Hi, what do you think of these results?

[SunnyK]

B12 - 1370 pg/ml (187 - 883)

Iron studies

Serum iron level 20.7 umol/l (4.4 - 27.9)

Serum transferring level 2.27 g/l (2.0 -3.2)

Trasferrin saturation index 36%

Serum ferritin level 22 ng/ml (20.0 - 204)

Thyroid is still 2.51 m/l

Serum Folate level 3.5ng/ml (3.1 -20.5)

A bit of history.

My b12 was 300 or below in december so I had 4 b12 injections privatley my last one was beginning of March. My folate was 2.1 so I've been taking 5mg per week since feb. My ferritin was 45 ng/ml in January now it's 22 ng/ml.

My private doctor is calling me tomorrow but nhs doctor doesn't want a follow up.

I don't feel right but not getting anywhere. Any info or knowledge will be much appreciated before my appointment.

S x

[greygoose]

5 mg folic acid once a week isn't very much. Did you not get your folate retested? It might have been better if you'd got a B complex, containing at least 400 mcg methylfolate, and taken that daily whilst on the B12 injections. The Bs all work together and need to be kept balanced.

Sorry, I don't know anything about iron.

[SunnyK in reply to greygoose]

Yes my folate is now 3.5. So not much higher but now I'm within range there is no further action.

Thanks for your reply.

[Greenwall in reply to SunnyK]

Hi SunyK. Just looking at your ferritin range of 20-204, puts your result at way too low, even if it is in "range". To up your iron, you need to avoid having anything with calcium in it at the same time, and you need a mix of animal food (eg meat, eggs, etc) at same time as greens as animal food helps you absorb iron from plants. Plus it needs to be taken with vit C. By following these diet rules I've doubled my iron over the last year (from 28 up to 65 ug/L). GP said ferritin has to be above 30 to be symptom free.

Hope this helps.

[SunnyK in reply to Greenwall]

Thank you

Yes I've been doing this and really didn't expect it to come back lower than before.

I've found out I'm allergic to dairy and so have been dairy free for 2 months or more.

Maybe I need to exclude calcium for longer and be more conscience of this.

Good info!

S x

[greygoose in reply to SunnyK]

Then buy your own folate. You cannot continue with a folate of 3.5. It's too low.

[SunnyK in reply to greygoose]

Yes I will look at this now but you tend to think having the folic acid is what is needed. Along with b12 injections. Then your results show a different story.

S

[greygoose in reply to SunnyK]

Well you do need folic acid - or rather methyl folate - but you need the right dose. It should be 5 mg every day, not once a week. But, it's better still to have a B complex to keep the Bs balanced. Just taking one or two on their own, is not good.

[SunnyK in reply to greygoose]

Ok thank you for your help

[greygoose in reply to SunnyK]

You're welcome.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Many hypo patients struggle to use folic acid

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

A good quality vitamin B complex with folate in, not folic acid, taken DAILY, may be more effective

Eg Igennus Super B complex or Jarrow B right or Thornes

If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before any blood tests, as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

Eating liver or liver pate once a week should help improve ferritin

[SunnyK in reply to SlowDragon]

Thank you Slow Dragon.

I haven't had any supplements other than folic acid. Which as you've now pointed out has done nothing for me.

However, I don't think I'll ever be taken seriously about my thyroid even though I think it has a massive part to play in the way I feel.

Thanks for the reading.

S x