GP says my routine bloods are normal. Really?

The problem is the GP is looking at the blood results and not listening to the patient. The patient is stating she has symptoms so if these blood markers are not the problem then what is the GP doing next to try and solve the issue.

Years ago I had a b12 level of 176 and felt awful. Reference range according to my GP was 180+ so they (somewhat reluctantly) treated it with injections despite being very skeptical that such a borderline result could cause the symptoms I was experiencing. Felt miles better within a couple of months.

Brain fog is a common long covid symptom

And I've just googled and it seems hail loss can be too

Does that fit your timelines? If so, can you get referred to a long covid clinic?

Sudda, op can BUY supplements it's time people started to take responsibility for their own health!

And yes to the hair loss @Plumtop11 . I was shedding masses and it was thin and limp.

I know that I keep ending up low , especially with peri symptoms where I am losing a lot of blood.

I have never tried online before but they were here within 24 hours https://www.mypharmacy.co.uk/product/ferrous-fumarate-tablets-84/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAqsitBhDlARIsAGMR1RjmBGn-oVp0Juf74JKOLGHK5KrQI5P_f7VyaKZfonDfEcxWlpbPEvwaAtHoEALw_wcB

Yes, B12 is low - typically outside of the UK a b12 level of that would warrant treatment. This is generally a massive problem for people, levels of B12 deficiency are very undiagnosed because of this. Do you eat meat? Could it be a nutritional deficiency? If you eat meat (or other sources of B12) regularly (or take B12 supplements) but you have this level then it could mean that you are having difficulty absorbing or transporting B12.
Not sure what you should do - have a look at the pernicious anaemia society online, and also the pernicious anaemia and b12 deficiency forum on health unlocked. If you post the same question there you will get lots of good advice.

Some are practically at the bottom of the range.
I was in the same position and they did nothing - bar suggest that I might be menopausal....😁
I had to limp along until I was admitted to a&e and it turned out I was hyper thyroid.

Yes. I get low ferratin and it takes months to get your stores back up.

Don't bother with the iron supplements that are only 20mg. You need the high strength stuff. I think a pharmacist can give it to you.

Or I just ordered it on My Pharmacy and it came the next day. I take the 210mg. Have reduced it to one a day now. It can upset your stomach but I find it fine, other than the inevitable black poos. If you have difficulty, you can get oral equivalent.

I was waking in the night feeling like I was having a panic attack because my heart was racing. No return of this since I started ferrous fuminate.

It is an issue that runs in my family so think I have poor ability to absorb iron.

You sound like me when my B12 was in my boots (as the doctor said), even though my blood tests came back within the normal realms my doctor said that every person is different and what might not be considered low for one person could lead another to become unwell. So while your tests might be satisfactory in the doctors eyes it’s not satisfactory for your body to function normally. Start taking supplements would be my advice, if they help then go back to the doctor and discuss a long term plan.

I moved abroad and my endo (I have hypothyroid) says that women should ideally keep their ferritin at at least 60. Every time I go in for fatigue my ferritin levels are 30 which isn’t anaemic but it’s enough for me to feel exhausted.

My Vit D level was 43 and I was told to take 4,000iu a day to get it out of the low bracket. You should be taking similar. Looks like you could do with a B12 boost too.

Well, they are in the normal range. How are your sleep, exercise, and diet habits? There might be some easy tweaks there that would make a lot of difference.

out of interest what was your thyroid TSH result? I feel total crap at the top end of ‘normal’ - luckily I have a GP that’s happy to keep me at the lower end, nearer the 0.5

Whilst I'm far from its greatest fan, your levels are within range but not optimum. The NHS's role is to treat diseases. You do not have a disease.

If you wish to move to optimal levels, read up, take some supplements, and get monitored privately. Your general health and your wellbeing is your responsibility, not the state's.

I have monthly blood tests and mine came back as no further action, but we're all out of kilter.

Best one was CRP (inflammation marker), should be between 0 and 5, came back at 43. GP marked the result as normal!!! 🤣

If you aren't happy, question them.

Try this

My vit d, foliate,.Iron and b12 are under limit. I take supplements and have for years.
I front load vit d
I just keep being toldmall that's wrong is low levels. That's despite telling them I take supplements and have for years so where is it going?
Partner had a heart attack, had angioplasty, still getting pain, finally got echo after being asked by the cardiologist if we thought he had done his job properly? has akinetic and hyperkentic from midanteria.there are now crickets from the hospital.

The ability to hear what a patient is saying is lacking

The thing is what is normal for one person can be too little for someone else, especially ferritin. For example. most people with restless legs have a ferritin below 50 and feel better with iron supplements

120 is way too low to be the lower reference range for B12. Ideally it should be at least 180. I'd definitely start supplementing with daily B12. Your ferritin is OKish.

The NHS markers are aligned with global standards. The World Health Organisation makes recommendations on ferritin levels that are followed by health care providers across the world.

The body does not store iron, so it has to be ingested daily alongside vitamin C to be effective. Equally, as iron is not stored, too much can be highly toxic and harmful to health, hence the reason for markers.

https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/micronutrients/ferritin-guideline/ferritin-guidelines-brochure.pdf?sfvrsn=76a71b5a_4

I had a similar set of blood results and I took my own action on them and supplemented what I was low on and I do feel measurably better for it after several months. Gp wasn’t concerned but all of my results were all on the lowest end of acceptable so I now take high strength iron bisglycinate with a bit C supplement. I also take a B vitamin complex, high strength vitamin D and folate.

i just looked up what the rest of rhe world considered food levels of each rather than the NHS miminimums and have had some further blood work and the supplementation is helping as well as me feeling better in myself

OP this isn’t complicated. Your levels are in the normal ranges, but at the lower end. Surely the logical thing to do is to buy some supplements and see if it helps?

@AllFunAndGamesUntilYoureRunningForTheLastTrain at this time of year, anyone who doesn’t take vitamin D supplements will have a slightly low level. That’s normal. OP can take supplements if she wants to, nothing stopping her. But those readings are not indicative of pathology.

… no. Those are all within range. Is there any other possible cause? Long Covid for example, or did they check your Vitamin D, could it be a side effect of meds, depression… could go on. You can go to the chemist and get some supplements for each of those if you want, except ferritin AFAIK.
If there’s another symptom (eg I’m currently under ongoing investigation for MASSIVE bruising for no reason but my clotting factors etc are normal) then don’t give up. Wishing you the best of luck solving your health mystery.

@Suddha Can you elaborate? Her levels are in the normal ranges. Why does that mean she needs supplements and that the NHS is shit?

Had a very similar conversation with my GP yesterday. My Iron was 10 the cut off is 9. I’m getting heart palpitations. She told me it’s anxiety that I don’t need a supplement.

I will need to get a private test to get things sorted. Start supplementing and see how you feel but as a PP said maybe look at some private tests.