Results back - all normal??

[Cokey]

I've just had results of a blood test back, and apparently all is 'normal'! I'm not so sure, but have no points of reference so any advice would be gratefuly received...

Serum ferritin level 83ng/ml

Serum folate level 9.4ng/ml

Serum vitamin B12 level 218 ng/L

Serum creatine level 74 umol/L

Serum alkaline phosphatase level 65 iu/L

Serum total protein level 84g/L Above high reference limit

Serum albumin 45g/L

Serum globulin level 39g/L above high reference limit

Serum calcium 2.4mmol/L

Serum adjusted calcium concentration 2.36mmol/L

Serum inorganic phosphate level 1.16mmol/L

GFR calculated abbreviated MDRD 7.6 mL/min/1.73m*2

Serum free T4 level 13.5 pmol/L

thyroid peroxidase antibody level <5 iu/ml (<34 U/ml = negative)

Serum TSH level 1.62 min/L

serum 25 Hydroxy vitamin D3 level 32.7 nome/L (25-50 insufficient)

So, I've been told all are normal, except D3, for which I should take vitamin tablets..!

Anybody got any ideas whether the docs are right?

TIA!

[greygoose]

Difficult to say without the ranges. But that B12 looks dangerously low!

[Cokey in reply to greygoose]

Thanks grey goose. I wasn't given normal ranges on the print out - I'll google and see if I can find them! If B12 is low, what is recommended? An oral supplement?

[greygoose in reply to Cokey]

Don't think you will. If ranges were standard, we'd all know what they are. But - especially FT4 - changes from lab to lab. Its just that it doesn't matter what the range is for B12, that is low!

I would suggest about 7000 methylcobalam sublingual daily. I suppose your doctor didn't test for Pernicious Animia? He just thought, oh well, in range, must be good. Idiot. And take a B complex with it, to keep the Bs balanced, and bring up that folate, which also looks a bit low.

I do wish they wouldn't do that, give you a print-out without the ranges. I'm sure it's a power thing, they Don't want you to know! Without the ranges, you can't question their opinion of 'normal'.

[Cokey]

Thanks so much for your advice. I've googled and you're right - no standard results.. 😢.

I actually got the tests done thanks to the lovely nurse practitioner at my practice, who seemed to take me seriously (as opposed to the doctors, the last of which wanted to prescribe anti-depressants..), and I'm sure she'll tell the the normal ranges, but the print out is completely useless without them! She didn't test for anaemia - to be honest I didn't ask for it - but surely my ferritin levels would be low if that were the case?

I'm a little worried though as it seems that a symptom of low B12 is weight loss.. I'd be thrilled if that was a symptom I was experiencing! I'm the opposite and can't shift the extra stone that I'm carrying.. I'm not going to stack MORE weight on if I start supplementing, am I?

[Clutter in reply to Cokey]

Cokey, pernicious anaemia is not the same as iron anaemia. PA is an autoimmune disease which attacks your stomach cells and prevents you absorbing B12 from food.

[Cokey in reply to Clutter]

Oh, ok 😊. Everyday is a school day! I'll talk to the nurse when I see her next week to talk through results. Thanks for the info!

[Cokey]

Thanks reallyfedup - your user name could so easily be mine!

I've got an appointment with the nurse practitioner again next week, so I'll get her input on these results. For now, I'll get some B12 and and B complex and start supplementing!

[greygoose in reply to Cokey]

Actually, with a level that low, you might want to ask her to test for PA. And if you start supplementing before the test you'll skew the result. If it is PA, you'lll get B12 injections on the NHS, so Worth testing for.