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I Have A Question About Iron Overload. I Have Had
Question: I have a question about iron overload. I have had 4 years of bleeding issues a few years ago (one episode I lost 2% blood volume in about 2 hours. Fast forward, new IUD, Prometrium 200 mg at night, was on Vitron C for a while, doc took me off of it for a year in XXXXXXX 2018 because iron was good. XXXXXXX 2019 levels WAY low again (iron panel was low).
Got back on the Vitron C in Feb 2019 through yesterday for a total of 70 days, went to doc yesterday and had another iron panel - iron is now 324 and Sat is 87%!!!!! In Mid January it was 39 and 9%. I took the Vitron C for a total of 70 days. Doc advised me to stop it and said my numbers wouldn't have been higher for more than a month. I am now extremely worried about liver and pancreas cancer or something awful from the iron overload. I am not sure if I need to make appt with hematologist, wait as doc suggested or what else I need to do. No blood disorders bleeding due to adenomyosis with low progesterone. Bleeding have been dramatically improved in the past 6 months.
Got back on the Vitron C in Feb 2019 through yesterday for a total of 70 days, went to doc yesterday and had another iron panel - iron is now 324 and Sat is 87%!!!!! In Mid January it was 39 and 9%. I took the Vitron C for a total of 70 days. Doc advised me to stop it and said my numbers wouldn't have been higher for more than a month. I am now extremely worried about liver and pancreas cancer or something awful from the iron overload. I am not sure if I need to make appt with hematologist, wait as doc suggested or what else I need to do. No blood disorders bleeding due to adenomyosis with low progesterone. Bleeding have been dramatically improved in the past 6 months.
Brief Answer:
repeat iron panel at 6 weeks, no threat of any cancer liver or pancreas.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask A Doctor services.
I have read your query and here is my advise.
* As per my clinical experience, the levels of iron panel show up for a period of time
after consumption of medications to raise iron as the liver and regulatory systems
manage the total content of the body.
* Your consultant has rightly said you to wait for a month, there is no worry about iron
overload with this numbers as the result is due to therapeutic dosage of iron and it is
not iron excess or metabolic derangement of the body system which is usual in the
case of pathology.
* I would suggest you to relax and take repeat iron panel after 6 weeks period for best
follow up evaluation.
Wish you great health.
Regards.
Dr Bhagyesh ( MS consultant surgeon )
repeat iron panel at 6 weeks, no threat of any cancer liver or pancreas.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to Ask A Doctor services.
I have read your query and here is my advise.
* As per my clinical experience, the levels of iron panel show up for a period of time
after consumption of medications to raise iron as the liver and regulatory systems
manage the total content of the body.
* Your consultant has rightly said you to wait for a month, there is no worry about iron
overload with this numbers as the result is due to therapeutic dosage of iron and it is
not iron excess or metabolic derangement of the body system which is usual in the
case of pathology.
* I would suggest you to relax and take repeat iron panel after 6 weeks period for best
follow up evaluation.
Wish you great health.
Regards.
Dr Bhagyesh ( MS consultant surgeon )
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you for reply. One & 1/2 follow up questions please lol (I SUPER APPRECIATE YOUR TIME)...
1) In your opinion, had I stayed on the Vitron C - do you think the levels would have eventually evened out or continued to rise? I had only been tested yearly before - do you think the testing so soon after restarting (had been off for a year) could have contributed to the wacky numbers? I guess I mean ...would they have evened out? And am now worried I might be at risk of being anemic again, however I will be using my diet from now on to regulate iron once I see doc in 6 weeks, fingers crossed.
2) Finally, my ferritin is 11 up from 8.8 in January....not sure if that means anything for the iron overload and do the above numbers truly indicate iron overload?
Thank you so much,
:-)
1) In your opinion, had I stayed on the Vitron C - do you think the levels would have eventually evened out or continued to rise? I had only been tested yearly before - do you think the testing so soon after restarting (had been off for a year) could have contributed to the wacky numbers? I guess I mean ...would they have evened out? And am now worried I might be at risk of being anemic again, however I will be using my diet from now on to regulate iron once I see doc in 6 weeks, fingers crossed.
2) Finally, my ferritin is 11 up from 8.8 in January....not sure if that means anything for the iron overload and do the above numbers truly indicate iron overload?
Thank you so much,
:-)
Brief Answer:
follow up .
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome for follow up.
* Levels do reflect very soon after consumption of medications and even sometimes
when stopped before sometime, as the liver mechanics of hepcidin is very highly
sensitive to calculations of body stores, need, demand and supply from the red blood
cells.
* The said numbers absolutely not reflect over load at this point, it is only the
persistence elevation of the same over period of time, in absence of exogenous iron
indicate iron over load and there also, one finds additional changes in the blood panel
above the numbers.
Do feel free to discuss further regarding the same anytime.
Wish you a great day.
Take care.
follow up .
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome for follow up.
* Levels do reflect very soon after consumption of medications and even sometimes
when stopped before sometime, as the liver mechanics of hepcidin is very highly
sensitive to calculations of body stores, need, demand and supply from the red blood
cells.
* The said numbers absolutely not reflect over load at this point, it is only the
persistence elevation of the same over period of time, in absence of exogenous iron
indicate iron over load and there also, one finds additional changes in the blood panel
above the numbers.
Do feel free to discuss further regarding the same anytime.
Wish you a great day.
Take care.
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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