Anyone food with blood test results?

[ToB12ornottoB12]

• Should say "good" with blood test results 🤦🏼‍♀️

Could anyone take a look at some test results and give a view on whether they think I need B12 injections please?

First lot were taken in September and came back as 158g/L. GP said I needed to take over the counter B12 tablets. Second lot was taken last month and we're lower at 156g/L but GP said they were "satisfactory".

I'm a little confused about the results still being in the red but apparently I'm fine. On top of this, I have no gallbladder and have been prescribed Lansoprazole, both of which I understand impact B12 absorption. To my mind, if I was already struggling with B12 levels then I'm not going to be any better now and tablets aren't going to be sufficient.

I'd speak to the GP myself but I only got told she thought they were satisfactory because I called in to ask about the results and was told by the receptionist that there was nothing further to discuss 🤨.

Your B12 levels aren't shown. Your haemoglobin is slightly higher than usual. As usual, results need interpreting in context and here that would include the longer term trend in your results, medical history etc so your GP really needs to be the one who advises you.

Unfortunately I can't get an appointment for love nor money. The GP was checking to see whether the B12 tablets had made a difference and for pernicious anaemia, which I'll assume I don't have if the view is the results are satisfactory.

On the medical records app it gives a brief explanation of what the results could mean and it indicated that haemoglobin could be impacted by B12 deficiency. As it was a lower result than before I took that to mean that the tablets hadn't improved the situation.

These really aren’t meaningful at all. You need your actual B12 tested (and I personally would test folate and vitamin D) and you need to understand them in the context of the anticipated range.

I would go back and ask GP to check your vitamin levels, or I’d do it myself privately (very easy to do with at home testing).

Thank you. It seems bizarre that I've had two tests to check my levels but those results imply that isn't actually what's been done.

Are the at home tests pin prick tests?

The result you have posted does not include your B12 level, and cannot indicate whether you have pernicious anaemia. You need to ask your GP to talk you through your results and their meaning.

I would if I could manage to get an appointment 😔 the receptionist told me the GP had marked it as satisfactory and there was nothing else to discuss. Appointments go within 10 minutes of being released on a Monday morning at my surgery.

the results are not 'not meaningful at all' - a haemoglobin that high does not support being currently anaemic. A normal MCV is also not suggestive of a B12 deficiency although that's a slightly softer sign. The whole FBC isn't shown though which also suggests that the GP probably has access to more results than the OP does and is basing their advice on that. The Hb needs interpreting in context. Bottom line is that OP needs to go back to their GP if they're worried and get an answer to what the results mean given all the information that is available rather than splashing out cash on random blood tests that may already have been done.

Thank you. It's slightly frustrating to have limited results released without any explanation alongside them. It seems like a waste of an appointment just to have someone explain them to me when the explanation could be given alongside the results.

I just want to know whether the B12 tablets I'm shelling out for are making a difference or whether I do need injections, or if I can stop taking them.

Does this give anything that's more useful? I had a dig around the NHS app and found a more thorough breakdown of my test results.

Neither of the full blood counts you posted are suggestive of significant vitamin B12 deficiency. One would expect a low haemoglobin and high MCV. Your Hb is just above the normal limit for the labs that processed the bloods. I would not worry about this.

I assume therefore that there was a vitamin B12 result with the first blood test that was low. What you have just posted is slightly high, suggesting that you are very much replete.

With regards to pernicious anaemia, the tests to look out for on your results would be intrinsic factor (IF) and GPA.

Thank you. The results in September must have been low, although I didn't see the full results. The GP followed up by text advising I start taking over the counter B12 tablets.

For comparison, I am on B12 injections because my b12 level is 103!

That's saying that your B12 is high. You definitely do not need injections.

It would be interesting to see what your level was before you started taking supplementation to see what level of difference it has made (and give you some indication as to whether to continue).

I suspect that had your GP considered that taking b12 was making it too high, they would have advised you to stop.

Interestingly I've managed to find my B12 results from September and they were 122, so I can see why I was advised to take tablets.