Blood Test Results - Iron / Vitamins / Cholesterol etc ADVICE?

[52andblue]

After my GP declining to do a blood test despite me feeling awful
(since pre Covid times) I decided to get one done online (Thriva)

I am 53, BMI is 26, not yet obvs meno. I've sleep apnea (use CPAP) but still I feel shit.
GP has been saying: 'you must be menopausal / it's the weight' for 2 years: I've been fainting (I've low BP) & feeling awful on a daily basis

These were results:

Diabetes normal (33/mmol) v pleased.

Total iron binding capacity: normal 54/umol/L
Unsaturated iron binding capcity normal 36.1 omol/L
Ferritin normal 22 ug/L
Iron normal 18 umol/L
Transferrin saturation normal 33%
TSH (thyroid) nomall 2.98
Free thyroxin (FT4) 15.6 pmol/L
CRP 0.34mg/L optimal
Vitamin B12 normal 150 pmol/L
Folate 22.1 nmol/L

Tryglyceride/HDL 0.57:1 ratio normal
LDL cholesterol 4.4 high
non HDL cholesterol 4.86 mmol/L high
HDL 1.64 mmol/L optimal
Cholesterol 6.5mmol/L high
HDL / total cholesterol rating: 25% normal
Triglycerides 0.94 mmol/L optimal
Liver function 12 UI/L optimal
Alanine transferase 13 IU/L normal
Albumin 41 g/L normal
Alkaline phosphate 54 IU/L optimal
Globulin 27 g/L normal
Bilirubin 9 umol/L normal
total protein 68 g/L normal

Vitamin D 57 nmol/L sufficient

This all seems quite good so I'm not sure what I can do about the fainting, awful brain fog and anxiety??

Anyone any thoughts please?

52andblue you have my sympathy, symptoms like those are awful, they can feel like they're taking over your body - especially when your GP won't help.

I agree with the Ferritin, B12 & D comments about extra supplements, above.

Re your intestinal surgery, I would contact the surgeon's secretary directly & ask what their practice is for follow up re malabsorption; they may have a protocol for that.
If you don't get any joy from there, ask for consultation with another GP at the practice.

It is also worth considering perimenopause as a cause, the symptoms can be draining even early on.

I'm not sure about the other tests but agree with PPs that your ferritin is too low.

Mine was 9 and I felt horrific but it only needs to be 11 iirc to be in the 'normal' range.

I took prescription strength iron 3 times a day for 3 months to get it up to around 45. Ideally it should be at least 50, if not 70, for optimal energy.

So you might need more than a standard iron tablet to get your levels up and you do need to persevere. It isn't a quick fix unfortunately.

Interesting re Ferrtin ranges in UK:

I just took my dd to the GP as she has been feeling really sub-par for a while (might have had mild C-19 a year ago but no tests avail then). She's 13 in July, went through a fast puberty at 12 & gets bad nosebleeds, otherwise healthy but she has Autism and often doesn't tell me if she feels funny as she assumes it's normal so I have to piece things together with her. Anyway she was saying how tired she was and feeling giddy standing up and 'my eyes going black' so I called. GP very nice and did some bloods. Said they'd call if any issues. I called today and liver, thyroid etc all normal so great. But they said: lymphocytes and ferritin a bit low so make sure she has lots of cereal. I asked what is the ferritin level and they said: 'oh, just a wee bit low, not to worry'. Turns out it is 16, so I'll give her some oral iron supplements too. Re the lymphocytes they said: could be post viral fatigue, will re test in 3m (so that is good as I can't suppelment those)

Ferritin and b12 way too low. I also have pernicious anaemia and self-inject. If you want to PM me, I'm happy to help.
I've self-injected for about 4 years now and finally am feeling pretty normal. I also am anaemic - my ferritin was 29 so technically in range but that level left me exhausted and breathless. I've been taking ferrous fumarate for a few weeks now and feel so much better.
Your b12 really is shockingly low for someone having jabs. Mine is always above the top of the range now - 1800 or so.