Ferritin

[JimR]

Tried a search but not finding much. I give blood every 2 months to keep hemocrit down but haven't given much thought to ferritin levels. When they prick your finger prior to donation they have said they are testing iron level but NOOO...it's hemocrit and iron is something completely different. Anyone have issues with high hemocrit but low iron due to frequent donations? Guess I need to add a ferritin test in my next labs as well.

[Bonaparte]

The finger prick test is for hemoglobin, which measures the amount of RBC-bound iron in your blood. Ferritin is responsible for binding the excess iron in your body. So long as hemoglobin levels are within range, you generally shouldn't have to worry about ferritin.

[Beethoven]

I have had a similar situation in regards to my ferritin levels. It wound up that my actual cell size is just smaller than normal. There was a name for the condition but it escapes me now as it was about a year ago. Had to see a blood Dr who ran a battery of tests and luckily everything was ok.

[SEOINAGE]

I had to end up taking Iron supplements for a while, but doctor believed it was due to thyroid issues. I had fine CBC, so you might consider it.

[j2048b]

Would taking lactoferrin help lower ones ferritin thus lowering ones hematocrit??

[Beethoven]

Would taking lactoferrin help lower ones ferritin thus lowering ones hematocrit??

Normally that will go hand in hand with donating blood. Some guys do double red cell donations too.

[Bonaparte]

There was a name for the condition but it escapes me now as it was about a year ago.

Microcytic anemia.

[Bonaparte]

Would taking lactoferrin help lower ones ferritin thus lowering ones hematocrit??

Directly lowering ferritin won't reduce hematocrit, it will raise it (since you'd have more free iron available for hemoglobin production). And lactoferrin wouldn't do that anyway.

[Beethoven]

Microcytic anemia.

Don't believe that was it, it was a syndrome that the name escapes me right now. The point being I realistically was not anemic per se, as I didn't have any symptoms. More so that my mcv and mch levels were low but hematocrit was high. Was just perusing some old bw and the only time my ferritin was checked it was at 65 with the red range of 20-380. That was with 52.3 hematocrit level.

[Beethoven]

Check that actually had it low a couple of times but didn't have hematocrit levels with those. Changing Drs as this one is a bit knowledgeable but I have found that as I have learned more, he's not as cutting edge as I thought. Sad.

[JimR]

The fella I know with low ferritin and high hemocrit said his doc told him it was likely caused by daily use of prilosec. I use zantac from time it time hence my concern.

[Bonaparte]

Prilosec is a proton-pump inhibitor.
Zantac is an antihistamine.
There is no reason that they would cause the same effect.

[JimR]

Well sure enough. Just got my ferritin test results back. 19. With a reference range of 30-400. It appears years of giving blood every 2 months just to keep my hemocrit in the upper normal range has crashed my iron levels quite low. Researching now what to do.

[2Sox]

My Ferritin and MCH are always low. Hematocrit is okay now but there have been times when I had to donate. Cause of low Ferritin and MCH: Mild IBS with motility issues; I don't absorb the nutrients in my food efficiently enough because food passes through me too fast.
OP,
Have you considered a GI issue as a possibility?

[Bonaparte]

Well sure enough. Just got my ferritin test results back. 19. With a reference range of 30-400. It appears years of giving blood every 2 months just to keep my hemocrit in the upper normal range has crashed my iron levels quite low. Researching now what to do.

Ingest more iron. Sounds too simple, right? lol

[JimR]

My Ferritin and MCH are always low. Hematocrit is okay now but there have been times when I had to donate. Cause of low Ferritin and MCH: Mild IBS with motility issues; I don't absorb the nutrients in my food efficiently enough because food passes through me too fast.
OP,
Have you considered a GI issue as a possibility?

Yes..I have noticed that if I eat broccoli in a fasted state it will sometimes pass right through me in an hour or so. That crazy Wheat Belly doc says all these things can be cured by eliminating wheat. ? Anywhoo...time to start eating more liver and onions.

[17chester6]

Don't believe that was it, it was a syndrome that the name escapes me right now. The point being I realistically was not anemic per se, as I didn't have any symptoms. More so that my mcv and mch levels were low but hematocrit was high. Was just perusing some old bw and the only time my ferritin was checked it was at 65 with the red range of 20-380. That was with 52.3 hematocrit level.

You probably have thalassaemia minor (you carry one of the thalassaemia genes, it's also called having Thalassaemia trait). If you are Asian it's usually Alpha Thal and if Mediterranean it's usually Beta Thal.

It's not really significant except it can mimic iron deficiency. If a couple had a child and they both were carriers of one of the Thalassaemia genes,the child could have full blown Thalassaemia which is a serious condition. Genetic testing would pick this up.

[Beethoven]

You probably have thalassaemia minor (you carry one of the thalassaemia genes, it's also called having Thalassaemia trait). If you are Asian it's usually Alpha Thal and if Mediterranean it's usually Beta Thal.

It's not really significant except it can mimic iron deficiency. If a couple had a child and they both were carriers of one of the Thalassaemia genes,the child could have full blown Thalassaemia which is a serious condition. Genetic testing would pick this up.

I know it was a trait , maybe this one though I'm not Asian or Mediterranean but it was something similar, which is probably why I don't remember it. Going to request my records as it's always good to know .