High iron levels!

smallfry said:My issue is actually the opposite of most people struggling with anemia. My iron levels are way too high—my last lab result was 44, when the normal range is 10-30. Previous results have jumped around between 30 and 40, but then they plummeted to a 2 after I ended up in the hospital due to some bleeding issues😕 ...I’m asking anyone dealing with similar problems or who knows about this to tell me what to do. My doctor keeps insisting it’s nothing serious and that it'll level out on its own, but I’m starting to panic here...

What you had tested was serum iron. That’s sometimes called transport iron, and concentrations in the blood fluctuate wildly. You can't conclude anything without more tests. Didn't your doctor order a ferritin, transferrin, UIBC, and TIBC panel?😕

Even if you've been taking iron supplements, this result isn't cause for panic, though it does require monitoring. If levels remain elevated or continue to climb, we should review all the aforementioned parameters—including a full blood count to rule out anemia—and perform a differential, a coagulation profile, and perhaps an abdominal ultrasound to rule out hypersplenism...

I think I’m going to head over to my doctor's office today and ask for a referral to a specialist who actually focuses on this field. Would seeing an internist be the right move here? Also, could someone clarify what hypersplenism actually entails?

It would be best to consult a hematologist, though a general internist could work too; hypersplenism involves an overactive and enlarged spleen.

I think I’ll start with my primary care physician since he’s making his rounds here in our small town, and then I’ll head over to see a hematologist if it looks like it's needed. Honestly, I just hope everything turns out fine—I feel like I've spent half the year losing my mind bouncing between doctors' offices and clinics.

Measured at 42.2 today😠

I'll gladly pass this surplus along to those who are lacking (which, let's face it, is most people)🤣