Following on from the very useful help and advice I received on my previous posts, I have some blood results back and am hoping for some advice this time.
My B12 came back in the normal range but low and my ferritin came back only just scraping into the normal range (results attached).
They are refusing any more than 3 monthly
B12 as this falls outside guidelines and they have given me more iron tablets which I have already told them I can’t tolerate but because my Hb is normal, they won’t consider iron infusion. If you remember I have had a gastric bypass and my absorption isn’t good. Vitamin D came back in the normal range though still isn’t great.
It looks like I’m going to have to self administer B12 so if I could get some advice about where to buy some I’d be really grateful. I’m happy to do either IM or subcut.
Many thanks
Written by
Peril1504
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Suggest you post on the pernicious anaemia forum here on HealthUnlocked for advice with where to purchase B12. They can also advise about getting more frequent injections from your GP.
Many people cannot tolerate the iron the GP prescribes. This product has worked and is tolerated by many members:
I’m still waiting the results from my private tests and will post here when I get them. I feel like I’m doing a jigsaw puzzle trying to get all the bits to fit together to get my thyroid meds working efficiently.
With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement and a week later add a separate vitamin B Complex
Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.
If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week
Igennus B complex popular option too. Nice small tablets. Most people only find they need one per day. But a few people find it’s not high enough dose
IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results
In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12
Post discussing how biotin can affect test results
Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency.
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing. It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron
Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week plus other red meat, pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
We have received further information the lab about ferritin reference ranges. They confirm that they are sex dependent up to the age of 60, then beyond the age of 60 the reference range is the same for both sexes:
Males 16-60: 30-400 ug/L
Female's: 16-60: 30-150
Both >60: 30-650
The lower limit of 30 ug/L is in accordance with the updated NICE guidance and the upper limits are in accordance with guidance from the Association of Clinical Biochemists. ‘
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