Hi all, I’m so glad I’ve found this forum and I’m really hopeful that you’ll be able to help me. For info I’m a 32 year old female, 8 months postpartum with my second baby and have generally always been fit and healthy. Since having baby number 2 I’ve struggled with being really tired and shaky, feeling weak, losing lots of hair, dry skin, some stomach aches and variable bowel movements and just generally been quite anxious and struggling to sleep. On the recommendation of a friend I contacted the doctor to ask about a thyroid check. I had bloods taken with the following results:
Ferritin: 22 (15-200)
B12: 175 (200-883)
Folate: 4.4 (3.1-20)
TSH:0.87 (0.35-5)
Free T4: 12.1 (9.0 - 21.0)
From these a receptionist from the doctors called me to tell me I’m low on b12 and prescribed ferrous fumarate 3 times a day. I then had further bloods taken the following week which I don’t have results for as still to collect them but when I called they told me the doctor said no further action.
I’m still feeling pretty awful, I have a kind of electric feeling in my hands and feet particularly at night time, I’m still feeling weak and almost like I’m struggling to string words together, particularly as the day goes on. I’ve called back to request further bloods as my grandfather had pernicious anaemia and chrones and I have 2 cousins with coeliac disease all on the same side of the family. They can’t book me in for another 2 weeks so it’s still a waiting game.
From reading on here I’m not sure if my thyroid results suggest anything else going on so I hope someone with expertise can advise although I think I’ll need further tests done first, is that right? Is it right that I should be feeling like this with these levels or is this just new parent life catching up on me?
Thanks so much for any help you’re able to give.
Written by
Scottishsally
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Thanks for your quick reply....so it was a locum doctor who I spoke to originally and then my own doctor who reviewed the results and prescribed the tablets but I haven’t actually spoken to him, it was just the receptionist who called me to tell me. It’s an absolute nightmare getting an appointment to speak to the doctor just now as there are only 2 in the practice and it’s still phone consultations only. The appointment that I have for further bloods is with the nurse so I guess the best plan would be to try speak to the doctor in advance of that to ask for full thyroid testing.
I haven’t been tested for pernicious anaemia yet, I didn’t actually know that my grandfather had it till I told my mum that I was low in b12.
I’m back to work as a teacher next month for a week before our summer holidays so want to get myself back to normal ASAP! Thanks so much for your help
Pretty healthy diet, I use MyFitnessPal to track as I’m working with a personal trainer but have been struggling to lose weight. Not vegetarian or vegan and I wasn’t taking anything at all before the tablets the doctor prescribed. Now I feel daft for taking them and not insisting on an appointment to discuss but I suppose it’s just natural to just do what the doctor tells you!!
Low vitamin levels frequently linked to low thyroid levels
Getting all four vitamins tested and supplement to optimal levels is first step
For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12
Low vitamin levels are extremely common, especially if you have autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's) diagnosed by raised Thyroid antibodies
Ask GP to test vitamin D levels and thyroid antibodies, if they haven’t tested already
Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .
This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)
Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins
If TPO or TG thyroid antibodies are high this is usually due to Hashimoto’s (commonly known in UK as autoimmune thyroid disease).
About 90% of all primary hypothyroidism in Uk is due to Hashimoto’s. Low vitamin levels are particularly common with Hashimoto’s. Gluten intolerance is often a hidden issue
Nope no injections or even mention of injections, just the tablets he gave me and then on further bloods the receptionist just said no further action required which is what sent me here to look for further advice!
I haven’t had vitamin D testing either so think I might get on of the Thriva packages and just get all of this tested at the one time for myself
Don't take any medication for B12 deficiency. You MUST have a check first of all to ensure you do not have Pernicious Anaemia. If this is undetected it can cause serious problems. It is called the 'intrinsic factor'.
i.e. intrinsic factor
" a substance secreted by the stomach which enables the body to absorb vitamin B12. It is a glycoprotein.
If we have Pernicious Anemia we HAVE to have regular B12 injections as our stomach cannot absorb it. There are serious consequences if not treated properly.
Thanks for this. I guess if my grandfather had it then that raises the chances of me having it? I’ll be on the phone to the doctor on Monday about testing.
My mother also had P.A. but unfortunately her GP stopped her injections as she said her 'blood tests were now fine". Both myself and my sister thought that as 'good'.
Neither my sister or I thought that doctors could make mistakes but this decision by the GP caused my mother's early demise due to her developing stomach cancer due to her jabs being withdrawn.
The more we talk about this the more I’m inclined to agree with you...I’ll be on the phone first thing on Monday morning to try and get an emergency appointment with the doctor.Thanks so much for your help
From these a receptionist from the doctors called me to tell me I’m low on b12 and prescribed ferrous fumarate 3 times a day.
This would be funny if it wasn't so appalling. The receptionist told you that you have low vitamin B12, then told you that you were being prescribed something for low iron. How is the average patient supposed to make sense of that?
I’m glad now that I’ve come here to ask as something seemed off about it and to be honest I really don’t feel any better yet at all. I’ll be on to them on Monday to push for some actual treatment!
The ferrous fumarate will help your low ferritin but do nothing for your low b12 so not surprising you still feel crap. Hoping gp doesn’t think pernicious anemia is fixed by ferrous fumarate for anemia. Xx good luck
In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.
Ferritin levels can be difficult to interpret if infection or inflammation is present, as levels can be high even in the presence of iron deficiency.
So, you are iron deficient by that criteria, with a ferritin level below 30 mcg/L.
One thing to be aware of is that ferritin can be anywhere in range but it doesn't tell you what level the serum iron is. Ferritin could be mid-range, for example, but serum iron could be below range, low in range, mid-range, high in range or over the range. Read this link describing why this is important :
Personally, as someone who (I think) has been low in iron for most of my life, and for most of my life has been untreated for it, I would never supplement iron without having a full iron panel. And I always test a couple of times a year. But once I know my results and I know they show low iron and/or ferritin I treat myself. But I will never supplement so much that any of my iron/ferritin-related results end up over-optimal.
Be aware that testing companies offer discounts from time to time, so register with any that interest you and they will email you with their special offers
B12: 175 (200-883) --- Below range
SeasideSusie has some info on getting B12 to an optimal level. You could read her replies to others on the subject on her profile :
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
What to do next + patience
VITAMIN RESULTS AND WHAT TO DO NEXT
Really in need of help. No idea what to do next.
Latest blood test, what to do next…
