How is it possible my serum iron can be elevated and my ferritin be low at the same time?

Easy: 2 Diff Issues: Look up on net: ferritin=complex protein which stores iron atoms inside all cells. Serum iron=iron circulating via transferrin binding proteins in blood plasma. Like most/all lab/medical tests: just sample tiny pieces of what is happening at 1 instant; regard as only clues & ea prove nothing per-se. Mcv on cbc, se fe, s. Ferritin, TIBC (transferrin), bm bx, along with hx bld loss are common clues.

Fluctuations: Serum iron is sensitive to diet, supplements, injury and a host of day-to-day variables. Low serum ferritin is usually a more reliable indicator of available stores, and if mine were quite low, i'd be looking for why i might be losing iron / bleeding rather than have the serum iron think i'd been misled.