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B12/folate deficiency

6 replies

CaptainCanary · 01/09/2025 10:53

Posted in health last night but only had one response so hoping Chat might be more active

I know quite a few people here have experience with low B12/folate, does this sound like a possibility for me? Ended up at the hospital on Friday because I felt so horrendous but had an awful experience with the nurse who simply declared 'this isn't urgent' refused to take bloods and told me to go to my GP (I'd already tried and failed to get an appointment, I didn't rock up at the hospital as my first port of call!)

  • Flashes in edge of vision, increasingly frequent floaters
  • Headaches (the one on Fri felt like someone was trying to pull my head apart!)
  • Periods of feeling spaced out/distant/not fully present
  • Slight disruption to vision, as if I'm having to concentrate on focusing my sight or correct my fine movements to make sure I touch what I'm reaching for
  • Irritable
  • So, so tired - usually napping in the afternoon or falling asleep on the sofa of an evening

Initially saw my optician who ruled out anything originating from my eyes and recommended GP/A&E if worsening, then at the hospital was streamed to eye clinic who also ruled out eye problems and sent back to main A&E.

FWIW I also get frequent mouth ulcers and occasional feeling of 'white noise' fuzziness in my foot (not quite pins and needles), both of which appear as if they may be related to B12 but have been happening on and off for years prior to the newer symptoms so I've always thought the mouth ulcers were just bad luck and foot fuzz one of those weird harmless body quirks everyone has a couple of.

Submitted an appointment request at 8am with the GP today and have had no response yet so fully expecting to be brushed off and not seen again, it's driving me round the bend!

OP posts:
ReluctantSwimMum · 01/09/2025 10:54

Yes it sounds like you need to push for blood tests. Could be low B12, anemia, similar.

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 01/09/2025 10:58

Yes, sounds like a B12 deficiency, but you may not be prescribed anything unless your levels are truly on the floor - maybe speak to a pharmacist if you can’t get in with a GP? Or even ask for a nurses appointment - they’re generally much easier to get and they can do bloods, prescribe or refer you if needed.

CaptainCanary · 01/09/2025 21:18

They called and offered an appointment with the nurse (good call tumbling) at 8pm (!) tomorrow...I'll have to prop my eyelids up with matchsticks but I'll be there!

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whatwasthatnoise · 01/09/2025 22:36

@CaptainCanary Might be worth asking about /considering Coeliac Disease, it's a blood test to rule in /out (but you should be eating lots of gluten for 6 weeks prior to blood test for an accurate result).
Mouth ulcers are common in undiagnosed Coeliacs. And more is being understood about gluten ataxia....
https://www.coeliac.org.uk/glossary/gluten-ataxia/

JazzyBBBG · 01/09/2025 22:52

Oddly my DD has been told she has this today. I assume you have tried off the shelf supplements to help?

JazzyBBBG · 01/09/2025 22:52

Ps Folate is B9

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