B12 and ferratin test

[cags74]

Hi folk I'm a newbie on here and love all the advice !

I have been underactive for approx 16years and have felt terrible for the last few years in fact can't remember what Normal feels like tbh . Anyway was at docs again yday and they are very vague as you all know with information , however she is testing my b12 and ferratin , can anyone advise as to what these are in simple terms pls !

Many thanks all x

[Marz]

healthunlocked.com/search/b...

Happy reading ! Don't forget to ask for your results with ranges afterwards.... Don't forget the VitD test too....

[cags74]

Thanks Marz so assuming from your reply this is good news for me ??

[Marz in reply to cags74]

Have only just noticed your reply when going through things ! If you want me to see your reply then click onto Reply under the post and a box will appear - just as I have done. Having b12 and Ferritin tested is simply BASIC and should be done for everyone....

[cags74 in reply to Marz]

Thank you x

[shaws Administrator]

Hi cags75

Welcome to our forum. I noticed you haven't completed your Profile which makes it easier for you in that you may not be asked repeat questions and also gives us an insight into your thyroid gland history. Many haven't but Clutter's is a very good example:

healthunlocked.com/clutter

Do you have a print-out/copy of your recent blood test results? If not, ask the surgery for one, with the ranges, and post on a new question. If you've not had one please ask for a Full Thyroid Function test, TSH, T4, T3, Free T4, and free T3. You may not get them all but it would be good to have the Free T3 as it is the active hormone which all of the receptor cells has to have sufficient. Sometimes we don't either have sufficient T4 or cannot convert sufficiently to T3.

B12, if too low it can cause many neurological problems and pain. It is one of the most important vitamins as is Vitamin D. Both should be towards the top of the range and are more hormonal than vitamins. We are usually deficient in many vitamins/minerals.

This is an explanation of ferritin.

medicinenet.com/ferritin_bl...

We have to read and learn to get better. After 16 years on levo you should really have sufficient for you to lead a normal life. Many don't due to GPs giving insufficient meds as they believe its o.k. to keep the TSH in the normal range but most of us feel better with a very low TSH.

When you have a blood test for your thyroid hormones, do not take levo before it, take it afterwards and have appointment as early as possible. Always, from now on, get a copy of blood tests for your own records and so that you can post if you have a query.

[cags74 in reply to shaws]

Many thanks for the very informative response !

I will take time to update my profile !

My gp called in Friday and advised me my iron levels were very low so I have been out on ferrous fumate . Hoping this wiki make a difference !

Is low iron what is called b12 ?

Many thanks

C x

[shaws Administrator in reply to cags74]

No iron is different to B12. Iron is an essential mineral. Vitamin B12 is more of a hormone than a vitamin.

nhs.uk/Conditions/vitamins-...

This all the B vits

nhs.uk/Conditions/vitamins-...

[cags74 in reply to shaws]

Ah I see ! Thanks again x

[cags74 in reply to shaws]

Thank you x

[mum_of_two]

They are testing you for Anaemia. There are a couple of types. I am Anaemic, have been for years now, however what the doctors didn't test was Ferritin, rather than just a blood count - that is where the iron store is. Mine is due to a low ferritin store as immunology did the ferritin test for me. Hope you are all fixed up soon.

[cags74 in reply to mum_of_two]

Many thanks x