Anyone with low folate

[Andypandy30]

I want to take my weekly b12 injection and am afraid now to take one as I am afraid my folate will drop further .it is at 5 I have alot if anxiety and poor appetite after an infection and two courses of antibiotics

[clivealive Forum Support]

It is true that folate, iron work together with B12 to make red blood cells so the three should be in balance. Do you eat plenty of greens in your daily diet? Failing that buy some 400mcg folic acid over the counter from your pharmacy.

I am not a medically trained person but have had P.A. for over fifty years and have supplemented folic acid at that strength every day for more years than I can remember.

I wish you well Andypandy30

[wedgewood]

After 2 courses of antibiotics , you need some probiotics to restore your stomach flora . That means either capsules , Symprove , a water based liquid probiotic, or a food which provides probiotics like natural yoghurt, kimchi , or my favourite now , HOME MADE TRADITIONAL KEFIR,which has more diverse probiotic bacteria and in greater quantities than than shop bought . ( “Chuckling Goat” does deliver traditional kefir by courier but it’s not sold in shops because it’s too difficult to store ) This could start you on your way to better health .

But as Clivealive says , do take a daily modest folic acid tablet , and continue injecting B12 . Best wishes Andypandy30

[Sailinglady]

I recently started reading Dr Chandy's book. He says he didn't supplement folate, but used to find folate levels increased naturally when patients started injecting B12. Not sure if that helps you, but i would go ahead and inject.

[KYGenealogygrl in reply to Sailinglady]

My folate DROPPED when I started b12, b12 went from 176 to 500, folate is now 4.6 from 6.4. I think b12 uses folate up and that is why mine is dropping. I think folate has to be up before b12 is added in or else take at same time.

[Bellabab in reply to KYGenealogygrl]

I agree. I take 5mg folic acid EOD and inject EOD.

[Jo5454]

Andypandy30, sorry you’re having a difficult time. I think it takes time for all these levels to get into sync and it’s an ongoing thing to keep an eye on. I found as Sailinglady suggests, my folate eventually went up when on b12 injections, from 6ish up to 20 and at one stage overange.

I’ve recently just made a kind of table with separate vitamins/thyroid/tsh/etc charted across top and years down the side, so I can try to see some sort of pattern from blood results!

I know we’re all different and it depends when we do tests as to what snapshot in time we catch, but I can see when b12 was getting v.high-5079, folate down to 6, but missing link was iron stores at 26. Without the iron it seems as if b12 was stacking up and folate on lower side?

A while later by adding in iron, ferritin had risen to 63, b12 down to 1083 and folate had risen to 20!

I’d follow the above good advice, try probiotics of some form to support your gut health, try a standard folic supplement, keep on with the b12(I find nausea & loss of appetite links to both lack of b12 &folate too) you need that I’d think after infections & antibiotics and check ferritin and iron panel if you’ve now had a reasonable gap from taking.antibiotics

Feel for you with the anxiety, keep trying to remember it’s all these deficiencies likely making you feel this way. Have you ever tried EFT, I use an app online and find it very helpful in calming the system. First time I tried, couldn’t stop yawning, which found out afterwards is energy shifting-you don’t have to believe in it for it to work and help. Can give u name of app I use, but not sure if I can write it on here..,keep on with what you’re doing & take care.

[Oneash]

Vitamin B12 and folate work together in the body. I'd see it as a positive, that things are functioning. Your body has a lot of mending to do at a cellular level, so be kind to yourself and relax. Get eggs and liver paté as well as as many different, preferably organic greens as possible, and nuts in your diet, for extra folate. As others have said get your good bacteria boosted.

Are you getting out in the sunshine for your vitamin D?

Anxiety is a big part of the brain mending process. Try and just observe your thoughts. I found my memory started making connections it should have done at the time, over past relationships. Gone down a few rabbit holes, coming out just not knowing what's true and what's imagination. It's been very upsetting at times. You have to take a big step back and just acknowledge it's part of the illness and the reversing out 🎢 . I wish I'd gone for some professional counselling. I've tried talking to friends , they don't get it, and then some things I said have gone and been gossiped. So take care.

Do have your injection.

Big hugs