Iron Fluctuation

I have beta thalassemia minor.  As a result, my Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, MCV, MCH, and MCHC have always been a bit low, and my RDW has been a bit high.

I also have had consistently low iron and saturation.  However, my most recent blood test showed that my iron is HIGH (206 mcg/dL) and my saturation is also HIGH (55%).   What could have caused this shift?  My ferritin is (and always has been) normal (48 ng/mL).

Thanks!

Venusa,

Have you been taking iron supplements?

My observation is that ferritin measurements have little if any value for thal minors. I constantly see reports from thal minors whose ferritin is low but their other numbers do not back up a diagnosis of iron deficiency.

Thanks, Andy. My mother always warned me about the dangers of iron supplements for thal minors, so I stayed away from them. However, I did increase my iron intake from food substantially this year.  Could my iron go back down if I stay away from iron-rich foods for awhile?

Edit: In posting my introduction post, I recall that I did take a multi-vitamin with iron from December 2014-April 2015.

It's important to eat a healthy, well balanced diet, so do include iron rich foods in your diet. You won't have to be aggressive about it, just conscious of your diet and your added need for nutrition, due to thalassemia. We have an entire board dedicated to nutrition here. It's worth reviewing, so you can understand the special needs created by thal.

Thank you. I will check it out!