Anemia Support Group

Ferritin is an indication of iron stores and your ability to make red blood cells. Ferritin levels will drop before hemoglobin and hematocrit drop so it's not at all unusual to have a low ferritin level and normal hemoglobin and hematocrit. As long as your hemoglobin and crit aren't at the high end of the range (and they likely are not), it's generally considered safe to add some iron supplementation to increase the ferritin level and possibly prevent a drop in the hemoglobin and crit. My hematologist watches my ferritin level and will sometimes do an infusion when my hemoglobin and crit are borderline low/normal and my ferritin is very low (I don't respond to oral iron supplementation).

Also, just fyi, many docs don't take the rbc level into consideration at all and feel that it's non-diagnostic. I've even heard it referred to as a "junk test." But I think it may possibly reflective of the fact that your ferritin level is low and not able to produce as many rbcs.

What's 'rbc level'?

Welcome Nanette, and thanks ChelaS,
I learned a lot from your posting, Chela. My iron stores are "adequate", but my bone marrow is slow in make ALL types of blood cells. Sounds like you have a really good doctor, and that's half the battle, in my opinion. Severe fatigue for five years is terrible, and then you have to deal with getting the right medical care.