Low Red Blood Count

[misschris]

Hi All,

Hope someone can help with my question.

I have had further tests done for low red blood count and my ferritin levels were tested, they have come back fine.

What I want to know is, if I have low folate and b12 levels can that cause anemia even if ferritin is good?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

misschris This might help nhs.uk/conditions/Anaemia-v...

[misschris in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi SeasideSusie

I was reading that link earlier and am just hopping that I can have anemia due to low b12 and folate. The doc has told me that am very unwell and has refered me as an emergency to a haematologist to do further tests to rule out cancer.

[humanbean]

This link is helpful :

irondisorders.org/Websites/...

Note in the table at the bottom that if someone has iron deficiency that their ferritin would be low. If someone has B12 deficiency then ferritin would be high.

Put both kinds of anaemia in the same body and your ferritin could look perfectly normal. If people have more than one kind of anaemia then more information is essential to work things out.

Just a ferritin level isn't enough to identify iron deficiency when other conditions are present. A full iron panel would be helpful. If your doctor won't play ball you could order a finger-prick test for yourself - it's on special offer at medichecks just now :

medichecks.com/iron-tests/i...

[misschris in reply to humanbean]

Hi humanbean

I know I have low b12 and folate and have for a while, doc told me to buy folate but nothing for the b12 because it was in range.

I had bloods done last week which showed I had low red blood cells so doc sent me for more tests, for ferritin, liver, kidneys and all come back fine, so he is unsure the reason why I am anemia.

He was concerned about my symptoms low red cells, weight loss, generalised aches and pains and night sweats and has referred me as an emergency to a haematologist as he told me that I am very unwell and needs to investigate the cause of anemia as he thinks due to symptoms that we he is ruling out cancer.

I spoke to the receptionist about getting copies of my tests and I have to write to the doctor and request the tests and if I want to go back a few years and explain who is requesting them and the reason why I want them and if there will be a fee. So godam Long winded.

I looked at the link and sorry it just confused me but then am not thinking straight at the min.

[Silver_Fairy]

What was your B12 result?

[misschris in reply to Silver_Fairy]

My last results which was approx 12 months ago was 316, sorry I don't have the ranges but my gp charges £10 for print out.

[Gambit62]

there are different types of anaemia - iron based anaemia tends to mean microcytosis - smaller cells. It can also cause lower numbers of red blood cells

B12 and folate deficiency cause a different form of anaemia - macrocytosis - in which the blood cells are larger and rounder. So, with the same amount of haemoglobin you would end up with a lower number of red blood cells.

Unfortunately B12 deficiency is quite difficult to diagnose and really involves looking at a lot of indicators - not just test and range. At 316 a lot of people would actually be okay but there are also significant numbers of people who aren't so other indicators are important.

I am assuming you are in the UK - £10 as an admin charge for printing out a blood test sounds as if it is punitive rather than administrative which would be contrary to the provisions that allow patients to access their own medical records. Assuming your GP is NHS I would be inclined to raise the level of charges with your local patient liaison group.

[misschris in reply to Gambit62]

Hi Gambit62

Thank you for replying to my post. I am just looking to see if there could be other causes of anemia other low iron or cancer. My doc seems to think with my symptoms that it could be cancer as my iron levels came back fine.

He has refered me to a haematologist as an emergency, so am pretty sure they will do all the necessary tests to find out what's going on. I think I am just clinging onto some hope that low b12 and folate can be another cause of anemia rather than cancer.

I am in the UK and it's a disgrace that my surgery charge £10 for printout of test results. I will find my local patient liaison group as so many have said that it's wrong to be charged.

[Gambit62 in reply to misschris]

an admin charge is fine and allowed in the legislation but £10 does seem to be punitive rather than admin.