Here’s an
interesting case. To quote from the article in question: “I had been exhibiting speech and gait
issues. I was stumbling when I walked,
slurring my speech and having trouble remembering what I wanted to say. I went to my doctor, who ordered a series of
tests, including x-rays, MRIs and a comprehensive panel. My hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were
“normal,” but not really normal for me.
And my ferritin (iron) level at 5 nanograms per milliliter of blood,
while technically within range (5 to 300 ng/m for males and 5 to 150 ng/mL for females),
was exceptionally low for me. I
consulted with a hematologist, who prescribed an iron supplement, but to which
I had a bad reaction. Meanwhile, my
health problems continued to worsen, and I began to experience sleep apnea and
even hemorrhaging issues.
I finally showed my results
to some chemistry department colleagues, who confirmed that even though I was
testing in range, because of my prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDS) to alleviate my symptoms, I was literally blocking my body’s
ability to absorb iron, which was triggering my symptoms (iron levels should be
around 50 before the body can begin to absorb it properly).
I no longer have these
symptoms, but the lesson here is to really know what is normal for your body
chemistry and to have things checked out if you deviate from that
baseline. Additional laboratory testing
was able to give me the answers I needed.”
I’m
reminded of the senior chief MLSO when I first started working all those years
ago. Having had TB at one stage he would always use himself as a case study –
his ESR was always between fifty to seventy. Fort him that was “normal”
“Normal” or “reference” ranges are only applicable to some people…
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