I'm exhausted, have constant headaches, tinnitus, aching legs, poor balance, amongst other things. Saw the GP who was unimpressed about having private blood tests, but eventually agreed (despite his initial suggestion that "a multivitamin would do the trick") to do further tests, and that if these showed decreased B12 they would consider injections.
Had an NHS blood draw on 16th August. These are the results:
Nucleated red blood cell count 0 10*9/L (range 0.00-0.20 10*9/L)
Spoke to GP today who said my results were ok and so no B12 injections, and again said about taking a multivitamin. I pushed back a bit and he's prescribed:
Ferrous Sulfate 200mg (one twice a day)
Cyanocobalamin 50mcg (one a day)
Folic Acid 5mg (one a day)
To be honest I don't know what a lot of this means, and I don't really understand how my B12 (for instance) can be below range in the first test and fine in the second just a few days later.
Any advice gratefully received!
Written by
PurpleThyroid
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Active B12 is more accurate test than serum blood test and is BELOW range
Folate very low or BELOW range depending which test you look at
Folic acid supplements should not be started until B12 supplements/B12 injections started first
Ferritin extremely low.
Eating liver or liver pate once a week, plus other iron rich foods like black pudding, prawns, spinach, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily vitamin C supplements with each ferrous fumerate can help improve iron absorption
Thanks SlowDragon! I got so cross with the GP earlier!
I've posted on PAS as you suggest.
I'm a strict veggie so no meat or fish but will try to up the iron rich foods otherwise. I do eat a varied diet and lots of leafy greens like spinach etc. Am concerned about absorption, and did query this with the GP - who now clearly thinks I am a hypochondriac...
Spinach stops you from absorbing iron because of the oxalic acid in it. You'd get more iron from cashew nuts and lentils or cooking food in a iron pan.
One other questions: should these supplements that I've been prescribed be taken with food or on an empty stomach? And how far away from thyroid meds should I take them? I take my levo first thing in the morning, around 6:30am.
Have previously taken via D supplements but not lately. Will start these again.
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