iron levels what does it mean?

[christinatas]

dr called left message on answering machine--what does it mean by"elevated autoimmune iron levels?help please.i dont understand this?

[christinatas]

i was really surprised that this did not hurt me at all.radiologist said not to work the next day and i didnt.Now more waiting..till 22nd.i think i will wait cause of all the bad info i am getting when i just call in.but all the info i have been doing alot of research and i dont like what i have found out,i think it would best to wait til appt.,what do you advise?thx

[jules2551]

Just wondered how you were feeling and how everything went with the biopsy.  

[christinatas]

thank you for all ya'll responses-finally got some answers from dr today.mostly wait for what biopsy says.but the iron overload we may have to do some procedure to get rid of this before any treatment.


medscape.com  has a couple of great articles about ironoverload if anyone needs this info. they are informative and are easy-reads.thanks to all

[pooh55811]

Here is a link to lab tests on line. On the right hand side there is a box for tests. Just scroll through the tests and pick out those that you want to see more about. When you get to the specific test page, then pick the blue tab in the middle "The Test" and it will take you to an explanation of the test, tell you the normal results, and tell you what they are looking for (possible diagnosis) if the tests are abnormal. Then, at the top of that same page, you will see a list of other tests that they often do when they do the test you are looking up.

http://labtestsonline.org/

http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ana/tab/test

[christinatas]

thank you

[jules2551]

You should really get hard copies of all tests that you have run.  I know most of us have 2 folders full of test results.  This is the only way you will be able to keep track of everything because you won't remember while on treatment.  It will seem like all you are going to do is go see the Dr or go have labs done.  

In the meantime I would google those terms that your Dr ran so you get familiar with them.  I know it's confusing but just ask the forum if you don't understand something.  Someone will gladly help you.

And no those are correct terms but they should have #'s next to them with reference ranges for normal values.

[christinatas]

meant may ,-not march-22nd

[christinatas]

i will ask doc but from what i gather it will be a radiologist that performs biopsy and not doc.i will call their office tomorrow,they still havent called me back i guess they feel til biopsy is over there's nothing to be said or they've said what they are gonna say before a biopsy.doc may have great bedside manner but it wouldnt have hurt to do a 2nd callback to me.i am also going to ask(tomorrow what all my bloodwork have said thats why i was calling last week in the 1st place,but dr had said that your viral load can really fluctuate up n down and not to read too much into what a person's viralload says-mine by family doc in nov.showed it was just below400,000.my 'official'tests she prescribed was --
ANA,SMOOTH MUSCLE aATIBODY,(DONT KNOW IF THIS IS MISPRINT)SERUM IgG
IRON,FERRITIN AND %SATURATION
HIV SCREEN
RETICULOCYTE COUNT
TSH
CRYOGLOBULINS-Quantitative
these were performed @her office march 22nd.no phonecall about results except hiv neg.i knew this but med.assistant said she didnt clearly understand all these other tests #'s ,she then consulted w/ dr and then she called me back and left that message on answering machine but i wanted to know what all these tests #'s were but still no callback.THEN i reckon i then have to wait til march 22nd for dr appt. for her to go over all the test results but i dont understand why i cant have bloodtest results done way back in march no sense at all but its 6:00pm here so i'll have to wait til morning to call them again.i have no family support at all and i dont know what to do but try to get some answers by this site but all this unnecessary waiting is worrying me to death

[pooh55811]

I think you should ask your doctor if you can go back to work the next day.

I was pretty much okay the following day, sore, but otherwise okay. However, I am retired so I did not have to worry about going back to work. I am trying to think of how I would describe it. Physically I felt fine except for the area around the biopsy I felt like I had been punched or hit hard in that area. I did take a Tylenol No. 3 the am after the biopsy, but I did not need anything after that.

You are not supposed to lift any heavy objects after the biopsy. Some places say for a day after the biopsy; others say longer, 2-4 days.

Here are some links that tell you a little more:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/liver-biopsy/MY00949/DSECTION=what-you-can-expect

http://gastro.ucsd.edu/liver/Documents/Patient%20Information%20Sheet%20Liver%20Biopsy.pdf

https://patienteducation.osumc.edu/Documents/pprc_liver.pdf

[christinatas]

thank u.i am genotype 1a.i do know that.may 10th is biopsy.do u think i can work the next day(saturday).i wait tables.

[pooh55811]

Here is a link to some information about Hepatitis C. I will try to find some other links that give you basic information about Hepatitis C.

http://www.epidemic.org/theFacts/hepatitisC/

I will also try to find some information about the current drug regimens. I am not sure how much you know about Hepatitis C and the current treatments so it is a little difficult to decide which links would be appropriate. However, i will look and see what I can find that may be helpful.

[jules2551]

You really need to know the results of your liver biopsy and genotype before you can make an informed decision on treating now or later. In the meantime, you need to educate yourself on Hep C.
When I first got on the forum I didnt have a clue. There are extremely intelligent members on this forum, who have been through hell and back and are SVR, that will help you every step of the way. Just post a question and they will help you out. No questions are stupid questions... So just ask!

[christinatas]

well it was actually her assistant,the doc is supposed to be best in asheville,north carolina area,i guess i'll find out she is a ray of sunshine when she enters the room,--i have been waiting since nov. and i still dont know half of what everybody is talking about when it comes to the drugs,i had a class about hcv on the 30th,i felt like it was ok,but i didnt learn anything,the nurse told class the very way of treating NOW---will be obsolete in a couple of years but she taught class WHAT WAS EXPECTED DURING TREATMENT RIGHT NOW--DID NOT MAKE ANY SENSE-i hope i can wait for this new treatment what ever in the world it is.i cant type well sorry it took me a day or 2 to get back to u-thank u for yr support.

[jules2551]

Yes the waiting is probably the worst part.  I know it's difficult but try and not worry.  You won't know anything definite until you get your biopsy back.  They will do an iron stain to determine the cause of the elevated iron.  Your iron levels could be elevated due to the Hep C or other causes.  Your Dr won't know until he gets the reports back.  Be sure and get a copies of all of your lab results and keep them in a file.  

I can't believe your Dr left a message like that on your answering machine!  Is he a Hepatologist?

Let us know how you make out!  Jules

[christinatas]

i called yesterday and they havent called me back-they said "elevated iron automune hepatitis"---they had said they really couldnt tell til i had biopsy on the 10th of this month.all this waiting just *****.i hate all this waiting-do u know anything about autoimmune hep???

[jules2551]

I was wondering if you had autoimmune hepatitis? And did you talk to your Dr after he left the message?