I was told to fast for the LFT's and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel.
Doc said the others like the CBC come out accurate with or without fasting.

Yes, this is a question that I am still trying to find an honest answer for. My doctor says I have to fast for ferritin and TSAT yet I see here on the forum that a lot of the members are having the blood for testing taken right from the phlebotomy bag????? All I know is it would save me one heck of a hassle if didnt have to fast. I've discussed this before but never seem to get any answers. My biggest dilemma is trying to stay hydrated as its hard to drink a ton of water when I'm driving 90 kms one way to this appt....there is no where to pee lol. Last visit my blood was too thick ..I am frustrated!!!

My bloods are taken from the bag and I've never been asked to fast apart from when I had a GTT test for diabetes. Good Luck.

I was only told to fast when I had the first tests to confirm diagnosis.

I've never had to fast for any of the tests. I normally stop in at the lab the day before and have my blood drawn just so I don't have to wait for my monthly numbers.

Kind of interesting that others seem to primarily be using the bags for the phlebotomy. Only once was there a problem with blood flow for me and they just got a new bottle which speeded up the process.

Okay well now I'm really frustrated, I have just had my 9th phlebe yesterday and mentioned this to my doc AGAIN. He said that a person never used to have to fast for ferritin and TSAT but now they do ...so I don't know what to believe...guess I'll just have to listen to him as I have no other options at this point. Have a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2010 everybody! :-)

it does not make sense to me that when you are phlebbing often to also have to fast. I mean you want to know what your ferritin is living life normally. You don't fast normally so I do not think it is a proper reading when you do fast. That is just my opinion, I have been phlebbing every three weeks for 4 years now and I get my ferritin checked everytime and never once have I fasted.

I agree Gidget, on that the Ferritin should be tested as we live our lifestyle. I think what I'll do is print off this dialogue and show it to him, I mean I'm getting no where otherwise. I heard from my doc today and my ferritin is at 167 (not including the phleb yesterday of course) so that would put me around 137 right now....so in my understanding I should only need 3 more phlebs to bring me below 50.... right? Like I said there is nothing I can do at this point in time, there are no other doctors I can go to without driving 3 to 6 hours one way. Thanks again everyone for your advice:-)

FASTING has never even been mentioned since I started the full process in July ,I am being treated at a hemotology/oncology unit in a hospital ,as far as the phelbs they have always used the bottles and on two differant occasions they had to simply pull the needle out of the one bottle and replaced it into a new bottle due to lack of suction ,also in my situation it was same individual so I have now requested the blood lab to do it instead of the oncology unit and have not ever had a problem since then .

Ironmaiden1,

Be careful expecting your #'s to come out a certain way...My last tests, my Ferritin only dropped 15 points after 3 phleebs! I was expecting more!

Thank you,

I guess I best look for another doctor in the spring as I seem to be the only one fasting (go figure, lol). Thanks everyone and thank you wildkatnc, I will remember the advice on the numbers:-) Have a great holiday everyone!

I have never been asked to fast for blood tests either. For the phlebs I have to eat and drink loads beforehand, during and after (I have probs with fainting, vomiting etc), which is a pain as I have a tiny appetite and find water boring :-)

Blood tests are done separately, in a different dept in fact, as they tell me the blood bag is closed and the phlebbed blood can't be extracted from it.

Good luck Ironmaiden - it really is an uphill struggle sometimes, isn't it? Hardly anyone in the hospital I go to has even heard of the condition...and that includes the 'specialists' I see!

Fasting is not going to change your test results. The doctor may want you to for other reason such as your sugur levels or other thing that change quickly. For it to change test results you would have to stop eating o drinking anything but water for a week. Again there other things they are looking for in your blood test as well. Having ironoverload is more than just the levels of iron in your blood. If your doctor is looking outside the box you have a good doctor. You really why the fasting and what he might be looking for? Don't be afraid to ask.

Interestingly, I've just read this in the FAQ section of The Iron Disorders Institute Guide to Hemochromatosis ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Iron-Disorders-Institute-Guide-Hemochromatosis/dp/1581821603/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262098747&sr=1-1 ):

Q: My blood work was NOT done while I was fasting. Will this make a great deal of difference to the results?

A: Yes, a test done not fasting can cause a false positive on transferrin iron saturation %. Serum iron can be affected by several factors such as foods you have eaten. Serum iron is best measured following a fast.

Link again - hope it works this time...


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Iron-Disorders-Institute-Guide-Hemochromatosis/dp/1581821603