Low folate?

[haggisplant]

Hello,

I have been having issues with burning and tingling hands and feet on and off for a year. Also some peripheral neuropathy. My son is nearly 2 and I’m still breastfeeding. I had looked into it being hormonal as I’m 43. Was tested for diabetes, all fine. I have hypothyroidism and we reduced it but all it did was give me hypo symptoms (obviously!)

B12 was good but I don’t think they tested folate.

A couple of posts on a perimenopause group mentioned low folate which appears to also be an issue for lactation too. However I’m taking folic in acid in a supplement.

Is it possible that low folate but good b12 can have similar symptoms? I have some higher dose folate I could try rather than the folic acid.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

The symptoms of folate deficienct and B12 deficiency have a huge overlap. The main difference tends to be that folate deficiency comes on quite suddenly whereas B12 deficiency is much slower to develop - years or even decades.

If supplementing folate don't overdo it - does of 1000mcg a day can cause problems

[haggisplant in reply to Gambit62]

When I think about it I must get enough in my diet. So I’m not sure. The vitamin I take has twice the rda (400) plus I eat a lot of brown bread and seeds etc. I could up my intake of oranges, I often have spinach and dark green salad though.

[haggisplant in reply to haggisplant]

Thanks for the tip on the high dose as thats what I’ve got. I think I took half though, and only occasionally, when trying to conceive.

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

There are many potential causes of neuropathic symptoms. Have you been referred to a neurologist?

Although your B12 level in one of your previous posts was within normal range, it is possible to have severe b12 deficiency with an in range B12 result.

I had severe symptoms with most of my B12 results 300 - 500 ng/L, well within normal range.

Have you asked your surgery if they will do a folate test, full blood count and maybe an Active B12 test , MMA and homocysteine tests when restrictions are lifted?

I wrote a very detailed reply on another forum thread with links to symptoms lists, causes of b12 deficiency, info about PA tests, B12 books, B12 websites, UK B12 documents and other B12 info which you might find helpful.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

I am not medically trained.

[haggisplant in reply to Sleepybunny]

Massive apologies! They did test folate as I’ve just checked. That was in October.

Folate 12.6 (3.9 - 26.8)

B12. 385 pmol/L (145 - 569)

[fbirder in reply to haggisplant]

As Sleepybunny says, there are lots of possible causes.

Your B12 looks good and your folate is fine.

I would definitely ask for a referral to a neurologist.

[haggisplant in reply to Sleepybunny]

Full blood count was fine, ferritin 65 in October but I’ve been watching my diet iron wise and some spatone to get a little higher.

[Sleepybunny in reply to haggisplant]

Hi.

"Full blood count was fine"

Did you see the actual results for FBC or were you just told it was fine/normal?

Best advice I ever got was to always get copies of blood test results.

There can be useful clues on FBC results as to whether B12, iron or folate deficiency are possibilities.

Link about "What to do next" if B12 deficiency suspected

b12deficiency.info/what-to-...

Blood tests

b12deficiency.info/b12-test...

Macrocytosis

patient.info/doctor/macrocy...

Full Blood Count and Blood Film

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

patient.info/doctor/periphe...

Folate Deficiency

patient.info/doctor/folate-...

Iron Studies

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

[haggisplant in reply to Sleepybunny]

Thank you fo your links;I’ll look tomorrow. Yes I have the results but have to faff on logging in etc! They’re always fine. Almost All burning and tingling has calmed today. I think I’m

Close to my period so I am wondering if it’s more to do with that.

Fluctuating hormones has impacted thyroid and then swung back and forth a bit so it’s hard to guess what’s what.

[haggisplant]

Thank you. I’m currently tracking periods to see if any noticeable correlation too. I’m going to see if some extra magnesium and b6 and taurine (for peri menopause issues) makes any difference over the next couple of months and then go back to Gp.