Advice on low B12, ferritin and vitamin D blood results

[Lowlevels]

Can anyone advise on blood results? I feel horrendous, severe fatigue being the worst but also headaches, body aches, tinnitus and being very cold. I have had blood results back which I’ve got on the app, I will call the GP
tomorrow for a follow up. In the meantime, is there something I should be asking for?
these results came up low, as well as vitamin d. I’ve been deficient in vitamin d for many years. The other ones were all normal or mid range. Thanks.

Haemoglobin estimation: 128 g/L

Reference range: 115 – 165 g/L

Serum vitamin B12: 153 ng/L

Reference range: 200 – 900 ng/L

Serum folate: 5.3 ug/L

Reference range: 3.0 – 20.5 ug/L

Serum ferritin: 25 ug/L

Reference range: 30 – 250 ug/L

Very quickly because it's late for me.

B12 should be above 300. In Europe 500 is classed as low, 600 in USA, so even 300 isn't that great.

Vit D needs to be above 75, optimal is 120-140.

Ferritin needs to be 70 for healthy hair growth but better around 100.

Folate needs to be 7 for B12 to be utilised (they are linked), around 17 to be effective.

Are you taking vit d supplements?
And folate ?
And eating red meat ?

That's the first thing your GP will say to you.

One question is whether they will explore why your levels are so low. In the mean time, push for an iron infusion. It was a life saver for me (my ferritin was 5). I also did some extensive research on supplements (I couldn't tolerate the iron that was prescribed to me). I now take SimplyHeme 3 arrows iron & b12 supplement and Healf d3 (has no bulking agents). It's always a bit of a slow process getting everything back up (apart from when I had 2 x infusions) but now I'm religious with the supplements and manage to keep everything at optimum levels.

@LittleGreenDragons can I ask how you came to those figures

I don't see you vitamin D results?

Your GP will most likely prescribed supplements. They have when my levels have been low. I would speak to them first.

Would you mind sharing where you buy the three arrows i can't find it anywhere

I don't think you have any chance of an NHS iron infusion while your hemoglobin is normal, though. I'm struggling terribly with all the iron supplements, really awful GI side effects from a whole variety that I've tried, but can't be referred for infusion as it's only ferritin that is low, not Hb. She can't even prescribe the iron supplements if Hb isn't low, so had to buy them all at the chemists/health food shops.

You might have more luck getting b12 treated though, if that's low. They won't even test mine if the other FBC markers are normal, like red blood cell size etc.

They don't test vit D any longer at my surgery either, as they just say everyone should take supplements anyway, which you can buy OTC like the iron supplements etc

The NHS is woeful. I get private blood tests now (every 6 months), and private B12 shots when needed. I take iron, B12 and vitamin D supplements religiously just to keep levels up and in an optimal range. The thresholds that the NHS use are far too low to be considered normal range!!

p.s. vitamin C helps with iron absorption fyi and try to maintain a healthy, balanced diet.

You will feel dreadful but agree NHS won't give you an iron infusion as HG ok. I take ferrous fumerate 630 mg a day but do have another blood test in a few months to keep an eye. Buy them from Medino on line. My ferritin is over 100 now, this after a blood transfusion but take the iron religiously to keep levels up. I was at ferritin 5 at one point, felt like death. Your B12 is really low too.

Oh yes and no caffeine 2 hours either side of iron tablets plus drink with a glass of orange juice x

I have read that vitamin C (orange juice etc) is important when taking dietary iron, but that supplements are actually in a form where the vitamin C doesn't change anything, so it doesn't particularly help. But avoiding caffeine etc still does.

Private iron infusion (plus consultation) is close to £800 around here, but you might be luckier elsewhere.

Your GP might take the b12 seriously and offer injections.

Some people find they dont absorb vitamins through thier guts so well and you can get sprays you spray in your cheek and they absorb better. It is exoensive though.

I take spatone iron. It isnt as much iron as the tablets I got prescribed but I can tolerate it. The tablets went straight through me.

vitamin d level is 53, optimum range 50-200. I’ve ordered some folate tablets, vitamin d, iron and b12. Got a GP appointment this afternoon.

I’ve done some googling re iron infusion, about £900 ish from what I can see. Would it be worth trying? Would it really make me feel better? I can’t imagine staying like this, all I want to do is lie down.

I had tests last week - My B12 was 184 and my ferritin was 31.
told to take OTC iron but have am now being given B12 injections (6 over 2 weeks) and then told it will be every 3 months for life as my body doesnt absorb it. They didnt elaborate on why and I hadnt had time to read up on it so didnt ask many questions.
I have joined a couple of forum but it's full of people buying B12 from germany and self injecting every day for months and talking about folate and lots of other supplements and to be jonest its quite overwhelming and confusing!

I had read about self-injecting b12 but I am nervous. I will ask the GP but I doubt they’d recommend buying things online anyway. I know beauty type places do b12 injections but I don’t know enough about it yet.

I’m having mine at the doctors. I would be wary about buying it online too!

Just from reading, mainly on here, but also from various medical sources that get linked, plus hospital staff (my body is screwed). Mine have been dreadfully low over the years but GPs kept saying I was fine until I started talking about optimal figures for health instead of NHS guidelines then they agree I need to be higher 🙄. I've got the figures on a notes app so I can recall them easily now.