Help with blood results (Post 1 of 4)

[Pittman]

blood results - also on these posts

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

[Gambit62 Administrator]

your MCHC is raised - indicating that your red blood cells are a little rounder than they should be which is a classic symptom of B12 deficiency.

B12 is high - which is what you would expect if you are on B12 injections - but also doesn't mean that you are okay though your GP may not realise this.

your ferritin is also a bit low although your haemoglobin looks okay - but the fact that MCHC is raised indicates that something may be going on with your iron levels, eg iron deficiency being masked by B12 deficiency and vice versa

There was something wrong with the thyroid test so really ought to be redone. Your TSH is in range and your free T4 is in range but is a bit low - would be useful to see what is going on with T3 and also what is happening with your antibodies - and the people to talk to about that are TUK

healthunlocked.com/thyroiduk

[Pittman in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you so much for looking at my results, would you advise for me to also book another appointment at the doctors to go through these results as they will probably say most are in range? The b12 test was done 2 weeks after my injection so knew that would be high & how would I know if I need iron?

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Pittman]

Pittman, it is probably worth trying to talk to your GP and going through the above and trying to get the thyroid panel rebooked as well.

The notes on ferritin refer to reviewing haemoglobin which is okay and full blood count - and the marker to be aware of there is the MCHC being out of range. How long is it since your B12 problem was discovered - if you had macrocytosis at that point then the result may just be an indication that the B12 is starting to reverse the macrocytosis but needs a bit more time before it is resolved completely.

[Pittman in reply to Gambit62]

Hi I was diagnosed 6/7 years ago

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Pittman]

Thanks - that means that macrocytosis should have cleared by now.

[Pittman in reply to Gambit62]

Hi gambit I’m going back to my doctors to hopefully go through my results can you just have a quick look again at my results as I can’t see folate on there but thought maybe it’s under a different name maybe?

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Pittman]

no results for folate that I can see

[Pittman in reply to Gambit62]

No I didn’t think so which i understand is very important and I specifically asked for this test, thank you

[Dizzinessloaded]

Thank you Gambit for this explanation. My blood results were very similar to yours Pittman, normal haemoglobin, but high MCH (34.8). My B12 was normal too so my GP dismissed the latter as 'one of those things' and concluded I couldn't be anaemic. However, due to what I assumed was low iron levels initially as suffered from low levels throughout my life, I had started taking ferrous sulphate tablets for quite some time before the test, so inevitably, levels were very high. I now wonder reading your post Gambit whether this could have given a false result in relation to my haemoglobin/ B12 results.

Similar thyroid results too.

[Pittman in reply to Dizzinessloaded]

Hi this is all very confusing, reading many comments on this forum I’m not sure whether I should be taking extra supplements, I have only ever had the b12 injections (monthly now) & talking to the doctors is like banging your head up a wall 😩

[Dizzinessloaded]

Are you experiencing symptoms coming back? Saw a 2nd GP today who I now feel more confident with and he agreed for further testing but that would no injections for 4 months and not sure I can do that. He was a bit taken aback but supportive of me accessing my own b12 and doing self injections. Still waiting for Lyme disease results though.

[Pittman in reply to Dizzinessloaded]

Hi how are you getting on?

[Dizzinessloaded]

Hi Pittman, I feel soooo much better! I'm on week 3 of every other day injections, and started to really feel the difference this week. For the first time yesterday, I did cry in desolation at feeling unable to even think at the end of the week, but managed to not only go play tennis after work, but go out with friends and enjoy it without feeling lightheaded, dizzy and just desperately wanting my bed.

I don't want to scream victory yet as I'm so anxious that it could be a coincidence, but feeling as I do after two years of just battling on to get through the day is the best feeling in the word.

How are you feeling? Did you get anywhere with your GP? Could it be that monthly injection is just not enough for you any longer?