any ideas on highish iron levels?

littlebug

Hi,

I had some blood tests a while ago after I went to my doc with joint and muscle pain which has been ongoing for years but has noticeably worsened in the past year. My blood tests were negative for rheumatoid arthritis and a number of other things. The only results that were a bit "off" were the iron results. My haemoglobin was 15.6, total iron 187 (I think.. though that could have been ferritin) and transferrin saturation 47%. Though these were still just within the normal range my GP thought they were high for a woman my age (36- 2 small children) and that given my joint pain could be suggestive of haemochromatois and recommended retesting in 3 months. The 3 months are nearly up. In the meantime my father has been tested as he too has had joint pain for years. His results were normal and a gene test was negative. He is not a carrier which means I can't possibly have haemochromatosis. So.. why the slightly elevated bloods??

The only things I can come up with are that dehydration can cause elevated haemoglobin.. I was fasting before the test so maybe a wee bit dehydrated.. but would that have cause the TS to be elevated? Also, ferritin is an acute phase reactant so maybe inlammation causing the joint pain also caused the highish ferritin. If this was the case would it not have also caused abnormal ESR and CRP?

I get tested again in a week. Since the last test I have been getting some exercise and lost a wee bit of weight (got a bit to go but am on the right track!) and have noticed a definite improvement in my joints. I will make sure I'm not dehydrated going for the test. Anything else I should do?

IF the results are still high any ideas what the next move should be given that there is no point in having the gene test for HH?

Can iron result just be a bit out of whack for no particular reason? Is is safe to have iron levels that high and not do anything about it? I can't donate blood as I lived in the north for a number of years.


PS I don't smoke, eat red meat about once a fortnight (at most), don't any take supplements or birth control pills and have a normal menstrual cycle.

Santa Claus

You mentioned your father tested negative for haemochromatosis, but both parents don't have to have to have the gene to pass it on.

My father has haemochromatosis but my mother doesn't. I have had the genetic test and I am positive for it so know that I have to watch my iron intake as I get into my late 30's.

As regards an elevated iron level...Did you happen to have a lot of red wine or anything else rich in iron (such as kelloggs cereals for examples) in the days before the test ?

littlebug

Thanks for the reply Santa Claus,

I was under the impression that both parents had to be at least carriers to pass it on? hmmm... that's interesting. Can you donate blood since you know you have HH?

I may well have eaten a lot of cereals in the days leading up to the tests.. I only noticed afterwards that they are heavily fortified. Yup I'm always finishing the kids food for them so that may have been the culprit. That has now been eliminated so the re-test results will be interesting.

I rarely drink red wine as it definitely has an effect on my achy joints and muscles and even more strange is that if I drink red wine and eat red meat together get shooting pains within a couple of hours! Hubby reckons I'm allergic to "red".
God I sound so old!!!!

p

cltt97

that's interesting, were you tested for gout by any chance? Red meat and alcohol usually trigger that one alright. Although you would have noticed swelling in the joints, but then I'm not an expert for the various symptoms of gout. But you could try a diet low in proteins (all meats, dairy, pulses) for a while and see if that has an effect.

Santa Claus

littlebug wrote:

Can you donate blood since you know you have HH?

Yep, you can donate blood with haemochromatosis though it has to be an selfless act i.e. you can't donate blood in order to lower your iron levels as you would be getting something out of the donating process (I checked this with the IBTB and this was the official explanation given to me), but as regards any elevated iron levels they're fine with that (In Australia they actively seek donations from HH sufferers to give as transfusions to people with anemia).

Anyway, all academic as I had glandular fever so I can't donate blood.