Thanks Callen, I will do my best. HIstorically I have had very little luck with oral iron. My ferritin generally hovers in the "just-below-normal" range, though it has been as low as 7 and they still did nothing. My understanding is that even the average hematologist (I've seen 3 in the past) won't do infusions with the info I typically get from the panel.Callen wrote: ↑Sun May 28, 2023 12:09 amFix this. The bioavailability of PO iron vs. IV iron is nuts. I would do everything you can to get IV infusions: Beg, Lie, Borrow, Cheat, Steal. I'm being hyperbolic, but I feel it's certainly worth a shot. Also, I recommend a full iron panel if you haven't already. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7567229/johnspartan wrote: ↑Sat May 27, 2023 2:20 pmAm still working on trying to boost low ferritin, which can cause sleep disturbances, and is likely compounded by the autoimmune gastritis... if you don't have enough b12, you won't process iron properly. Just had bloodwork done again, we'll see how that is. Never had an iron infusion, but most docs won't give you one unless your ferritin is near zero.
Just did this last week.
IRON, SERUM 84 REF 59-158 UG/DL
UNSATURATED IBC 229 REF 112-347 UG/DL
CALC TOTAL IBC 313 REF 250-450 UG/DL
CALC % IRON SAT 27 REF 20-50 %
FERRITIN -> 25 <- REF 30-400 NG/ML
Right now I'm also seeing a neurologist who thinks I should be targeting around 100 NG/ML, so that is something.