I've discovered my ferretin is low at 26, but also my blood work for TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity) came back abnormally high, which means my Iron is not being distributed in my system correctly.  I wish I understood this more.

Any suggestions?

Here's more information I found Rose.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_iron-binding_capacity

http://www.keratin.com/ab/ab014.shtml

This information looks like it relates to hair loss. Hope it's helpful.

It is usually the case that when iron stores are low, TIBC is high and transferrin saturation becomes low.  It means that you don't have enough iron....

Iron absorption occurs in the small intesting.

Have you tested your secretor status?

The Genotype diet is  designed to help heal the small intestine. Once it is healthy iron can be absorbed more effciently.
How are your fingerprints?

Hi Andrea:

My fingerprints are mainly "whorls."  My ring fingers appear to be longer than my index.

With the genotype diet, how does one better absorb iron?

I thought about taking  Betaine HCL in the event I don't have enough Acid, (typical with us A's) however, I don't suffer from any stomach disorders -- just this awful, awful hair loss!!!

Hello Andrea:

PS.  How does The Genotype diet help heal the small intestine to better absorb iron?  

I'm really good about avoiding the "avoids" and ER4BT.  However, I haven't been able to determine if I'm a Teacher or Warrior. (having trouble with measuring)

Just this week I started taking Floradex Liquid iron.  I wonder if I'm doing the right thing?  It's so confusing.

Try to eat foods commom to both GTs for now. Maybe there are neutrals you can find for both types. That's better than avoids.
I'm sure that more help will be forthcoming,
Mrs "T"

From what Dr. Natalie said, it sounds like the Floradex is a good move. The high TIBC just means your blood cells are seeking more iron.

I'd defer to your doctor's judgement, since he has the reports in front of him.

Any white lines on your fingerprints?  Have they tested you for any other deficiencies?  Have you lost any blood lately, or do you think you may have trouble absorbing?  

Vitamin C helps you absorb iron (unless I'm wrong, in that case somebody will correct me), so drinking some citrus juice along with the floradex may help.

Melissa:

Thanks for your input.  Trust me, I have been losing hair now since peri-menopause which was 7 yrs ago and have seen every Doctor, Endo, Gyno, Derm, ND, etc. known to man.

When I was discussing my low ferriten and high TIBC with the endocrinologist, she said, "nothing to worry about" as my hair was falling out all over her desk! They just don't care, or even read one's test results.  It is something to worry about.

In regards to "citrus" with the Floradex, as blood type A I need to avoid orange juice and many other citrus juices (except for grapefruit)

I also just discovered I can't take the Floradex because it gives me diareaha!  Maybe it's the herbs in the mix.  So I will need to find an alternative.  Any suggestions for blood type A?

Thanks,

Rose

The GT diet will heal your small intestine.  It takes about 3-6 months  which is exactly what Peter talks about in his book. Did you do the GT/BT diet quiz to find out which is better for you?

Put your measurements up here and we can figure it out.

Rose, this will sound stern.. but please know it is in love . You need to follow the diet, you need to do the work.  You need to have your secretor status tested it is not expensive, order the kit from NAP.

You need to read the books over and over again and really, really follow what Peter says, both in the excercise section (yoga thi-chi meditation no heavy excercise no running) and the food portions. If you are not eating the Green vegetables, beans, tempeh  in the portions Peter suggests.. you need to. You can do this.. you can help yourself, you have control.

Wheat will damage the lining of your small intestines that is where the iron is absorbed. You can take the floridax but without a healthy intestine you limit its effectiveness.

If you  went to see Peter he would tell you the same thing, "Just follow the diet" Eat the foods rich in iron on the  lists.

Please know Rose that I feel your pain of losing your hair..  

I didn't read all of the posts, so if this has been said, sorry.

Digestive enzymes. This is a fairly good one.
http://www.nowfoods.com  

Our bodies become more and more depleted as we age. For our foods, vitamins, minerals to be asborbed, distributed and used properly, they must first be properly digested. The more cooked foods we eat, the more of our digestive enzymes we use. We must replace them. Eating more raw foods of course helps. I'm thinking this has something to do w/ why many people find the grapefruit diet helpful. Digestion begins in the mouth, so you are right away eating something raw w/ natural enzymes to start the process off right. Or that's how I 'see' it anyway. Plus by eating the grapefruit, you fill up a bit before eating your meal.  

That's what I like about Deflect. I'm loving that stuff more and more.. It has bromelain in it and my digestion is very good (usually) when I take it, unless I do something to really knock off whack..like this past weekend. Deflect makes my skin nice too..

You see Rose, it's a synergy. The more that you do the program and add the supplements, the better your body will respond. I upped my Fergon to 2 a day since I've been sick.

