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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not wait for doctors advice?

24 replies

BrieCamera · 02/08/2023 23:40

I’ve been feeling awful lately - increased anxiety, breathlessness, fatigue, pins and needles, brain fog, rubbish immune system etc etc.

Called doctors for appointment on 1st July, they booked me in for a phone appointment for 12th July. They decided I needed bloods checking so booked me in for 17th July. Saw on my NHS app my results were in the next day (18th) and from what I can gather I’m low on folate and on the low side for ferritin and Vit D. Explains a lot and symptoms fit. Waited over a week for them to be in touch but heard nothing. I eventually rang them and they said I would have been getting a text or letter but I could just book an appointment now - booked in for 17th Aug to review bloods.

Sorry for the ramble but just wanted to give context. It will have been over 6 weeks from me initially ringing to presumably the doctor prescribing something to sort my deficiencies. Meanwhile I’ve been steadily feeling more and more shit - so AIBU to order what I think I need from Amazon and just sack the doctors off? Or will I end up making myself worse?

OP posts:
Changethenamey · 02/08/2023 23:46

I would visit the pharmacy, get something to try and up your levels, but keep the dr appointment. You can discuss what you’re trying and if they feel it’s worth carrying on. It takes a while for iron levels to pick up again so it wouldn’t hurt to start now.

FWIW, I am having similar symptoms with horrendous palpitations. Bloods came back as very low haemoglobin but when the dr called they said that compared to historical bloods mine isn’t actually low for me, so are referring elsewhere for further investigations. If I’d sacked off the appointment and just bought some OTC vitamins it would’ve been a waste of time/money.

Changethenamey · 02/08/2023 23:47

also, I first called the dr 8 weeks ago and am no further into actually treating symptoms 🙁 I think that’s just the way it is now.

TrickyD · 02/08/2023 23:47

I assume you think you are short of iron and various vitamins. I’m no medical expert but can’t see what harm it would do to order these from Amazon and take them, but don’t abandon the doctor, keep the appointment.

Original poster
BrieCamera · 02/08/2023 23:54

I didn’t even think of the pharmacy that’s a really good idea, thank you.

Sorry to hear you’ve been feeling rubbish too - you make a lot of sense though as I know reading the results from my medically-untrained point of view isn’t the best idea and could be missing something.

OP posts:
Original poster
BrieCamera · 02/08/2023 23:55

Above was to @Changethenamey

OP posts:
Original poster
BrieCamera · 02/08/2023 23:56

TrickyD · 02/08/2023 23:47

I assume you think you are short of iron and various vitamins. I’m no medical expert but can’t see what harm it would do to order these from Amazon and take them, but don’t abandon the doctor, keep the appointment.

Yeah that’s it - I was thinking just a low dose just so I don’t get any worse ..

OP posts:
Annaishere · 02/08/2023 23:58

Maybe but you might not get the right dose. I.e prescription folic acid can be 5 mg whereas over the counter pills are a fraction of that

Original poster
BrieCamera · 03/08/2023 00:08

Annaishere · 02/08/2023 23:58

Maybe but you might not get the right dose. I.e prescription folic acid can be 5 mg whereas over the counter pills are a fraction of that

Ahh ok .. I’d read that around 40% people can’t metabolise folic acid properly so they need methylfolate. Not sure whether to bring that up or will they just be like ‘you’ve no idea what you’re talking about - get off Google you fool’

OP posts:
Annaishere · 03/08/2023 00:13

It’s annoying though. I need to check my test results but every day when I phone there’s a message that says only emergency calls are being taken

Pinkitydrinkity · 03/08/2023 00:13

I agree it’s worth waiting for the GP appt as there could be other things going on.

You can just buy the iron tablets over the counter that are the same as the ones the Dr will prescribe. Or Amazon/Boots etc. Just remember to take with Vit C and better if no caffeine within 2 hours of taking them.

AlmostAJillSandwich · 03/08/2023 00:15

Just be mindful if you do take over the counter iron, too much can cause constipation.

Walesagogo · 03/08/2023 00:20

Don't order them from amazon. You have no idea if they are genuine and you may be taking the incorrect dose which could do more harm than good.
You could try ringing the surgery explaining that you feel worse and ask for an earlier appt or cancellation on those grounds. A pharmacy a second choice but you could be spending needlessly and they might just suggest a generic vitamin for the time being and suggest you return to yr gp.

