Searching for Answer – Iron ?

[wondering]

Dr. Mariano – thanks again for your time, any insights would be most appreciated.

39 yo male suffered from low libido/ED since mid twenties. Lack of energy and other symptoms followed, til I went downhill fast with all sorts of issues – anxiety, etc. etc. Long story short, I feel much better today than I have in a longtime. Currently am taking…

Test Cyp.
Hydrocortisone
Armour
Pregnenolone
DHEA
Vitamin D3
Fish Oil
occasional Iodoral and multivitamin

Still suffer from…
Low libido, despite ability to orgasm couple to several times per day (if that makes sense, high norepinephrine?)
ED
Sometimes need to urinate often, but this isn’t every day.
Some sensitivity to high sugar food – I was more sensitive before any treatment. This has improved but not gone away

Bloodwork and Urine tests show I’m in pretty good shape with hormones and D3 and B12 levels. E2 was above midrange and tried Arimidex, but that didn’t help.

Interested in recent posts concerning Iron. My latest bloodwork is below along with one from last year a test from longtime ago when I was close to rock bottom. My recent work has my holistic Dr. curious and she has ordered – Ferritin, Iron, Iron SAT and TIBC tests for my next visit in a few weeks.

WHEN I WAS FEELING AWFUL – NO TREATMENT
Iron 165 (35-150)
TIBC 256 (250-450)
Iron SAT 64 (15-55)
Ferritin 103 (22-322) – curious about this almost low number, while others seem high. Why is that?

WBC 6.7 (4 – 11)
RBC 6.44 (4.4 – 6.2)
HGB 15.6 (13 – 18)
HCT 48 (40-52)
MCV 74 (80-100)
MCH 24.2 (26-34)
MCHC 32.7 (32 – 36)
RDW 13.4 (0 – 15.2)

Fasting Glucose 82 (65-110)
Glucose 2HR 57 (65-140)
Fasting Insulin 10 (3-28)
Insulin 2HR 15 (22-79)
seemed to be very sensitive to Insulin.

LAST YEAR FEELING BETTER – I donated blood around this time, not sure if before or after I think before.
Iron 68 (35-150)
TIBC 257 (250-450)
Iron SAT 26 (15-55)
I don’t have Ferritin number

FEW WEEKS AGO
WBC 6.8 (4 – 11)
RBC 5.93 (4.4 – 6.2)
HGB 14.3 (13 – 18)
HCT 43 (40-52)
MCV 73 (80-100)
MCH 24.2 (26-34)
MCHC 33.1 (32 – 36)
RDW 13.0 (0 – 15.2)
Platelet count 226 (150 – 450)

This is the set of numbers, that made my Dr. want to test Iron/Ferritin levels

[hardasnails1973]

My understanding like any supplement that is taken day before the test will show high in blood serum. If you were taking iron supplement before the test then this will cause a false high, just like vitamin B-12, zinc, extra. Supplements need to be stopped 7 days out not to interfer with serum readings. Some times Dr are to fast to jump the gun to start blood letting. It was not like your levels where off the charts high and also other indices where not really been that drastically affected. When RBC , hemocrit, ect one may look to sleep apnea as potential cause if ferritin levels are in acceptable ranges. Where you taking iron supplements, could you have been dehydrated because of summer time heat? These are factors need to be taken into consideration when making a decision. When I see low ferritin and high RBC counts I would suspect sleep apnea, TRT, dehydration (aldosterone, renin) or some kind of hypoxia as potential areas of concern to the DR. That is why Dr Overbeck and I make a great combination because I keep him on his toes all the time. When with a patient my brain is always churning with potential ideas. If one has alot of issues you goto the most obvious ones first then start down the hormonal chain. One thing Dr M has made it clear is the proper order in which to follow from start to finish while back filling the nutritional gaps and identifying metabolic road blocks.

[wondering]

I have NEVER taken any Iron supplements and my first round of tests were done in November of that year. I was only on TRT at that time – nothing else.

@hardasnails1973 1467 wrote:

My understanding like any supplement that is taken day before the test will show high in blood serum. If you were taking iron supplement before the test then this will cause a false high, just like vitamin B-12, zinc, extra. Supplements need to be stopped 7 days out not to interfer with serum readings. Some times Dr are to fast to jump the gun to start blood letting. It was not like your levels where off the charts high and also other indices where not really been that drastically affected. When RBC , hemocrit, ect one may look to sleep apnea as potential cause if ferritin levels are in acceptable ranges. Where you taking iron supplements, could you have been dehydrated because of summer time heat? These are factors need to be taken into consideration when making a decision. When I see low ferritin and high RBC counts I would suspect sleep apnea, TRT, dehydration (aldosterone, renin) or some kind of hypoxia as potential areas of concern to the DR. That is why Dr Overbeck and I make a great combination because I keep him on his toes all the time. When with a patient my brain is always churning with potential ideas. If one has alot of issues you goto the most obvious ones first then start down the hormonal chain. One thing Dr M has made it clear is the proper order in which to follow from start to finish while back filling the nutritional gaps and identifying metabolic road blocks.

[hardasnails1973]

@wondering 1471 wrote:

I have NEVER taken any Iron supplements and my first round of tests were done in November of that year. I was only on TRT at that time – nothing else.

TRT is noted to do this. There also could be a genetic component to why this is occuring that may need to be explored as I am seeing this showing up on more and more men on TRT.