Quoted from Mayflowers

I upped my Fergon to 2 a day since I've been sick.

what's Fergon?

Quoted from italybound

what's Fergon?

It's plant derived iron. Very mild, doesn't cause C. You can find it in any drug store in the iron section.

Rose - Did I miss where you told us why your Iron is so low?

Rose, have you checked your fingerprints for white lines?  It would indicate either a malabsorption
issue and/or gluten intolerance.  

Many people have mentioned on celiac websites that their ferritin levels were very low..hair
falling out.  I just wondered if this applied to you.

Easy to just use a stamp pad and test your fingers by printing on paper.  Lots of white lines
and poor fingerprint height might indicate that you need to focus heavily on your gut health too.

This was my greatest issue; loads of white lines, an inability to even read my fingerprints and my ferritin level was 12 before I stopped eating gluten grains.

Chloe,
I must say I like your posts, very helpful!  I think the iron article about hairloss was very interesting.  As for gluten, it
causes malabsorption that can affect both the iron and also can cause the thyroid to go wacky.   So many issues improve if gluten is the problem and we avoid it!

A's can have grapefruit, lemon or lime, I believe.  You could make some lemonade or limeade, as you don't really need a lot of the juice to help.  Or you could take some vitamin C or acerola along with the iron.

Ah-ha, it looks like the floradix has wheat germ in it...I couldn't remember why I never bought it.  They may have a wheat free or gluten free version.

I assume your endo may have run tests for other deficiencies?  I guess you never can assume with doctors, but hey.  Do you have any other symptoms, aside from hair falling out and possibly feeling anemic?  If you have white lines, I'd definitely demand that they test the vitamin and mineral levels that they can test for. Not all show up on a blood test, but A,D (both forms),E,K, magnesium, and B12 are a few.  Are you taking a good multivitamin, like Exakta?  Have they tested your bone density?  Sometimes just finding a doctor who's willing to run the tests is a good first step, then a specialist can help you interpret them.  (Specialists can be so hard-headed at times, that it's hard to get them going initially)

But I second (or third, etc.) the opinion that following the diet closely will help.  It helped with my vitamin D deficiency symptoms before I even knew I had a D deficiency, even though I'm sure the D I was getting was far short of what they give me in my prescription.

Puregirl -- Yes, I mentioned my ferriten is 26.

Andrea -- Don't be silly, of course I don't think you're being stern, you care and I greatly appreciate it.  I've read the books over and over again, and will read them again.  As far as exercise, I do yoga and fast walking already.  And I do it lot's of green vegetables, beans and tempeh already.  Now and then I may have a piece of chicken or turkey (no red meat).

In regards to "Gluten" at the risk of sounding like an idiot, what exactly is it?  Is it in foods?  Does it say so on the label?

Mmmmm. . . I didn't know the floradix has wheat germ.  I think us A's are suppposed to stay away from wheat.  Does that also pertain to wheat germ.

I would like to know if a person cannot take the Floradix, what type of IRON Dr. D would recommend?

Gluten is a protein in wheat, rye and barley.  A's don't have to be gluten-free, unless they react to it.  If you have white lines or low ridges on your fingerprints, you may be reacting to it, and should look into trying a gluten free diet.

Healing the gut lining is essential to increasing iron absorption. It takes 3-6 months to heal the lining. It takes that long for the cells to regenerate themselves.

gluten is-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gluten
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-gluten.htm



According to Fasano 1 out of every 133 people have celiac disease..http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/celiac_study.htm

Floradix does have a gluten, yeast free version, it's what I use.  I am sorry not to have mentioned that before, because I would never recommend one with wheat germ.  If it gives you diarrhea, maybe it is the gluten that is a problem!  I wonder if you can take the one you brought back and ask to try the gluten free one?

Over ten years ago was testedf for celiac disease and my test turned out fine.

So does that mean I'm ok with wheat or wheat germ?  I wonder if it's the herbs in the Floradix???  I'm reading the label now ad it contains:

Aqueous extracts from carrot, nettle wort, spinach, quitch roots, fennel, kelp, malllow blossom, per, grape, black current orage, blackberry, cherry, beet juice extract, yeast extract, honey, rosehip extract, wheat germ extract and natural flavor.

I just noted "orange" which is an avoid for us A's.   I think I should just take another source of iron + vitamin C.

And I'm reading more and more, if ferretin is low, one should take HCL because we don't have enough acid in our stomach.

What are your thoughts?

Thank You!

Quoted from Andrea AWsec

According to Fasano 1 out of every 133 people have celiac disease..http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/celiac_study.htm

And many more are gluten sensitive, at least 1 in 12.  There are tests you may have a doctor who is happy to run, but if you're gluten sensitive, it's up to just an elimination/challenge diet.