Test results

[raine-wager]

It was suggested I post on this site for advice. I have most symptoms of hypothyroidism.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

you are folate deficient and you could be B12 deficient. MMA is the test that could clarify this but you may not be able to get it done by your GP - MMA can also be raised by other things so its a test that needs to be done in conjunction with liver and kidney panels.

Not clear why the ferritin is so high - have you been supplementing?

The symptoms of B12 deficiency, folate and hypothyroidism overlap considerably so unravelling them can be very difficult.

From the test results above it looks as if the symptoms you have are most likely coming from folate deficiency but folate deficiency (unless your diet is bad) is unlikely to occur without other absorption problems - so likely that if you aren't B12 deficient yet it is just a question of time before you are.

This is discussed in the BCSH guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of cobalamin and folate deficiencies. If you are UK based you can access these here

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

and your GP can access them through the BNF (if in UK)

[raine-wager in reply to Gambit62]

Well I showed my dr and she said they are all in nhs range . So I have now ordered some B12. What a waste of time and money.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to raine-wager]

I suspect the lack of units may have been a problem - there are two sets of units that get used for folate - nmol/l and ug/l - the above would seem to be in nmol/l whereas the NHS ranges are usually in ug/l

not that that really helps you - sorry I don't have a magic wand that would make GPs understand how to read tests properly

There is no clear consensus on the level of serum folate that indicates deficiency. Conventionally, clinicians have used serum folate lower than 7 nmol/l (3 μg/l) as a guideline because the risk of megaloblastic anaemia greatly increases below this level. However, there is a sizeable ‘indeterminate zone’ [between approximately 7 and 10 nmol/l (3 and 4·5 μg/l)]. Therefore, a low serum folate level should be taken as suggestive of deficiency rather than as a highly sensitive diagnostic test.

extract from the BCSH guidelines on diagnosis and treatment of cobalamin and folate disorders - link above

[Mary-intussuception]

Can't understand your doctor saying they are in NHS range.

The results are very clear to anyone who actually reads them. The B12 falls within the insufficiency range given; The High results and the Low result are indicated as such - AND written in red! Is there any other GP you can see?

[raine-wager]

That was a private test. I can't win whatever I do. I got myself some b12 supplements and multivitamins. I looked up adrenal fatigue only symptoms I have are the ones the same as hypothyroidism. It's good to chat to someone though I don't feel so much like a hypochondriac. Thanks