Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Discussion Board

When getting annual lab tests, I get a Ferritin level done. The last one was above 100, probably thanks to taking a 65 mg iron supplement daily. I still take 0.125 mg pramipexole a couple of hours before bedtime, as I have for more than a decade, with no adverse effects, including augmentation. Should I be getting an Iron Panel instead of just a ferritin. I've read on the RLS official website that more can be determined by the additional iron tests. Any opinion on this? What would the other tests show that would affect restless legs?

An iron panel checks for all sorts and I personally feel it is worthwhile.
For instance, transferrin saturation could be low despite having a normal Ferritin. Transferrin saturation under 20% is indicative of iron deficiency.

Dr Buchfuhrer always does both when I go in.

Does Dr Buchfuhrer give a reason for the full Iron Panel vs. only a Ferritin?

I don't know about Dr B, but Dr Earley also insists that a full iron panel be done along with ferritin. He wants the full panel to make certain that the patient isn't suffering from anemia, as shown by hemaglobin count, and that their transferrin saturation isn't too low. Both would be indicators of why ferritin would be low. It is also possible to have high ferritin due to infection while also being anemic, which is something that he would need to know.

So, they are all markers of different potential iron deficiency problems that require slightly different treatment and also have different resolution times since anemia responds to iron therapy faster than low ferritin.

TimG wrote: Tue Aug 27, 2024 3:18 am Does Dr Buchfuhrer give a reason for the full Iron Panel vs. only a Ferritin?

What Steve said .

ViewsAskew wrote: Wed Aug 28, 2024 7:14 pm

TimG wrote: Tue Aug 27, 2024 3:18 am Does Dr Buchfuhrer give a reason for the full Iron Panel vs. only a Ferritin?

What Steve said .

Also, what Betty said