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Original poster

Help with blood test results.

34 replies

searchforthesun · 12/09/2026 20:00

I feel knackered all the time, to the point I am struggling to function after 3pm.
My sleep is ok, not great, but average 6 hours a night. Diet is good and I exercise regularly. I take an iron supplement.
i have started HRT and asked for a blood test. So far (2 months) the HRT has not improved the tiredness.
These are the blood test results, the doctor says they are all fine.
Not sure what to do now?

Help with blood test results.
Help with blood test results.
Help with blood test results.
Help with blood test results.
Help with blood test results.
OP posts:
Original poster
searchforthesun · 12/09/2026 20:01

All the other results looked within range

Help with blood test results.
OP posts:
Cynergy · 12/09/2026 20:33

They are all fine as they are nearly all within the green (normal) range. The only slightly elevated one is the MCH one.

As for what to do next, I guess another appointment with your doctor to discuss what else it could be, but your bloods look good.

6 hours sleep a night isn't great. Maybe you need to discuss strategies to get it up to 7 or more hours, that would reduce the tiredness. I believe there are sleep clinics you can be referred to, also sleeping tablets but not sure if they are a good idea long term.

BognorRegenia · 12/09/2026 20:58

Bloods fine

If I have 2 nights in a row of just 6 hours I'm like a zombie

I need at least 7.5 to function for the whole day

Have you tried working on sleep for a few weeks?

G1ngerbread · 12/09/2026 21:01

6 hours is nowhere near enough really. Did they check ferratin?

Cakeandcardio · 12/09/2026 21:03

You aren't getting enough sleep. 8 hours is the bare minimum.

Original poster
searchforthesun · 12/09/2026 21:05

Thank you all. No, they don’t seem to have checked ferritin levels.
ive had a problem with sleep for the last ten years. I’ve always been ok with 6ish hours but over the past 12 months I’ve struggled. I wake at 2am and can’t get back to sleep until around 4/5 and then I’m up at 6.
Ive done a lot of work to try and improve the quality of my sleep but not found anything that has worked significantly.

OP posts:
Everley · 12/09/2026 21:10

Have you had your B12 levels checked?

francobrit · 12/09/2026 21:11

Is sleep apnoea a possibility?

Goatsarebest · 12/09/2026 21:17

Everley · 12/09/2026 21:10

Have you had your B12 levels checked?

I had mine checked and they were low, went on a high supplement for 6 months. Made a huge difference. I would recommend everyone checks it if they fatigued. And manganese supplement.

Shloopie · 12/09/2026 21:19

Ferritin, B12 and Vit D are often low together. I've been working on increasing these for the past 6 months and I have so much more energy now.

ultraviolet4753 · 12/09/2026 21:24

There should be more in a basic FBC, like platelets, haemoglobin, ferritin?

Prob did b12 and vit d maybe?

Maybe not all come through yet.

Original poster
searchforthesun · 12/09/2026 21:38

I do keep checking to see if any more results come through. It’s just odd these results were all listed under ‘tiredness test’ but b12 and ferritin were not included.
my B12 was high last time they checked (18 months ago)

OP posts:
Everley · 13/09/2026 00:42

searchforthesun · 12/09/2026 21:38

I do keep checking to see if any more results come through. It’s just odd these results were all listed under ‘tiredness test’ but b12 and ferritin were not included.
my B12 was high last time they checked (18 months ago)

A lot can happen in 18 months. When my B12 first became low it dropped massively in the space of a fortnight. If they haven’t tested it this time I would ask them to check it.

swapsicles · 13/09/2026 06:03

Magnesium helps sleep for some, although you'll need the right one, higher strength and magnesium glycinate.
It's helped me a lot and I notice when I don't take it. Worth a try.

gingerbiscuitandacuppatea · 13/09/2026 06:24

High MCH, mean cell haemoglobin, suggests some form of anaemia as each cell had more haemoglobin than normal. Was MCV (mean cell volume) middle of range? High MCV (big red blood cells) indicates b12/folate deficiency, low (small red blood cells) indicates iron deficiency. But if you have both deficiencies it can be middle of the range as it evens the size out.

Was your folate level ever tested? When that is low you can't use the B12 in your system so B12 can reach higher levels. Under 15 is low folate but nhs reference for deficiency is around 3. You can also get functional B12 deficiency where levels are normal but the body can't process it will. I had severe neurological symptoms with low normal B12 and now self treat with injections as my GP wouldn't help because it was in range. My symptoms are much improved

Iron NHS reference for deficiency is also set far too low. Research shows you can have hair loss at less than 80, so optimal is over 80, closer to 100. NHS range is often under 15-30 for deficiency.

GPs often avoid the vitamin tests to save cost and only test them if they see obvious signs of severe deficiencies in the full blood count results, the range of tests you show above. But it means deficiencies get missed as we often get symptoms like fatigue etc before there are significant changes to the red blood cells.

Cynergy · 13/09/2026 06:25

I honestly think you are so tired because 6 hours sleep a night is not sustainable.

I say this as someone who struggles with sleep myself, post menopause.

Had a battery of blood tests myself recently due to high blood pressure, and they are all fine too. It's the lack of sleep at night that causes daytime fatigue.

TimeDoesntStandStill · 13/09/2026 07:16

Id talk to chatgpt about these to get ideas around supplements you could add

itsgettingweird · 13/09/2026 07:26

swapsicles · 13/09/2026 06:03

Magnesium helps sleep for some, although you'll need the right one, higher strength and magnesium glycinate.
It's helped me a lot and I notice when I don't take it. Worth a try.

I was going to suggest magnesium for sleep.

Your TSH is in normal range but the lower end of this.

That maybe something and worth discussing with the GP. Especially if it’s alongside of symptoms over active thyroid of which trouble sleeping is one.

SpringIsHere2026 · 13/09/2026 07:37

I was going to suggest thyroid too. They’ve checked TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) but not thyroxine levels (T3 and T4).

Plus B12 and ferritin. If doctor is resistant you can now get these done privately btw but they are a bit £.

StormGazing · 13/09/2026 07:38

Do you snore? Just wondering about sleep apnoea - can you ask your partner if you snore and when you do, do you sometimes breath hold? If yes then it’s worth speaking to your GP about a sleep clinic

Original poster
searchforthesun · 13/09/2026 07:38

Thank you all, I really appreciate it.
I already take supplements (iron, B vits, magnesium before bed etc)
I’ll go back and ask for further vitamin specific tests if they don’t appear on my app soon. I assumed they would do these.
when I go for my HRT review I will ask about a sleep clinic appointment again. Apparently the wait is about two years so I’d better get on the list!

OP posts:
DeathNote11 · 13/09/2026 07:55

CBT helped me quieten/control my mind enough to properly rest. I still did the hrt etc but the therapy was life-changing.

Watermelonyea · 13/09/2026 14:36

How active are you during the day?

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 13/09/2026 14:40

Six hours isn't anywhere near enough sleep. Fine as one-off, but not as a regular thing.

You say you're up at 2am and struggle to get back to sleep - what's your diet and caffeine intake like? Are you doing enough exercise? Any issues with anxiety or racing thoughts?

Original poster
searchforthesun · 13/09/2026 15:04

plenty of exercise (possibly too much - work related) and I eat well. Only drink water so no caffeine.

OP posts: