Hi I was diagnosed with low folate in August and prescribed folic acid for 3 months. The last few weeks i have been struggling with cold symptoms on and off and its really starting to drain me. I feel tired all the time, breathless and it just feels as if my immune system is really struggling.
Please tell me it gets better soon 😟
hi Lucy. I’ve had exactly the same symptoms and have done so many Covid tests my nose hurts. Other people I’ve spoken to are the same so in my case I think it’s allergy related. Have you tried taking antihistamine to see if that helps.
Hi,
I've assumed you're in UK.
Just wondered if your serum (total) b12 was tested as same time as folate and if it was do you have the results?
It's vital that a person with B12 deficiency and folate deficiency has both treated.
Treatment for B12 deficiency would be started first.
Treating folate deficiency without treating a co-existing B12 deficiency may lead to neurological problems.
I'm not medically trained, just someone who struggled for years from unrecognised and untreated B12 deficiency.
BNF folic acid
bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/folic...
To complicate matters, I can tell you from personal experience that it's possible to have severe B12 deficiency symptoms with serum B12 levels within normal range.
Do you also have results for ferritin (and any other iron tests) and Vitamin D?
Full Blood Count results also useful.
Forum members often report folate, iron , Vit D deficiencies as well as B12.
"feel tired all the time, breathless" are symptoms that can be associated with B12 deficiency
Symptoms of B12 Deficiency (folate deficiency also mentioned)
pernicious-anaemia-society....
b12deficiency.info/signs-an...
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...
b12-institute.nl/en/symptom... (from B12 Institute Netherlands)
PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society)
Based in Wales, UK.
pernicious-anaemia-society....
There is a helpline number that PAS members can ring.
PAS membership is separate to membership of this forum.
Link about "What to do next" if B12 deficiency suspected
b12deficiency.info/what-to-...
Letters to GPs about B12 deficiency
b12deficiency.info/b12-writ...
Point 5 in above link is about being symptomatic for B12 deficiency with an in range serum B12 result.
"Your serum B12 is NORMAL – no action required"
Blog post about being symptomatic for B12 deficiency with a normal range serum b12 result.
b12deficiency.info/your-ser...
UK B12 documents
BSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines (aimed at health professionals)
b-s-h.org.uk/guidelines/gui...
BNF Hydroxocobalamin
bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/hydrox...
NICE CKS B12 deficiency and Folate deficiency
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...
There are currently new NICE guidelines in development for Pernicious Anaemia and B12 deficiency. These should be published in 2023.
nice.org.uk/guidance/indeve...
If you click on "project documents" then on "consultation comments and responses" it gives a good insight into current issues around diagnosis and treatment (over 40 pages).
Try to track down the local B12 deficiency guidelines for your ICB (Integrated Care Board) or Health Board. If you can't find them, try submitting a FOI (Freedom of Information) request to ICB/Health Board website asking for a link to or copy of local B12 deficiency guidelines.
Read blog post below if you want to know why I urge UK forum members to track down their local B12 deficiency guidelines.
b12deficiency.info/gloucest...
Two useful B12 books
(Folate deficiency is also mentioned)
"What You Need to Know About Pernicious Anaemia and B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper
Martyn Hooper started PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society).
UK BNF treatment info in book is out of date. See BNF hydroxocobalamin link in this reply.
"Could it Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses" by Sally Pacholok and JJ. Stuart (US authors)
Very comprehensive with lots of case studies.
Films about PA and B12 deficiency
PAS conferences
pernicious-anaemia-society....
Films about B12 deficiency
B12 article from Mayo Clinic in US
The Many Faces of Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) Deficiency
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
Table 1 in above article is about frequent misconceptions (wrong ideas) about B12 deficiency that health professionals may have.
I've written some other very detailed replies on this forum. If you want more info, just let me know and I'll post links to some of my other detailed replies.
I hope you find answers and get the help you need.
Folate deficiency
Folate deficiency
Feelong totally alone with Folate deficiency 
Folate deficiency 
Folate deficient 
