High Ferritin Levels: How can I lower my levels?

Posted by frank0508 @frank0508, May 27, 2023

Since having Covid in fall of 2021, my ferritin levels have remained high. They were close to 600 immediately following Covid and are now lingering between 300 and 400 over a year later. Prior to, I was always in the normal range and my iron levels have remained normal throughout. Curious how to lower my levels—have been exercising but that doesn’t seem to be working.

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persimmons | @persimmons | Dec 28, 2025

In reply to @JustinMcClanahan "Hello @earl1959, I moved your post and to this existing discussion that you may find helpful..." + (show)

@JustinMcClanahan I am also glad I found this dialogue on high ferratin. I run at 1,200 to 1,000. Was at 1,600 while in dialysis 3 and 1/2 yrs. I was high ferratin even before dialysis. I received my kidney transplant w Mayo Clinic AZ 7/25/23. My ferratin runs at 1,000. I had my 1st pheb pull of 400 mL (was to be 500 mL but very slow veins/ hard stick) Pheb. pulls w UCSF are to be monthly. With my kidney transplant I didn't like that it dropped my Hemoglobin 2 pts from 14.9 feeling like gold the moment w transplant. I have put pheb pulls on pause bc I don’t like the hemoglobin drop on my kidney transplant. They tested way back and it's not generic. I got a second opinion at least liver dr brought up maybe something is causing the inflammation? MRI showed severe iron overload on speen, and mild on abdm.
Is a pheb pulls monthly the only way to deplete the ferratin? If I didn't have. a kidney transplant I wouldn't be so concerned w hemoglobin dropping 2-3 pts instantly from 14.9.
Is pheb pulls 500 mL for ever. I have low iron saturation and transferrin, Ferritin 1,000.
Not sure if inflammation?
I try to follow low iron and got rid of cast iron skillet. How can one address if inflammation cause. Should I make appt w Mayo AZ liver and hemot dr? Bay Area is stumped why high. Their solution pull pheb which drops hemoglobin on transplant. What are other side affects of high ferratin. UCSF peninsula hemo and Stanford liver dr discuss none of this. CA 10 yr wait for kidney so they don't have much experience w transplants and high ferratin. Sorry for long post. I would like to get to cause high ferratin? inflammation? and who to see.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 7 7:39pm

In reply to @persimmons "@JustinMcClanahan I am also glad I found this dialogue on high ferratin. I run at 1,200..." + (show)

@persimmons, are you still followed by the transplant team at Mayo Clinic AZ? You may wish to contact them with your concerns.

persimmons | @persimmons | Mar 23 5:49am

In reply to @colleenyoung "@persimmons, are you still followed by the transplant team at Mayo Clinic AZ? You may wish..." + (show)

@colleenyoung yes, still followed by Mayo Clinic AZ. Dr Sami Alasfar is my main post transplant nephrologist w visits. July 2026 will be 3rd anniversary post transplant.
I just read your msg back. It's March 22, 2026. I am going to contact Mayo kidney transplant dept tomorrow. I now have a UCSF post nephrologist since Nov '25 for appts following monthly kidney transplant labs. She called my now Stanford hematologist personally looking at ferritin, cbc, and iron saturation labs from Stanford done week prior and post 1st monthly 500 mL pheb pull in January 2026 for ferratin overload w drop in hemoglobin and iron saturation so low 13 and 17% that I can't be too low hemoglobin and iron saturation w kidney transplant. (Mayo Clinic AZ 7/25/23). We are now only pulling 250 mL phebl pull labs before and after. And now PA and I discussed spacing them 6 weeks or so apart 250 mL phebl pull of high ferritin. 3rd one is this week. I'm exhausted w hemoglobin drop/ iron saturation low and worried about my kidney transplant. exhausted.

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