What do I do about results please thank you
Vitamin B12 203 (180 - 900)
Folate 1.9 (4.6 - 18.7)
What do I do about results please thank you
Vitamin B12 203 (180 - 900)
Folate 1.9 (4.6 - 18.7)
Hi maddie111 has your doctor not suggested you eat lots of leafy green vegetables or supplement with folic acid?
There is a complex interaction between folic acid, vitamin B12 and iron. A deficiency of one may be "masked" by excess of another so the three must always be in balance.
Symptoms of a folate deficiency can include:
symptoms related to anaemia
reduced sense of taste
diarrhoea
numbness and tingling in the feet and hands
muscle weakness
depression
Folic acid works closely with vitamin B12 in making red blood cells and helps iron function properly in the body and your B12 levels are "bumping along the bottom of the range.
Do you have any of the above symptoms?
Thanks for reply doctor has not suggested I eat leafy freen veg or supplement with folic acid. I have all of the above symptoms and I plan to speak to GP later this afternoon about what she intends to do.
Hopefully your doctor will "address" both you low B12 and your Folate deficiency as the symptoms B12 deficiency tend to develop slowly and may not be recognised immediately. As the condition worsens, common symptoms include:
Weakness and fatigue
Light-headedness and dizziness
Palpitations and rapid heartbeat
Shortness of breath
A sore tongue that has a red, beefy appearance
Nausea or poor appetite
Weight loss
Diarrhoea
Yellowish tinge to the skin and eyes
If low levels of B12 remain for a long time, the condition also can lead to irreversible damage to nerve cells, which can cause the following symptoms:
Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
Difficulty walking
Muscle weakness
Irritability
Memory loss
Dementia
Depression
Psychosis
I hope the appointment goes well for you and wish you well. Let us know how you get on.
Hi,
You might find some of the links below useful. Some info is UK specific and may not apply if you're in another country.
My experience is that B12 deficiency and folate deficiency are not as well understood by doctors as it could be, so I think it's important to do some homework.
Are you symptomatic for B12 Deficiency?
Symptoms lists
pernicious-anaemia-society.... see Checklist PDF on right of page. I ticked all my symptoms and gave a copy to GPs.
b12deficiency.info/signs-an...
b12d.org/admin/healthcheck/...
Risk Factors for PA and B12 Deficiency
pernicious-anaemia-society....
b12deficiency.info/what-are...
b12deficiency.info/who-is-a...
B12 books
"What You Need to Know About Pernicious Anaemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper
Martyn Hooper is the chair of PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society). Book is up to date with UK B12 guidelines. I gave a copy to my GPs.
"Living with Pernicious Anaemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper
Has several case studies.
"Could it Be B12; An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses" by Sally Pacholok and JJ. Stuart (USA authors)
Very comprehensive book about B12 deficiency with lots of case studies.
B12 blogs
Martyn Hooper's blog about PA
Also an interesting blog about b12 issues on "B12 Deficiency Info" website.
PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society)
If you suspect PA is a possibility, it may be worth joining PAS.
pernicious-anaemia-society....
PAS tel no +44 (0)1656 769 717 answerphone
They can offer support and info to PAS members. In some cases PAS may be able to intervene on behalf of PAS members. PAS membership costs £20 for a year.
UK B12 articles
1) BMJ B12 article
2) BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines
b-s-h.org.uk/guidelines/gui...
I gave a copy of this to my GPs.
Flowchart from BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines
stichtingb12tekort.nl/weten...
Flowchart outlines when PA (Pernicious Anaemia) or Antibody Negative PA can be diagnosed in UK.
Flowchart makes it clear that in UK, people who are symptomatic for B12 deficiency should have an Intrinsic Factor Antibody test and start initial B12 treatment, this applies whether B12 is low or within range.
IFA test can help to diagnose PA but test is not always reliable and it is still possible to have PA even if IFA test result is negative.
Have you had an Intrinsic Factor Antibody test?
There is a useful summary of mainly UK B12 documents in the third pinned post on this forum.
Links about blood tests
You mention B12 and folate. Have you had ferritin and full blood count (FBC)tests?
b12deficiency.info/what-to-...
b12deficiency.info/b12-test...
patient.info/doctor/macrocy...
labtestsonline.org.uk/under...
patient.info/doctor/folate-...
I read that if a person is being treated for folate deficiency, it's very important to treat any co-existing B12 deficiency. See Management section in link above about folate deficiency.
Unhappy with treatment?
Link about writing letters to GPs about b12 deficiency.
Point 1 is about under treatment of B12 deficiency with neuro symptoms.
Point 5 is about being symptomatic for B12 deficiency with an in range result
b12deficiency.info/b12-writ...
CAB NHS complaints
HDA patient care trust
UK charity that offers free second opinions on medical diagnoses and medical treatment.
Access to medical records (England)
nhs.uk/NHSEngland/thenhs/re...
england.nhs.uk/contact-us/p...
nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2635.aspx?...
I always get copies of every blood test. I learnt to after being told everything was normal and then finding abnormal and borderline results on the copies.
I am not medically trained.
Making sure they check your iron/ferritin level also as it is also needed to feel bettet. Additionalky if your iron/ferritin levels are currently okay make sure that they check these again in another month or two because it can get used up quickly once your body starts making new healthy red blood cells.