Justlovedogs · 03/08/2023 00:22

Pinkitydrinkity · 03/08/2023 00:13

I agree it’s worth waiting for the GP appt as there could be other things going on.

You can just buy the iron tablets over the counter that are the same as the ones the Dr will prescribe. Or Amazon/Boots etc. Just remember to take with Vit C and better if no caffeine within 2 hours of taking them.

Dr can prescribe stronger vit D as ours did for my DH. He's had to take them for 8 weeks before going onto an over the counter tablet.
OP - I'd go with the suggestion of getting something from the pharmacy but stick with the GP as well.

Pinkitydrinkity · 03/08/2023 00:39

@Justlovedogs good to know. I just said iron tablets as what I have experience with (both ferrous sulfate and ferrous fumerate).

When I had a B12 deficiency I had to take tablets for a bit before getting the injections. The GP didn’t even prescribe anything and just told me to pop to Holland & Barratts for their strongest B12 😂

Annaishere · 03/08/2023 00:47

@Pinkitydrinkity it seems to be happening. E.g for some reason I only get prescribed minimal migraine tablets and inhalers. (1 inhaler a month and 6 migraine tablets). I asked the doctor for more inhalers because I can’t breathe and run out of them and he said no ? so I have to buy them from UK meds. I can’t get through to GP or get an appointment but Superdrug online doctor service keeps emailing me to ask how I am

Alargeoneplease89 · 03/08/2023 00:51

Talk to your pharmacist, mine have called up the surgery and managed to get hold of them by talking to the surgery pharmacist or gp.. might speed it up abit.

Keep your appointment if you manage to get your medication early as they might want to find out why you are lacking vitamins

NewNovember · 03/08/2023 00:52

Annaishere · 02/08/2023 23:58

Maybe but you might not get the right dose. I.e prescription folic acid can be 5 mg whereas over the counter pills are a fraction of that

You can buy 5mg OTC.

Jeevee · 03/08/2023 01:14

I just got a text after the blood test to say there was a prescription ready to send to my preferred pharmacy.

Was given 5mg folic acid for 3months and 40,000iu vit D once per week for 7 weeks to get up to normal level. Which seem higher than usually buy online & the vit d were in oil capsules which is supposed to improve absorption.

I could barely stay awake and tbh I'd assumed the breathlessness and pain in hips, legs on standing & walking was due to putting on a load of weight and hadn't even thought to mention pain to GP, but walking became much easier by end of course.

Think pins & needles is a common symptom with low b12.

QuestionableMouse · 03/08/2023 01:16

Should say I took them as a loading dose and now use a spray daily.

Ladyj84 · 03/08/2023 01:42

Iron proper iron tablets can only be got from pharmacy but the chances are the Dr will prescribe more than one thing like he did me I got booster tablets for 4 weeks then they put me on normal iron and same vitamin d. It's normal nowadays to wait a long time for drs unfortunately

QuestionableMouse · 03/08/2023 01:45

They don't prescribe iron or vit D any more - you get told what to get and have to buy it from the pharmacy!

Nat6999 · 03/08/2023 02:45

If your folate is low, you can bet you vitamin B12 will be, the pins & needles is a classic symptom. While you are waiting, get some folic acid tablets, a minimum of 5mg per day, you can also get magnesium, Vitamin B complex & vitamin D 4000iu but start off taking 3 per day, these will all help when you get vitamin B12 injections. Don't be fobbed off if the doctor says your B12 is normal, they say anything above 150 is normal, when in reality, you need it to be at least 1000

NewNovember · 03/08/2023 11:29

Nat6999 · 03/08/2023 02:45

If your folate is low, you can bet you vitamin B12 will be, the pins & needles is a classic symptom. While you are waiting, get some folic acid tablets, a minimum of 5mg per day, you can also get magnesium, Vitamin B complex & vitamin D 4000iu but start off taking 3 per day, these will all help when you get vitamin B12 injections. Don't be fobbed off if the doctor says your B12 is normal, they say anything above 150 is normal, when in reality, you need it to be at least 1000

high folate reduces B12 levels not low so be careful.

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