Puzzled: I collected my blood results... - Pernicious Anaemi...

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Puzzled

Nackapan profile image
18 Replies

I collected my blood results today. B12 was tested despite crossing it off the blood form as Gp agreed not needed. Folate was on it . Are these akways done together?

B12 above 1500

Folate abover range a small above 24 but no figure needed .

Ferritin 44 ng/l hurrah rising at last

Vit D down from 73 ti 61 despite daily 25ug supplement?

White blood count dropped to 5 (which I think good as was very high when first ill.

Cholesterol levels gone up 6.7 but ratio in the normal range 3.5

A vicious circle. I was eating less red meat to get cholesterol down which I did. 5.8. Of course now earing more liver red lean meat ti raise ferritin and hopefully absorb some b12!

Worried now after recent posts with injections being stopped. What else could I do. It wasn't in the form to check b12??

Everything else seems okay as in range

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Nackapan profile image
Nackapan
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18 Replies
buster_uk profile image
buster_uk

I am like you going around in circles.

I think they will use the high b12 to stop/reduce your injections. It seems to be the case of there instructions now.

Health service is rubbish.

A man had collapsed in the front carpark today. I rang 999. 25/30 mins later no ambulance. Some one put him in a car and I guess took him to a&e.

The countrys falling apart.

As the NHS is now largely privatised it's all about the cost.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply tobuster_uk

All very unsettling .

Sorry you too going round in circles.

I still can't believe b12 was tested as not on the blood form.

It must be done automatically with folate. Otherwise didn't make sense.

Yes quicker to be put in a car to a and e. Although you're not supposed to move people. ??

JanD236 profile image
JanD236 in reply toNackapan

Don’t worry about what hasn’t happened!

My B12 was tested even though I’d asked for it not to be. The result was >2,000 but my GP made no comment nor has he changed my (monthly) injection frequency.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toJanD236

True. I don't usually worry about what's not happened. but enough not making sense at present.

Just odd as I had the blood form and it eaent on there.

Seeing go Friday.

Thanks

.

fbirder profile image
fbirder

Don’t worry about it. My B12 has been tested at least a dozen times since I’ve been diagnosed. It’s always been over 2000 pmol/L except when they had the older assay, then it was over 5999 ng/L

B12 and folate do seem to be done together. That’s probably why you had it done.

But the fact that your doc knew it wouldn’t be needed means they know that the result is meaningless.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply tofbirder

Okay thank you.

I thought it must've been done with the folate.

So many posts recently with people's b12 injections stopped is si awful . You realise how vulnerable we all are.

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support in reply toNackapan

I have a feeling that this might be new instruction regarding folate: that folate should now not be tested without B12 being tested too. This would make sense as a first test, but not subsequently.

When I saw a new GP lately, I noticed that for the first time, my blood test did not include folate -because I refused to let him check my B12 levels. This is how my usual GP explained it later. She still managed to get my folate checked independently of B12, however.

Like fbirder , my serum B12 test results after injections started were always >2000ng/L: my usual GP never tests B12 now as there is no point. It just proves that the injected B12 is there in your bloodstream, but not what it does next .

Folate , ferritin, vitamin D and thyroid testing should be a regular check. My folate, ferritin and vitamin D levels all need help with daily supplements and often additional supplementing too despite diet being almost entirely B12, folate and ferritin at every meal. How would you know how to help yourself otherwise ? Vitamin D is supplied by NHS and thyroid is checked to make sure it's still coping.

Folate and ferritin levels seem to take a long time to shift even with supplementing- keep trying with the ferritin, it could do with being higher. My GP wants mine to be at 80 ug/L or more.

Why would a GP stop a beneficial treatment while the cause of the complaint is still under investigation (or should be)? B12 is harmless.

From what I know of you Nackapan , from your posts and replies here , your GP must be well aware that you have an ongoing problem. For that reason I wouldn't expect them to do anything with your B12 result. Crack on with upping your ferritin !

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toCherylclaire

Thank you I will as I can tolerate ferrous fumarate 210mg. Also use solgar and spartone of days off ferrous fumerate.

My ferritin was 61ng/l on first blood test in October 2018.

I'm using that as a bench mark. I agree ferritin levels 60-80 to be aimed for. I've been trying since January. This is the first promising rise. My body has felt less weak and I'm certainly less shaky.

My folate level just says above 24. I only supplement with 200mg in my multivitamin. So don't really need it. Don't think multivit come without it though.

Strange I csn absorb folate so well.

Maybe my diet from allotment veg is easily absorbed.

Tsh level 2.85mu/L so that seems okay

Trying to raise vit D too. As I'm convinced the higherror level helped headaches.

Seeing g Gp Friday. What she will make of thst awful letter from neurologist we will see.

I will not mention b12 result and hope she ignores it like you say and fbirder. I've not been for 3 Months so formulating list!!

Will keep up the iRon and get tested again in 3-6 months . As my folate above range perhaos ill not have that so b12 not done??

Thank you for your reply.

Hope you are doing okay

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support in reply toNackapan

Yes, I am.

Glad that you are continuing to stay positive and adopting a "wait and see" attitude.

My best ferritin level was 66.1, after a 3-month NHS supplement, but it didn't stay there and dropped back into mid-30's.... hard work all this, isn't it ? Especially since there are so many generic deficiency symptoms ; lethargy, muscle weakness, bleeding gums, hair loss etc.

So now taking supplement to my supplement : daily vitamin and mineral tablet (which contains, among other things, iron and folic acid) + now 100% RDA ferritin every other day. See how that goes. Food doesn't seem to make any difference, though still trying.

Don't forget, the whole point of a GP is to help you get healthy and then stay that way. Work through your list and if you don't get to discuss the neurologist's letter as well, ask her to request a double appointment for you next time. My GP can talk so fast that it stops sounding like words !

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toCherylclaire

😅Not helpful.

My last appointment with GProfessor went into 30 mins . Her not me. She didn't know what to do for me. Receptionist rang (rude) saying was there a problem as patients complaining. I often book a double appointment as try not to go too often now. Lights so bright in there.

On leaving got many a filthy look.

Will look uo rda for ferritin. I've read on here every other day a good thing to do taking iron.

List is rather long lol

Hey ho

waveylines profile image
waveylines

25ug of vitamin D is the equivalent of 100iu of vit D. Thats far too low a dose to make any difference am afraid. Have a look at the Vitamin D Council website. You will need a much higher dose short term to increase. More like 3000iu then retest after three months. Best to buy the capsules in oil as that helps with uptake.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply towaveylines

Thankyou.

25ug =1000 iu as a maintenence after

loading doses of 20,000iu.

So will perhaps have to do a loading dose again.

I have been as low as 21 in the past so do watch it.

Also have sat in the sun. Obviously not fot long enough!!

waveylines profile image
waveylines

I used a converter calculator. That said 25ug =100iu. Mind you the explanation by the side seems to indicate it should have stated 1000.... so.... Link below:-

nafwa.org/vitamind.php

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply towaveylines

It just stated the conversion on the bottle

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply towaveylines

That calculator made it 1000iu

Never mind.

Thanks for showing the interest

waveylines profile image
waveylines

Sorry Nackapan.....lol. Am picking up my new specs tomorrow......clearly much needed!!

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply towaveylines

😊

MissKota profile image
MissKota

My GP says it’s pointless retesting B12 once you start the injections as you’ll get an artificially high reading due to what has been put in to you. So they will just continue with the injections.

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