Blood test results - anemia help

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I know we aren’t doctors but my GP says these results are normal. No further action.

I should note, I’m often anemic, they just throw pills at me and don’t care about why I am (heavy periods probs)

normal ranges also shown

serum b12: 381 ng/L [200.0 - 900.0]
serum folate: 3.0 ug/L [3.0 - 20.5]
egfr using creatinine 85 mL/min [90.0 - 120.0]
serum ferritin: 11 ug/L [30.0 - 250.0]
red blood cell count: 3.44 10*12/L [3.5 - 5.5]
hematocrit: 0.325 ratio [0.37 - 0.47]
mean cell hemoglobin concentration: 360 g/L [290.0 - 350.0]

it’s impossible to get an appointment.

I often see here that doctors say certain ranges are “normal” but that people exhibit issues at higher numbers.

thanks!

What is your haemoglobin? you are iron deficient and could take a supplement.

Hemoglobin concentration
117 g/L [115.0 - 165.0]

Thank you, still try the supplements.

Just for context, my haemoglobin is currently 98, ferritin 3 and it took 8 weeks to get an appt (I can't take iron orally).

I'd start taking a supplement asap.

Not normal, that ferritin level is too low. I'd be supplementing for a level anything less than 30. Your ferritin can be low and haemoglobin normal (your hgb is lower end of normal), and still have symptoms of anaemia.

I'd get on supplements and may be worth looking to increase your folate level too as that's bottom end of the normal range. That can affect other bloods so there's no harm in nipping it in the bud by supplementing now.

There is a very good supplement I've used for many years called Hemaplex that has helped immensely. It has B12 and folate as well as iron in it. I take a half dose now as post menopausal and get lively blood results these days. I have an under active thyroid which was causing digestive issues,now under control (no thanks due to NHS ) which I think is at least partly responsible for my problems as everything went pretty much straight through me.

I'd thoroughly recommend giving that a try for 3 months to see how you get on.

Your ferritin should be above 15. It could be low because the haemoglobin had dropped so your liver has released the stored iron into your bloodstream and raised it. So whilst your hb level is above the minimum (in my trust that’s 115), it is borderline, and with the low ferritin, I would say not normal.

I would ask for a second opinion. Do you have any symptoms of anemia? If your GP will not offer treatment then I would look at increasing your hb levels by way of dietary intake and also supplementation. Things like spatone and gentle iron might assist.

Forgot to say, the British Haemotological Society recommend that a ferritin level below 30 should be treated by supplementary iron.