Stop taking iron before rechecking ferritin levels?

[Elissa]

So I have been on iron (Slow FE, 2 pills a day) for 2 months now and the hair loss doc wants to recheck my ferritin levels. He told me to STOP taking the iron for a week before getting the blood work done. I never heard of this before. I hate to think I am setting myself back in my treatment by stopping for a week! Is this customary to discontinue the iron before the blood work? Is this necessary? Does this make the results more accurate or is it just pointless?

(BTW he wants me to do the same to check the copper levels because I have a copper deficiency. I have to stop the copper supplements too)

Thank you for any input!

[Sleepyhouse]

My derm didn't ask me to stop my supplements before getting ferritin retested - not sure why it would make much difference. Maybe the serum iron would be off but I don't think ferritin would be. But I'm not a Dr :)

I'm having a colonoscopy this week and I have to be off iron for a week. Unless you have some cause of blood loss, I wouldn't worry about it too much.


Good luck! AFter 3 months on just one iron pill/day I went from 14 to 40.