I’m sure she’s right but I was told via text with no opportunity to reply or discuss so wondering if anyone here can shed any extra light.
I’m 8 months postpartum and still breastfeeding. I have a long term b12 issue for which I have injections every 8 weeks. Periodically my folate gets low, as it did about 4 months ago, but an over the counter breastfeeding multivitamin has sorted this out. However I still feel awful. Albeit I’m woken 4 times a night, sometimes for over an hour still, I am in bed next to my daughter from 7-7 so I still average around 7 hours a night just very broken. I don’t feel I should be suffering fatigue this badly. I’m also struggling to find my words, feeling dizzy, groggy, poor memory and mood swings.
For all these reasons I requested my blood be done again (I thought my supplement maybe hadn’t been enough to sort out the low folate. I’ll post the full panel below but only the MCHC came back high. From my own research it seems like it might be worth checking my thyroid levels but the GP isn’t interested and I don’t want to be pushy if it’s all in my head. I’d prefer that in a way - I’m too tired to pursue more tests etc unless there is an issue. But on the other hand I do feel awful and don’t want my daughter to suffer if I could be better for her.
Serum Folate
8.4
µg/L
+4.7 increase
in range
Absolute NRBC
0
10*9/L
no change
in range
Basophils
0
10*9/L
no change
in range
Eosinophils
0.1
10*9/L
+0.1 increase
in range
Haemoglobin
137 g/L
-2 decrease
in range
HCT
0.39
L/L
-0.02 decrease
in range
Lymphocytes
3
10*9/L
+1.2 increase
in range
MCH
30.7
pg
+1.4 increase
in range
MCHC
03 Jan
349
g/L
+13 increase
out of range
MCV
88
fl
+1 increase
in range
Monocytes
0.7
10*9/L
no change
in range
Neutrophils
3.6
10*9/L
-0.1 decrease
in range
Platelets
325
10*9/L
+7 increase
in range
RBC
4.5
10*12/L
-0.2 decrease
in range
RDW
13.2
%CV
-0.2 decrease
in range
White Cell Count
7.5
10*9/L
+1.2 increase
in range
Written by
Roo32
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You might want to read the info below over a few days.
Your folate result looks like it's in the lower half of the reference range.
Typical folate range would be about 3 - 20 ng/L.
Have you asked your GP if you would benefit from taking a daily folate tablet with RDA (Recommended Daily Amount) in it. Local pharmacist might also be worth talking to.
Do you have reference ranges for these results?
Have you got recent results for ferritin and other iron results?
Peripheral neuropathy can be associated with B12 deficiency and sometimes with folate deficiency.
I'm wondering if you are getting enough B12. Many UK forum members here find they need far more than NHS will give them.
During labour did you have gas and air mix?
Gas and air mix contains nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide inactivates B12 in the body.
When you were first diagnosed with B12 issues, how many loading injections did you have at start of treatment?
Recommended pattern of loading injections in UK for those with B12 deficiency with neuro symptoms is
a B12 loading injection every other day for as long as symptoms continue to improve (this could be weeks even months of them) then a maintenance injection every 2 months.
If your GP surgery only gave you 5 or 6 loading injections...that's the usual pattern for those who don't have neuro symptoms.
Search online for this document "NICE CKS Anaemia - B12 and folate deficiency" and look in Management section for recommended treatment patterns in UK.
Your ICB (Integrated Care Board) in England or Health Board in Wales/Scotland will probably have its own guideline on treating B12 deficiency. Try to find these if you have time.
Definitely worth asking to have your iron level checked if they haven't done that already? I was deficient in iron, folate & B12, have heard the 3 often go together
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Please can you advise me, should I take supplements?
Newish 3 mths on B12 still tingling and shattered. 
Help with writing to GP
Elevated B12 but no evident reason
New GP wants blood tests...
