is not anemic right now but hemoglobin is at lower normal side is 140s. They did Bone marrow aspiration in March 2010(6 months before), But the results of that only shows ITP(increased megakaryocytes) no AIHA. I will let you know the results of Coombs test in March. He had his 6 months follow up in Sept 2010 this time he didn't do any test for AIHA.
What are the chances(%) of people first diagnosed with only ITP, to get AIHA in future.

Thanks you so much

Sorry there is a typo in above posting - His Hema ordered Coombs test in next 6 months followup which is coming in march 2011

Canada:

Very few people with ITP also have AIHA. My doctors check my Coombs too once in a while, probably because I also have Lupus and AIHA is more common with that.

If I were you, I wouldn't worry about it. At this point, there doesn't seem to be any real reason for concern. As long as he is still above normal, that's a good sign.

Thanks Sandi for the support and reply.
I will updated after next CBC.

Hi Sandi and All

Yesterday we had our Haematologist app. after 6 months. As you(Sandi) know that I was worried about COOMBS test(for AIHA)doc ordered for my spouse. Thanks god its negative. I was very nervous when we asked Hema about COOMBS result. His latest platelet count is 105. His other blood work is fine except urea is little high.Hpylori negative. We asked him to check for Mycoplasma bacteria test but he said not needed.

So people out there who gets worried like me, please do not get nervous and worried some times ITP is not that bad(dangerous). Yes I know after Doc visit and coming to know every thing is fine with our CBC we gets relaxed and again after 6 months going to Hema makes us nervous thinking what might be our latest counts are?. But stay positive.Thanks Sandi and all for all your support and answers.
Next app is in sep. same tests except Hema ordered Blood calcium levels.
I will keep in touch.

Well that's good news! I'm glad things are turning out well.

Hi, just a personal experience re blood calcium levels. If these show high please do not delay in treatment for this (usually parathyroid problem) my blood calcium was high for a long time, my rheumatologist now thinks that this may be the reason for pain I have now. He said that calcium can leak and get in your joints (very small calcium deposits).
I don't want to add to your worries and remember my levels were high for years the doctor thinks.

Thanks Milly for the info.
I will update you all. His next checkup is in Sept.