I have had low ferritin for several years but my doctors have not been concerned. I found out I was anemic back in April 2008 but my MCV and RDW were in the normal range:
My doctor called this "normocytic anemia" but attributed it to the low ferritin. After a few months of low dose iron supplements, by anemia had improved but my iron levels were still low:
I'm wondering if I should have kept taking the iron because some recent bloodwork shows the anemia may be returning. I don't know my iron levels, but MCV & RDW are still normal:
I was under the impression that iron deficiency produced "microcytic anemia" not "normocytic anemia". In iron deficiency anemia, I believe MCV is usually low and RDW is usually high. I'm not sure if my latest b/w categorizes me as anemic, but it's definitely normocytic and has always been normocytic even when I was truly anemic.
My question is, does anyone else here have normocytic anemia? Can low iron/low ferritin cause normocytic anemia? Perhaps my anemia wasn't severe enough to the point where MCV and RDW were altered?
Angela, 44
Still menstruating regularly
Possible mild Crohn's Disease