Folic acid deficiency with high hemoglobin

[widgetcook]

hi everyone,

So been back and forth the doctors for as long as I can remember with a long list of symptoms!

Fatigue, pins & needles, burning in hands and feet, headaches, low mood, shortness of breath, stomach issues, light headedness.

Latest blood tests showed a folate deficiency (2.8 Range is 3-20)

But I don’t have anemia as my hemoglobin was high (160 range is 120-150)

MCH was slightly high (33.1 range is 27-32)

everything else was in normal range including b12.

This doesn’t make sense to me as my symptoms suggest anemia but bloods disagree. any idea why my hemoglobin could be high with folate deficiency?

Any advice gratefully received

[Baggy8]

Not saying this is your issue, but hereditary haemachromatosis is prevalent in my family (Irish heritage), but I still have B12 deficiency 😏

[FlipperTD]

Scientist, not medic.

Your Hb is only slightly elevated, and if you were male it'd be 'normal' as the ranges are different.

[One good way of getting a slightly raised Hb is with dehydration. There are others.]

Your folate is only slightly depressed. If it's been low for a while that could be associated with a raised MCH, but I'd expect to see a raised MCV too [depending on what analyser was used...]

I think the important thing to take from this is Dads Army's Lance Corporal Joe Jones's advice 'Don't panic!', make sure you've got enough folate in your diet, and await a repeat in due course.

[widgetcook in reply to FlipperTD]

thank you

[Amber11]

What was your B12 & Vitamin D levels? don't rely on GP saying normal you need the numbers to move forward with your health.