Am b12 deficient and folic acid deficient. Had more bloods today presume for intrinsic factor. Getting confused reading everything,

[Wesjoshjar]

Been prescribed folic acid 5mg tabs to take whilst awaiting results however on the instructions it says don't take if you have an undiagnosed b12 deficiency!!!!

[B12Turbo]

Hi Wesjoshjar

The advice on your Folate tablets is good advice, I would state as follows:-

Self admin is not a good idea prior to being fully tested. Once you have taken B12, you should then leave a period of at least 3 months without taking any B12 prior to testing, otherwise your results will not provide a true natural body level reading, they will show a medicated reading. SORRY!! but that's the way things are at present.

If you wish to find out if you are B12 deficient, then there are procedures to follow, if you are wise. First attend your GP and ask him to carry out his standard and almost useless B12 Serum level test, which in a pre- medicated state, is almost certain to be normal in your GP's eye's. Of course he may not be aware, that you can indeed be B12 deficient, with any Serum level reading. This should then be followed by a test for Intrinsic Factor and Parietal cell Antibodies, all of these tests are available free on the NHS. These tests will highlight your ability or inability to absorb B12 via your gut and hence your diet / oral admin route. Whilst on the same visit, you could request your GP's backing, in order to obtain blood samples for HoloTC testing and if needs be, MMA levels. As you state you are Folate deficient, then you should also in my opinion, consider a test for Homocysteine, which will further indicate both your B12 and Folate status.

Advice on HoloTC, MMA and Homocysteine testing can be sort from Guy's / St. Thomas's Hospital in London and tests can be completed by post. You could contact Denise O'blein on 0207 188 7188, Denise will outline the procedures for arranging tests by post, you will also be able to E-mail her all your medical questions and she will then run them past the Consultants and experts in the field, answering them all by return of E-mail, which you will be able to refer to in the future, perhaps with your GP.

Hope all this helps and you soon have the answers you seek.

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If you're deficient in b12 they shouldn't delay treatment whilst waiting for the IF antibody test result, if they've sent the blood off for the test then they should start your injections.

The warning on the folic acid packet is simply about the fact that taking it will correct macrocytosis (enlarged red blood cells) which means they won't go looking for a b12 deficiency. But they already know you have one so that doesn't apply to you.

I would start taking them because once you get your injections you need a good level of folate in place in order for them to work effectively. Also ferritin, have you had this checked? Get into the habit of asking for copies of all your blood test results.

Have a read of the guidelines here:

bcshguidelines.com/document...

And lots of info here:

b12deficiency.info