I'd appreciate blood result advice please?

[Bunny12345678]

I've finally received my gp blood results and my B12 has returned as 376 (197-771)

Folate 3.4 (2.0-18.7)

Ferritin 65.7 (20.0-130.0)

I've been unwell since December with multiple symptoms, shortness of breath, palpitations, fatigue, feeling really ill, tinnitus etc to name a few. I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts on these latest results please?

[fbirder]

Have you had your thyroid checked?

[Bunny12345678 in reply to fbirder]

yes, my TSH 1.6 (0.27-4.5)

FT3 3.80 (3.1-6.8)

FT4 12.1 (11.0-23.0)

I wasn't sure if these looked a little on the low end??? I've also posted these on the thyroid UK page too.

[Hidden in reply to Bunny12345678]

Your b12 is very good and if you are not taking supplements it doesn’t look like the cause of your symptoms. Looks like your thyroid is struggling though and I’d take advice on that

[Bunny12345678 in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou, i wondered this too. Thankyou for your reply

[nikaoo]

Have you taken any B12 or had any injections so far? I just got back my labs today and my B12 was normal (actually really high). I’m almost certain it’s because I had an injection a week or so before, did not know that would affect the test so much and not I’m frustrated because I don’t know how to actually determine my stores! I’m having a lot of the same symptoms for the last few months

[Bunny12345678 in reply to nikaoo]

No I've not had any medication other than vit d

[flosslechops]

your results are almost identical to mine two years ago -I also had a lot of symptoms-I took a 6000 mcg b12 tablet,a 1000 mcg folate and ate liver and onions three times a week for three months and then had another blood test-folate had gone up to eleven point something but b12 had only gone up by 48 points-nurse said it should have gone up well over a 1000 ,possibly 2000 with such a high dose,told me I obviously didn't absorb b12 and offered me the loading doses

[Bunny12345678 in reply to flosslechops]

Really?? How did you get diagnosed with b12 deficiency in the end?

[flosslechops in reply to Bunny12345678]

that was as much as I got,the nurse told me,I did ask my gp about further testing and she told me tests weren't up to much anyway- I'd found this forum by then and had decided that 3 monthly jabs were going to be next to useless as symptoms came back after a week so I followed advice on here and self inject-much more convenient than going to surgery anyway in my opinion

[flosslechops in reply to flosslechops]

forgot to say I did ask gp to put it on my record that I don't absorb b12 but whether or not she did I have no idea!

[Bunny12345678 in reply to flosslechops]

Did you do any specialist tests at all? I don't blame you for trying to treat yourself, you get to the point that you'll try anything

[flosslechops in reply to Bunny12345678]

no, gp and nurse didn't seem interested in taking it further,I was grateful for loading doses-that got me started,i'd no interest in fighting for it,self injecting suits me,I've not told surgery either,I just thought that the tablet taking test is more reliable than blood tests as my b12 level was considered 'normal' too and you might be interested in doing that yourself as getting through the system takes months anyway unless you don't want to affect any blood tests if you know what I mean!!!

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

From personal experience it is possible to have severe B12 deficiency symptoms with an in range serum b12 result...it is also very hard to persuade GPs to consider treating.

I had multiple typical symptoms of b12 deficiency with B12 results between 300 - 500 ng/L.

It is also possible to have symptoms of folate deficiency with an in range folate result.

Link about letters to GP if symptomatic for B12 deficiency with an in range b12 result.

b12deficiency.info/b12-writ...

BMJ B12 article

bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g5226

Emphasises need to treat patients who are symptomatic even if their B12 level is within range.

I wrote very detailed replies on another forum thread with more B12 info eg more on symptoms, and causes of B12 deficiency, tests for PA, list of B12 websites, more UK B12 documents, letters to GP about B12 deficiency and other B12 info including hints on dealing with unhelpful GPs, which you might find helpful.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

If you're in UK, be aware that the pandemic is impacting patients' B12 treatment.

I left a detailed reply about impact of pandemic on B12 treatment in UK in next link.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po.....

I am not medically trained.