[coz]

@hardasnails1973 1467 wrote:

My understanding like any supplement that is taken day before the test will show high in blood serum.

I’m currently taking 65mg elemental iron per day for about a month (the first 2 weeks I was taking 130mg per day).

My test results for ferritin before was 111, and now is 198, however I took my iron dose the night before.

Dr Mariano, can you confirm if taking the iron supplement the night before the test will effect the levels ? Or does this still show the correct blood levels.

Ie: if ones target was to get to 150-200, would this indicate that the target is met and one should drop back to maintenance dose ? Or is it required that one stops iron supplementation for a period of time before blood tests ?

[pmgamer18]

I am told by my Dr. to stop Iron pills 5 days before labs 27 yrs ago I was told my Iron levels were low and when the Dr. wanted to give me Iron shots I seen a Blood Dr. this Dr. was foreign and did not speak good English. He ran a mess of tests on me but did not tell me to stop my Iron Pills first. My labs come back to high he said to me that my Dr.’s labs must have been wrong it’s good I keep all my labs that I ever had and looking at them today it looks like being on the Iron pills showed me to high on my new labs. So now my thinking and my Dr.’s are that I have been suffering from low levels for many yrs.
@coz 1504 wrote:

I’m currently taking 65mg elemental iron per day for about a month (the first 2 weeks I was taking 130mg per day).

My test results for ferritin before was 111, and now is 198, however I took my iron dose the night before.

Dr Mariano, can you confirm if taking the iron supplement the night before the test will effect the levels ? Or does this still show the correct blood levels.

Ie: if ones target was to get to 150-200, would this indicate that the target is met and one should drop back to maintenance dose ? Or is it required that one stops iron supplementation for a period of time before blood tests ?

[coz]

@pmgamer18 1509 wrote:

I am told by my Dr. to stop Iron pills 5 days before labs 27 yrs ago I was told my Iron levels were low and when the Dr. wanted to give me Iron shots I seen a Blood Dr. this Dr. was foreign and did not speak good English. He ran a mess of tests on me but did not tell me to stop my Iron Pills first. My labs come back to high he said to me that my Dr.’s labs must have been wrong it’s good I keep all my labs that I ever had and looking at them today it looks like being on the Iron pills showed me to high on my new labs. So now my thinking and my Dr.’s are that I have been suffering from low levels for many yrs.

Thanks Phil. Were you testing Ferritin at the time ? Or Iron ? As Ferritin is an indicator of iron storage in the blood, would this still be affected be taking iron the night before ?

[wondering]

Where’s Dr. Mariano ?

Anyways, quick recap of stuffI’m taking and my most recent bloodwork…

Test Cyp.
Hydrocortisone
Armour
Pregnenolone
DHEA
Vitamin D3
Fish Oil
occasional Iodoral and multivitamin

Still suffer from…
Low libido, despite ability to orgasm couple to several times per day (if that makes sense, high norepinephrine?)
ED
Sometimes need to urinate often, but this isn’t every day.
Some sensitivity to high sugar food – I was more sensitive before any treatment. This has improved but not gone away

Bloodwork and Urine tests show I’m in pretty good shape with hormones and D3 and B12 levels. E2 was above midrange and tried Arimidex, but that didn’t help.

FEW WEEKS AGO
WBC 6.8 (4 – 11)
RBC 5.93 (4.4 – 6.2)
HGB 14.3 (13 – 18)
HCT 43 (40-52)
MCV 73 (80-100)
MCH 24.2 (26-34)
MCHC 33.1 (32 – 36)
RDW 13.0 (0 – 15.2)
Platelet count 226 (150 – 450)

LAST WEEK
Iron 104 (35-150)
TIBC 259 (250-450)
Iron Sat 40 (15-55)
Ferritin 79 (22-322)

Would I expect to see dramatic improvements by getting my Ferritin up to 150?
Anyone experience this?

Where else do I start looking – so frustrating… Viatmin A?

thanks

[wondering]

Where’s Dr. Mariano ?

Anyways, quick recap of stuffI’m taking and my most recent bloodwork…

Test Cyp.
Hydrocortisone
Armour
Pregnenolone
DHEA
Vitamin D3
Fish Oil
occasional Iodoral and multivitamin

Still suffer from…
Low libido, despite ability to orgasm couple to several times per day (if that makes sense, high norepinephrine?)
ED
Sometimes need to urinate often, but this isn’t every day.
Some sensitivity to high sugar food – I was more sensitive before any treatment. This has improved but not gone away

Bloodwork and Urine tests show I’m in pretty good shape with hormones and D3 and B12 levels. E2 was above midrange and tried Arimidex, but that didn’t help.

FEW WEEKS AGO
WBC 6.8 (4 – 11)
RBC 5.93 (4.4 – 6.2)
HGB 14.3 (13 – 18)
HCT 43 (40-52)
MCV 73 (80-100)
MCH 24.2 (26-34)
MCHC 33.1 (32 – 36)
RDW 13.0 (0 – 15.2)
Platelet count 226 (150 – 450)

LAST WEEK
Iron 104 (35-150)
TIBC 259 (250-450)
Iron Sat 40 (15-55)
Ferritin 79 (22-322)

Would I expect to see dramatic improvements by getting my Ferritin up to 150?
Anyone experience this?

Where else do I start looking – so frustrating… Viatmin A?

Also, my blood pressure tends to be a bit on the low side – a clue?

thanks

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