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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:
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Imonmyownhere · 13/09/2026 21:23

Magnesium helps massively for me too, how long have you been taking it?

Dr13Hadley · 13/09/2026 20:17

When I start feeling g like this I start taking iron, vitamin b12 and vitamin d (I take vitamin d all the time anyway). Seems to work for me. In the past I’ve had to have b12 injections though so I know I’m susceptible to deficiency and they hurt so I’d rather keep it topped up 😂

HoppityBun · 13/09/2026 20:13

I put my blood test results into Claude. Very useful, particularly as it is able to pull together historic results and notice gradual changes overtime. It highlights what matters, what doesn’t matter, what to look out for and what to ask doctors about. It also explains results I didn’t understand.

Watermelonyea · 13/09/2026 20:09

searchforthesun · 13/09/2026 20:03

@Watermelonyea😂

going to guess that there are other issues at play… if you are having relationship issues that could definitely impact sleep

Original poster
searchforthesun · 13/09/2026 20:03

@Watermelonyea😂

OP posts:
Watermelonyea · 13/09/2026 15:27

searchforthesun · 13/09/2026 15:20

not much stress really (apart from the usual working full
time with 3 kids 😂)
I don’t get much time to switch off but my sleep was bad even when I had slower evenings.

That sounds bloody stressful to me
partner?

Original poster
searchforthesun · 13/09/2026 15:20

not much stress really (apart from the usual working full
time with 3 kids 😂)
I don’t get much time to switch off but my sleep was bad even when I had slower evenings.

OP posts:
Watermelonyea · 13/09/2026 15:17

What is stress level like? Relationship happy? Kids ok? financials ok? Work stress?

Watermelonyea · 13/09/2026 15:13

searchforthesun · 13/09/2026 15:04

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

Ok so conversely… enough relaxation time before bedtime?

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:
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?

Watermelonyea · 13/09/2026 14:36

How active are you during the day?

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.

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:
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

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 £.

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.

TimeDoesntStandStill · 13/09/2026 07:16

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:
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.

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.