Blood test readings, help required

[Bornactor]

Hello, I don't know how to read my test results, can you help? Is my folate low?

I have had the 6 loading doses of b12 6 weeks ago, but feel no better.

Coded entrySerum vitamin B12 level 93 ng/L [180 - 914]

Coded entrySerum folate level 6 ng/ml [3.1 - 19.9]

My eyesight has really deteriorated, I have pins and needles in my hands and feet. My right foot turns outward and drags a little, my knees are really painful. Pins and needles started yesterday just below my neck. I am very low and have anxiety attacks- which results in me sweating profusely around the face and head. I am mortified by my appalling memory and I forget words all the time. Blooming heck!! Could all these ailments be attributed to the lack of B12?

Thank you

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Bornactor When were your above tests taken - before or after the loading doses?

[Bornactor in reply to clivealive]

Hi Clive, before.

[fbirder in reply to Bornactor]

Phew! That B12 level would be terribly low if it was after the loading doses.

No, your folate isn’t low. Your test results give your result (number and units) followed by the normal range. So your value of 6 ng/mL is well above the minimum of the range (6 ng/mL).

If you’ve been suffering from such a low B12 level for a long time then it will take a long time to recover.

However, you would have had more than 6 loading doses. The British National Formulary (the BNF, the prescriber’s bible) says that people with neurological symptoms (your tingling feet, depression, anxiety and memory problems) should have injections every other day until there is no further improvement. Then injections every 8 weeks.

I would go back to my doc and ask him to read the second paragraph in the entry for hydroxocobalamin in the BNF.

[Bornactor in reply to fbirder]

Thank you, will do.