View Full Version : high ferritin , low RBC, elevated platelets kinda nervous!
Monday I had a CBC, B12, Vitamin D and ferritin checked as a follow up from January because my platelets were high and my hemaglobin was low. Dr. suspected iron deficiency so did the additional labs. Today, I called to see if my results were in, the nurse said I needed to come in for lab review because my ferritin was high, RBC was low and I believe my platelets are still high. I've never heard of iron being high, I'm really surprised because I've never taken iron supplements and I'm not a big red meat eater. Right now, I take vitamin D and B12 because both of those were low before but are now in range. Trying not to panic here but yes I googled because I wanted to know what it could mean and all this scary stuff came up like lymphoma, so I shut it down. Now I have to wait in this fear until I can see my Dr. :wacko::scared15: anyone have experience?
AMomentofClarity
28-06-18, 04:07
Something that I learned from my HA experience....the more you go looking for problems, the more you’re likely to find, even/especially false positives. I went through a multi month phase of that last year....talk my doctor into reassurance testing, have something picked up, panic, follow up test, fine...rinse and repeat multiple times. I finally decided it wasn’t worth it. I started trusting my doctor’s initial diagnoses and interpretation of test results. It’s the best thing I ever did. All that anxiety of bouncing from test to test and waiting for results is gone, and I can enjoy each day.
Kingdawson
28-06-18, 12:11
I have high ferritin levels (well the 'normal' level is below 300 and mine is at 340). The 2 doctors I saw about it didn't give a single damn. When I questioned the 2nd doctor about it he said I could donate blood, cut down on red meat, alcahol and oyster consumption to lower it but said "it's definitely better being on the slightly highish side than low" whilst laughing so I figured it wasn't that big a deal.
My Dad has a rare blood type, he also has something like this that produces basically "to much blood". But unlike your readings his was off the chart. The doctor just told him to give blood every six months, which of course the blood bank are happy with his blood type!
Thank you for your replies! It helps calm my nerves while I wait for my appointment on Monday.
Kingdawson: I'm not sure of my numbers, exactly, but hopefully nothing crazy. Do you have the inherited kind or secondary? I don't know of anyone in my family that has this. The secondary worries me because one of the causes was the big C. Or liver disease. Ugh! Do you have to get retested ever?
Kingdawson
28-06-18, 14:27
Thank you for your replies! It helps calm my nerves while I wait for my appointment on Monday.
Kingdawson: I'm not sure of my numbers, exactly, but hopefully nothing crazy. Do you have the inherited kind or secondary? I don't know of anyone in my family that has this. The secondary worries me because one of the causes was the big C. Or liver disease. Ugh! Do you have to get retested ever?
Leslie you really don't need to worry one bit. I don't need to get retested....in fact the doc didn't even say anything about it until I pointed it out. It's not inherited or secondary...its just on the highish side which will go down with blood donations etc. No biggie.
AMomentofClarity
28-06-18, 15:23
I will echo my first reply to this thread......”abnormalities” are actually very normal. But, unlike HA sufferers, most people don’t pursue rigorous amounts of testing to have them discovered or followed up on....they just live with it.
If your doctor was really concerned, they wouldn’t have had you wait 6 months before any sort of retest. You need to break the cycle....stop actively looking for things that are wrong (lymph nodes, etc) and treat the anxiety that you know you have.
I will echo my first reply to this thread......”abnormalities” are actually very normal. But, unlike HA sufferers most people don’t pursue rigorous amounts of testing to have them discovered or followed up on....they just live with it.
If your doctor was really concerned, they wouldn’t have had you wait 6 months before any sort of retest. You need to break the cycle....stop actively looking for things that are wrong (lynph nodes, etc) and treat the anxiety that you know you have.
I think you misunderstood, this was just discovered on Monday. The repeat Labs were because of high platelets. The high iron was JUST discovered, never been tested before and my Dr DOES want me to come back in which I am on Monday. This isn't something I brought up to her because of my anxiety I was just following my Dr advice, I wasn't even concerned going into it really, the iron test. I appreciate your reply though. :)
AMomentofClarity
28-06-18, 16:26
I think you misunderstood, this was just discovered on Monday. The repeat Labs were because of high platelets. The high iron was JUST discovered, never been tested before and my Dr DOES want me to come back in which I am on Monday. This isn't something I brought up to her because of my anxiety I was just following my Dr advice, I wasn't even concerned going into it really, the iron test. I appreciate your reply though. :)
You’re right, my mistake, I thought everything was originally discovered in January and you were re-testing now. The fact still remains that unless your figures are off the charts, it’s unlikely to be anything serious. Repeated doctor visits and tests of any kind (samples, imaging, etc) always have the potential to lead down a rabbit hole of additional tests, follow ups, etc.
Leslie you really don't need to worry one bit. I don't need to get retested....in fact the doc didn't even say anything about it until I pointed it out. It's not inherited or secondary...its just on the highish side which will go down with blood donations etc. No biggie.
Thank you, I appreciate it! I use to donate years ago.
---------- Post added at 15:28 ---------- Previous post was at 15:26 ----------
You’re right, my mistake, I thought everything was originally discovered in January and you were re-testing now. The fact still remains that unless your figures are off the charts, it’s unlikely to be anything serious. Repeated doctor visits and tests of any kind (samples, imaging, etc) always have the potential to lead down a rabbit hole of additional tests, follow ups, etc.
I definitely agree with that and that is my fear. I've been working on my anxiety by doing CBT and diet changes, I dont want my progress going down the toilet because of this.
Hi, have you had any sickness (even minor, like running nose or sore throat) when drawing blood? Any inflammation falsely increases your ferritin readings
Hi, have you had any sickness (even minor, like running nose or sore throat) when drawing blood? Any inflammation falsely increases your ferritin readings
Not really, no. My allergies have been present lately but nothing out of the norm.
Back for a update. Saw my Dr yesterday. My iron is actually low so Dr is putting me on supplements. My platelets are still high. 454,000 in Jan and 477,000 now. Dr is rechecking in 3 months, if not better I'm getting sent to a hematologist. :(
Hi Leslie. Is it possible that maybe you have anemia? Since hemoglobin is low, and the iron is also low. If i’m not mistaken being anemic can cause high platelets right? The waiting sucks, I feel you :( but it will be okay!
Hi Leslie. Is it possible that maybe you have anemia? Since hemoglobin is low, and the iron is also low. If i’m not mistaken being anemic can cause high platelets right? The waiting sucks, I feel you :( but it will be okay!
Yes that's what my Dr said, an iron deficiency. She told me it wasn't related but I'm seeing everywhere it is. I'm confused.
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