I was recently diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia through the test after about two years of being diagnosed with B12 deficiency. I took the plunge and self inject fairly recently and that helps a lot.
In recent months my mental health has declined and I feel tired all the time. Chores like hoovering exhaust me - I need to lie down or crash on the sofa after that.
With the recent diagnosis of PA I had a FBC to check for iron deficiency. I have had that test before and I did not have iron deficiency. The GP has not gone through the results with me but when comparing to previous FBCs I suspect that iron levels are fine.
MCH and MCHC are elevated as have been over the past two years. I read up about that again today and read that this can be indicative of B12 and folate deficiency. A lightbulb moment happened - I have not considered folate deficiency at all.
Does the B12 injection cover that or should I be taking supplements for folate deficiency too and is oral folate effective? I have done quite a bit of research in to B12 - like many of you here - but I seem to have not considered folate at all. I wonder if I thought that folate and Iron were the same thing.
Apart from that, the blood test showed an elevated percentage lymphocyte and percentage monocyte. Should I be concerned about that?
Thanks in advance, I have had so much great support and advice from this group. You have been a real life changer.
Written by
Luac
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I don't know how to see what my folate level was, or indeed what part of the FBC tests for Iron deficiency. The only abnormal readings were: MCH 32.5; MCHC 366; %lymphocytes 46% and % monocytes 11%
Thanks, I get a copy automatically through patient access app. Ive posted my results here but im not sure which is the ferritin reading, ferritin doesnt appear on the list in my results.
I wouldn't worry about those values that are slightly out of range, especially if they are normally like that. The 'normal' ranges for most parameters are set so that 95% fall inside that range. So 5% of people will fall outside.
Your normal value for the MCV says you haven't got macrocytic anaemia which would show a folate deficiency. But that doesn't mean you don't have one.
A folate deficiency can be caused by a lack in the diet (not eating enough leafy green veg, pulses, liver, etc.). It can also be an effect of the lack of stomach acid which is normal for people with PA. That makes it hard to absorb folate from food (but not from pills).
It is recommended that all women of childbearing potential should supplement with 400 mcg of folic acid a day. I would extend that to anybody with a B12 deficiency that is being adequately treated. That would help keep your levels up and help you decide if your symptoms are caused by low folate.
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