And to my fellow clinicians: I see you too. For years, we didn’t have clear, unified guidance on diagnosing iron deficiency. Lab reference ranges varied, cutoffs were often set too low, and many of us were left using our best clinical judgment without a standard to back it up…. Me very much included.
Now we do. This week, the American Society of Hematology released its first-ever guidelines for diagnosing iron deficiency.
💬 Know someone who’s taking iron, or who is tired all the time and can’t figure out why? Share this with them. It could be the conversation that finally gets them answers.
#gastroenterologist #guthealth #irondeficiency #lowiron
2 months agorachel.does.diy
My ferritin is 43 but my iron binding capacity is still low. I had three iron transfusions four years ago. I have celiac and who knows what other gastro issues, and I’m definitely still tired and dizzy all the time. My pcp refuses to look into iron any further 😢
2 months agohosi_r_m
Most family doctors do not order ferritin or transferritin saturation levels so most are not even screening their patients for iron deficiencies.
2 months agolynlewwho0
Was told even though my ferritin oscillated between 15-23, fact that my hemoglobin was normal meant we should “wait and see” about an infusion because probable insurance wouldn’t approve. Recommendations on ways to advocate for self? I have multiple inflammatory conditions and definitely am symptomatic.
2 months agolily.veaal
Mines been anywhere between 12-16 in the last 2 years despite supplementation and only now is there at potential for infusion because of upcoming surgery despite loosing my hair 3 times over in massive amounts
2 months agoshelleynfamily
Interesting. I have Crohns for over 30 years and I am always tired. Especially the past year. Will ask my doctor about this.
2 months agocarolinaestrellaritmica
Pills are so anoying. Is so difficult to go to the bathroom when You are taking iron pills. Do You know another way for elevating Ferritin levels?
2 months agothecyclingkoala
As someone who has struggled wirh single digit ferritin levels for years, i can confirm that YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR FERRITIN TO DROP. And please to all the medical professionals who see this if a patient tells you that iron tablets do not work for them and that it has destroyed their gut (it literally prevented me from digesting foods with fibers for years), PLEASE LISTEN and offer us an IV. I lost so many years of my 20s begging to get an iv and nobody listened
2 months agojessicabeebesoprano
Mine was just tested and it’s 23. I have been so tired, no energy, lethargic a lot. My doc is recommending iron infusions. But you mentioned finding out why. So, what could be the why? Where would I go from here?
2 months agodollz_house_
What if ferritn is 24 and saturation is at 42% ..I've been told by my IBD it's normal..even though my ferritin has decreased after taking iron fir abiut 9 mths...IBD nurse is refusing a iron infusion after 1st agreeing to one..any idea why??
2 months agospencerlovesmatcha
Can you do one on when iron IV therapy is necessary? I have celiac and sometimes taking oral iron, even the gentler kind, can be really difficult.
2 months agowesttexasdigestive
I would hope that labs adopt these new reference ranges. Insurance companies really only seem to care if the patient has a ferritin level outside the reference range the lab is using. Otherwise, it’s $400 to $900 out of pocket for the patient depending on what iron is used and can be out of reach for a lot of patients. I’m afraid it’s still going to be insurance companies practicing medicine by denying coverage because the levels are “normal” by the metric they choose to use. I wouldn’t imagine there will be a big rush to change their coverage guidelines because this would allow so many more people to get an iron infusion.
2 months agoskinbychristinerussell
It’s not just this “number”, it’s all of them. The range for many things is wide and when someone is on the low or high end the medical field won’t do anything for you. It’s frustrating. We are not all the same and what may be okay for one person isn’t for another. The medical profession has been failing us. Now we are told to see a functional medicine doctor, sometimes by our own doctors. But the cost for a functional medicine doctor’s is all out of pocket costing $1000’s of dollars. This isn’t feasible for the average person. Again, failed.
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