interesting & somewhat confusing blood test results

[proudmamanow]

So, I have been feeling somewhat depressed & run-down lately, which has led to not making great food choices nor having the energy to get a lot of exercise, which leads to more of the same...a vicious cycle.

So my GP suggested I get a physical & ordered up a bunch of blood work along with that, which is great. I got the results today, and most things are normal, with the exception of:
-Ferritin, very low
-vitamin D, also low
-ALT (alanine aminotransferase) is high, which apparently may or may not mean liver problems. But can also be a marker for Celiac, which is also interesting...as I have been considering getting
So my GP is recommending taking iron & vit. D supplements & also is ordering a full follow up series of liver related tests. Hmmm....She of course said there was nothing to worry about, but also asked me a bunch of cirrhosis & hepatitis type screening questions. For the record I have no risk factors for either...


I'm going to be exploring further with my GP & naturopath, but I'm curious if anyone here has any experience with these kinds of results or anything similar--also looking for advice on the best kinds of iron and vitamin D supplements to take.

[Chakra]

Hi,

My son has liver disease and his alt and ast are high (125 and 136)

Do you have any other signs of liver problems: Jaundice, itchy, yellow bumps on skin(xanthomas), light colored stools that float?

The low vitaim D may be because of liver issues. My son has low -fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E AND K) because his liver does not work well so he can't absorb them well.

Make sure you get a lyme test...Just to be safe, lyme causes so many different symptoms in people. Please please get tested for lyme, even if your doctor says you don't need to just do it!

Let me know if you have any questions. Hugs and good luck!

[Chakra]

Oh...My naturalpath says to always take the Floradix brand of iron and any vit. d is good as long as it's calcitriol (spleed that wrong)

[proudmamanow]

thanks Chakra! Good suggestion re: lyme as well. I have taken Floradix in the past & it is good stuff. I will check out the vitamin D suggestion.The strange thing is that I have had no liver related symptoms. I'm curious as to what the full 'liver panel' will reveal...

I'm now thinking that I really, really should get a celiac test as well, since many people in my family have issues with wheat, I have had vague IBS like symptoms for years, and the doc mentioned the ALT might be related (though I don't understand the connection). Also, due to other family food sensitivities we eat a lot of meat these days, so I find it bizarre that I have low iron, but celiac would explain that too as the malabsorption it causes can lead to low iron. Hmmmmmmm

[sbgrace]

Celiac could explain the deficiencies certainly.
I like ferrous bis-glycinate iron. Lots of research shows it is absorbed 3 x's better than other sources. It will correct fast. Solgar Gentle Iron is that form and available in many places.

Vitamin D3 is what you want. Brand isn't important but get one that comes in 5000 IU. You want to dose an average of 9,000 IU per day. You could do five days of 10,000 IU fine. That's what I recommend.

[proudmamanow]

Thanks Rachelle, those are very helpful suggestions. I will look for the Iron you mention and the Vitamin D3.

I'm a little bit confused as to whether it's worth treating the iron deficiency if it's related to the Celiac, given that I haven't been tested for Celiac yet and that might be what is causing the deficiency...

But I suppose I should go ahead and treat for now so that I feel better while waiting to get tested & get results for the other. I guess I just answered my own question