Confusion about Ferritin Levels

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lyric
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Confusion about Ferritin Levels

Post by lyric »

Ok, I'm getting the runaround from my doc's. I was tested one week, my ferritin was 6. The sleep doc. said that I should at least have 50-200 and put me on ferrous sulfate right away. I was tested the next week at my regular doc, and my ferritin is 11. The regular doc says I should have 10-300! They say I'm fine.

The sleep doc tried to get me on Miropex. I took it one night and got extremely nauseated and felt drunk after sex. I didn't take it again, hoping the iron would help.

Which doctor is right? Should I be taking suppliments or not?

Signed,
Confused

SamIAm
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Aug 15, 2005 9:02 pm

Post by SamIAm »

Hi,
I went a few times to a holistic type doctor in Atlanta after being very draggy and tired (and not from the rls). He suggested that I go to a lab and have my fer. level checked (it was around 10). He has told me as a woman it should be at least 55 or so. He then gave me a specific type of supplement to take (this was 5 years ago, I can't remember what it was about it that was supposed to be better, sorry). He said all iron supplements are not absorbed equally and only a certain type will help raise your fer. level. I took it for a couple of months and was feeling much better., went back to the independent lab, had another level taken and the fer. level was above that 55 mark. I have moved since then, but my mother continues to see this doctor if you would like more info on the type of iron he recommended. I do remember at the time asking my reg. doctor about it, and she only checked iron levels and not fer. levels and looked unaware of what that would mean. I looked at the time online at fer. levels and they corresponded to what the holistic doctor has told me. What I do know is that the difference of how I felt when my fer. levels were low and when they were in the mid 50's was the difference b/w wanting to cry at the drop of the hat and being able to live a normal life. I'm sorry I don't know more about the particular iron supplement he gave me, but I hope my experience helps you.

ViewsAskew
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Post by ViewsAskew »

Confused, your neuro was on the money! Your regular doc is only going by the laboratory guidelines (which vary) and is not aware that someone with RLS should have higher ferritin than someone the rest of the population. At least 50 and up to 250 for a woman (different labs give different ranges for the high end, too :roll: ).

The doctors that do know that it should be higher recommend 325 mg tabs of ferrous sulfate 3 X a day on an empty stomach with vitamin C - taking it with orange juice is good. This can be purchased at any drug store, no srcipt needed. Not all of us can tolerate it on an empty stomach, though - I sure couldn't, so I took it with food.

There are natural products like Floradix that are gentler, but are quite expensive. A friend used Floradix for months because she was so anemic. I assume it would also improve ferritin levels, but have no experience with it myself. Ther are food high in iron that can help, as can cooking in cast iron. Taking the tablets is by far the fastest way, though.

Ann

captgenefl
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2005 2:18 am

Post by captgenefl »

Hey all, found this link for foods high in iron,


http://www.weightlossforall.com/iron-rich-food.htm


Adding foods high in iron helped my leg pain as well as general health. I'll pass on the ox tongue one though.

Take care,
Captgene

ViewsAskew
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Post by ViewsAskew »

Me, too! I'll pass on ANY animal's tongues. When I was a girl, my grandfather loved to get headcheese, but it just looked to strange and I wouldn't try it. I never knew what it was, though. One day I decide to look to it and found a recipe on the Internet. It started with, 'Bring to boil over high heat, head, tails, feet, ears, snout. . ." I didn't need to read much more than that - knew I was not going to be eating it any time soon! :mrgreen: .

Ann

lyric
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Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:25 pm
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Post by lyric »

Thanks so much for the replies, guys! You're so great! My stomach kills me with the ferrous sulfate, but I've decided to try to get my levels up to 50 before I try Miropex. Can't hurt, right? I'll go back in 2 months and get some lab work done.

Doc gave me some stuff to take for my stomach. Hopefully it will work! Maybe I'll be one of the lucky few that gets cured from the iron suppliments. Wouldn't that be great! It's worth the rumbly stomach! :oops:

Heffalumps in the night

Toddler's ferritin level?

Post by Heffalumps in the night »

My 2 year old's ferritin level came back at 30 (not terribly low). The pediatrician thought at first it was okay and then reread the
http://www.rls.org/publications/documen ... LS2005.pdf
that I sent her and said that it should be at least 35. She has something at her office for her to take, so we will be bringing it up from 30. The article does say that below 35 should be treated, but I'm too dense to get a clear understanding of what an ideal ferritin level should be in children. Do you guys know where I might find a more clear answer what her ideal ferritin level should be?

ViewsAskew
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Post by ViewsAskew »

I have only seen the advice that is should be at least 45-55, but it never has specified if that is for adults, but I've always assumed so. I've not seen any differentiation for children, but there aren't many articles out there about kids :( . I just did a few searches and couldn't find any guidelines. Maybe post a letter to Dr B - he's an RLS specialist and answers patients' questions on www.rlshelp.org. He's answered me several times over the last two years.

Ann

Heffalumps in the night

Post by Heffalumps in the night »

Thanks Ann,
You're great for looking into that for me! I sent an e-mail, but I keep looking myself just in case!

Heffalumps in the night

Children's ferritin level

Post by Heffalumps in the night »

Anne and all,
I heard from Dr. B and here is his response on my question (Cut and pasted from his e-mail response):

A ferritin level of 35 is the goal for children as determined by Dr. Dan Picchietti (who is one of the experts in pediatric RLS). However, as you child is very close to that goal, it is much less likely that raising the level will improve the RLS. When the initial ferritin level is much lower, the chances are better that treating it will result in improvement.

I hope this may help answer others' questions as it helped me. :)

trevb
Posts: 214
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2005 3:49 pm

Post by trevb »

heffalumps: you are gaining lots of insightful info on children with your experiences. just to say youre doing a fantastic job.... are things getting better with your 2yr old?

NOTE-we need to find a way to compile all this great stuff on children for others who may use this site. maybe Ill have a go at moving all this stuff to a seperate post we can bump regularly if people are ok about this?
trev

becat
Posts: 2842
Joined: Thu Apr 29, 2004 11:41 pm

Awesome

Post by becat »

Awesome Heff.........That is great information to have, Thank you a dozen times over and over.
Trev......you got it, that is how it's done around here. May I Thank you in advance for giving it a go.
Paste and copy all those things you find to a post we can bump and add to.
This is the way we learn from one another. Family teaching each other. Gotta Love it.
Hug to all


lyric
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Joined: Thu Aug 11, 2005 9:25 pm
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Great results

Post by lyric »

I never imagined that results could come this quickly! I've been taking the ferrous sulfate for only a month, and I have had very few RLS attacks. AND they were all MILD! It's great! That was my problem all along! I'm so glad I don't have to take Meds. You guys helped so much. I'm very thankful that you were here!

~Kristin

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