Low folate treating?

[Red08]

I saw go yesterday who said b12 and iron looked ok but had low folate . Symptoms dizziness fatigue muscle cramps . Poor digestion .foot problems . Dr said didn’t know if related to folic but to take supplements. Advice please Thank you 🙏

[Nackapan]

Did they say what dose to take? Also were you given your B12 result. My daughter has ulcers in her mouth and fatigue with low folate. She takes 400mcg a day. Mine was on the low side of took the same but now above range? Was vit D tested and pottassium magnesium and ferritin too? Have you had a B12 test before to compare?

[Red08 in reply to Nackapan]

Ah never had tests done before and no advice re dosage of folic acid

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

I agree with Nackapan - if it was me, I would ask for a printout.

I had blood test initially that showed B12 deficiency and was started on injections, with no understanding of what this meant.

Some time later, my hair was still falling out, gums bleeding: GP thought that this was likely to be due to folate and/or ferritin, so put me on 3 months' course for both, as both were low-range (not out of range so not picked up as important first off).

When I finished course, my levels were good, quite high...then back down to low. I have to work quite hard supplementing, whatever I eat, to keep in high end of the ranges, and GP checks blood to ensure levels don't go over the top- too much folate or ferritin can cause symptoms. Unlike B12, where there is not a danger (Stichting B12 Tekort in "Pinned Posts" right-hand column here).

I started taking 400mcg daily of folic acid (RDA 200mcg) until GP said it was higher than top of the range twice in a row on testing and recommended dropping down to 200mcg to see how that goes. I'm a bit more cautious with ferritin, and just stick to RDA in a multivitamin and mineral. So far, no return of hair loss or bleeding gums. It did take quite a while to get improvements, which I guess is why GPs generally give 3-month courses.

Folate and ferritin are often low with B12 deficiency, and vitamin D it seems too.

You didn't say what "foot problems"* you have: I'm guessing pins and needles or numbness, but thought I'd ask. If so, keep an eye on that. Keeping a list of symptoms and daily records ; chart frequency and severity of symptoms is useful, and may help with any specialists or GPs later. Keeping records and blood test printouts may also help indicate any downward or upward trend.

If you need any help understanding what blood test results mean, post on here. Give results, units of measurement (ug/L etc), and ranges - which are different depending on laboratory area. Don't show personal details (yours or GPs) if scanning. Although not GPs, there are always helpful people here who might pick up on something that you missed or that is more relevant than first assumed.

* Go back to GP if "foot problems" become worse -or become leg problems.

I hope all will soon look more positive for you.

[Red08 in reply to Cherylclaire]

Thank you so much . I am feeling a little better today . I don’t think the GP was interested in doing follow up bloods but I will ask her . My thyroxine has been very slightly reduced as my TSH had dropped to 0.4 . Foot is worse in mornings painful to walk on stiff etc

[Cherylclaire Forum Support in reply to Red08]

I remember waking up with stiff feet, hobbling down the stairs, every morning, joints all aching: knees and back, hips. Could not get started at all without a long bath.

That doesn't happen any more now to me.

I remember someone on here saying she felt as if she'd been sleepwalking all night in her slippers, which explains the feeling so well.

Take very good care of yourself, Red08 .

[Red08 in reply to Cherylclaire]

Yes exactly thank you for your support