Medicine must improve because we want to treat the sick better and because we need to keep up with the new diagnoses being created that turn healthy people into patients.
My ferritin is 13. No anemia. No symptoms. Or maybe there are? I am 45 and perimenopausal, so it is difficult to know what is what. Several years ago, my ferritin was a 4, and I was anemic. I have had pelvic ultrasounds and GI scopes. Spent $$$ on iron supplements because the prescription iron has side effects I did not like. I cannot imagine 13 is “good,” but that is because I have been living with a “goal” of 50.
“ We have a pill for that “…. Wonder if the wellness clinics are going to raise it to 60 and offer the cure. Have seen holistic clinics change the normal values ranges on things like water quality and other environmental factors so as to find what the symptomatic but with unremarkable lab results pts have, then offer them tinctures and drops and detoxification treatments custom designed for them, cash only. Just like with the HRT push by the stop the aging clinics, providers of the cure for the Dorian Grey Syndrome, we medicalize everything then act surprised when the cure is worse than the illness. “ The species has amused itself to death “
This is all the rage among the wellness industry. A thyroid above 1.5, a high uric acid without gout, a low ferritin without anemia, a detectable TPO w normal TSH are all sub-optimal states that can be treated for a low monthly subscription fee. Sorry to see a professional society has jumped on this wellness influencer trend. It is much easier to blame my overall not feeling well on my low ferritin than on the fact that I get 2,000 steps / day and eat pop tarts for every meal.
I agree that over diagnosis is itself becoming a disease. Ferritin reduction seems apt to be included. It is after all a storage form of iron and in the absence of anemia or symptoms is not a malady that demands treatment. (Think sub clinical hypothyroidism). The issue of “iron deficiency (low Fe/high TIBC) with out anemia” is possibly a similar situation although most sources recommend treating this in appropriate symptomatic patients.
Ferritin is one of the many highly abused tests in hospital medicine. I rarely see a patient who hasn't had it measured regardless of clinical presentation or Hb results.
My understanding is that symptomatic people with fatigue can have 'iron deficiency without anaemia'. But it's not my area and I wouldn't know how to diagnose it.
My ferritin is 13. No anemia. No symptoms. Or maybe there are? I am 45 and perimenopausal, so it is difficult to know what is what. Several years ago, my ferritin was a 4, and I was anemic. I have had pelvic ultrasounds and GI scopes. Spent $$$ on iron supplements because the prescription iron has side effects I did not like. I cannot imagine 13 is “good,” but that is because I have been living with a “goal” of 50.
“ We have a pill for that “…. Wonder if the wellness clinics are going to raise it to 60 and offer the cure. Have seen holistic clinics change the normal values ranges on things like water quality and other environmental factors so as to find what the symptomatic but with unremarkable lab results pts have, then offer them tinctures and drops and detoxification treatments custom designed for them, cash only. Just like with the HRT push by the stop the aging clinics, providers of the cure for the Dorian Grey Syndrome, we medicalize everything then act surprised when the cure is worse than the illness. “ The species has amused itself to death “
This is all the rage among the wellness industry. A thyroid above 1.5, a high uric acid without gout, a low ferritin without anemia, a detectable TPO w normal TSH are all sub-optimal states that can be treated for a low monthly subscription fee. Sorry to see a professional society has jumped on this wellness influencer trend. It is much easier to blame my overall not feeling well on my low ferritin than on the fact that I get 2,000 steps / day and eat pop tarts for every meal.
Fantastic! Thank you!
I agree that over diagnosis is itself becoming a disease. Ferritin reduction seems apt to be included. It is after all a storage form of iron and in the absence of anemia or symptoms is not a malady that demands treatment. (Think sub clinical hypothyroidism). The issue of “iron deficiency (low Fe/high TIBC) with out anemia” is possibly a similar situation although most sources recommend treating this in appropriate symptomatic patients.
Ferritin is one of the many highly abused tests in hospital medicine. I rarely see a patient who hasn't had it measured regardless of clinical presentation or Hb results.
My understanding is that symptomatic people with fatigue can have 'iron deficiency without anaemia'. But it's not my area and I wouldn't know how to diagnose it.