GP says my routine bloods are normal. Really?

[NotSoIronMan]

Their guide was that Ferratin levels should be between 15 and 300. Mine were 36.
My serum folate was 3.3 (should range between 2 to 9000).
My b12 was 147 (should be between 120-900)
My vitamin D was 47 (should be 50+).

He said it was satisfactory with no further action, but I could take iron tablets if I wanted to.

I have felt very low in mood and with brain fog etc and he said this is unlikely to be why.
I’m 28.

Surely it’s a bit worrying still?

The NHS is useless. Yes you need supplements. You’re low enough to feel shit.

I had similar and felt very dismissed. I went to an excellent nutritionist who gave great advice about supplements and food as well as being a bit of a therapist and I felt huge improvements in mood and energy following her advice. Worth trying ?

Did they do thyroid blood tests?
Are you vegetarian/vegan?
You probably would feel mikes better boosting everything tbh but GPs are very good at just sticking to the ‘normal/satisfactory’ line even if almost within labs reference ranges, rather than symptoms.
Vitamin D is ‘normal’ at 50 but needs to be 75 for bone protection.
I feel your frustration, nearly 20 years of battling with ‘satisfactory’ levels and feeling awful, taking high strength everything and just can’t get my numbers up and can’t get anyone to care!

Unfortunately the NHS has guidelines that they have to follow. You can definitely take iron and vitamin d to boost your levels though, you can just buy these. Since you know you're at the low end of normal, it's worth doing to see if it helps and after a month if you're feeling no better, then you can go back.

I went to see a private dermatologist as was losing hair really bad. She told me to have ferritin levels checked (I already have under-active thyroid) and mine were 36 too. GO said was satisfactory but derm said ferritin should be at least 90, closer to 100 or will effect hair. She suggested I take 210mg ferrous fumerate daily (bought online not prescribed). I was getting stomach cramps so I now take with a high strength vit c and it helps it absorb and I don't get any stomach pains now.

I told my GP so they were onboard with checking ferritin levels. Took me a year and now at 136 ferritin so just take iron o be every four days now to maintain and my hair grew back.

My thyroid was also normal!
Thats so interesting though because my hair has literally stopped growing and it’s so thin. Makes perfect sense now…

Look up b12 deficiency. It's probably that although your results are within normal range for the NHS.

The NHS reference range for blood markers is so wide and in my opinion designed to put up the shutters to treatment for a lot of people.

Go and get private blood work done if you can afford to do so.

You need to take a bit d supplement too

Had a very similar conversation with my GP yesterday. My Iron was 10 the cut off is 9. I’m getting heart palpitations. She told me it’s anxiety that I don’t need a supplement.

I will need to get a private test to get things sorted. Start supplementing and see how you feel but as a PP said maybe look at some private tests.

@Suddha Can you elaborate? Her levels are in the normal ranges. Why does that mean she needs supplements and that the NHS is shit?

… no. Those are all within range. Is there any other possible cause? Long Covid for example, or did they check your Vitamin D, could it be a side effect of meds, depression… could go on. You can go to the chemist and get some supplements for each of those if you want, except ferritin AFAIK.
If there’s another symptom (eg I’m currently under ongoing investigation for MASSIVE bruising for no reason but my clotting factors etc are normal) then don’t give up. Wishing you the best of luck solving your health mystery.

@AllFunAndGamesUntilYoureRunningForTheLastTrain at this time of year, anyone who doesn’t take vitamin D supplements will have a slightly low level. That’s normal. OP can take supplements if she wants to, nothing stopping her. But those readings are not indicative of pathology.

OP this isn’t complicated. Your levels are in the normal ranges, but at the lower end. Surely the logical thing to do is to buy some supplements and see if it helps?

I had a similar set of blood results and I took my own action on them and supplemented what I was low on and I do feel measurably better for it after several months. Gp wasn’t concerned but all of my results were all on the lowest end of acceptable so I now take high strength iron bisglycinate with a bit C supplement. I also take a B vitamin complex, high strength vitamin D and folate.

i just looked up what the rest of rhe world considered food levels of each rather than the NHS miminimums and have had some further blood work and the supplementation is helping as well as me feeling better in myself

The NHS markers are aligned with global standards. The World Health Organisation makes recommendations on ferritin levels that are followed by health care providers across the world.

The body does not store iron, so it has to be ingested daily alongside vitamin C to be effective. Equally, as iron is not stored, too much can be highly toxic and harmful to health, hence the reason for markers.

https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/micronutrients/ferritin-guideline/ferritin-guidelines-brochure.pdf?sfvrsn=76a71b5a_4

120 is way too low to be the lower reference range for B12. Ideally it should be at least 180. I'd definitely start supplementing with daily B12. Your ferritin is OKish.

The thing is what is normal for one person can be too little for someone else, especially ferritin. For example. most people with restless legs have a ferritin below 50 and feel better with iron supplements

Try this

My vit d, foliate,.Iron and b12 are under limit. I take supplements and have for years.
I front load vit d
I just keep being toldmall that's wrong is low levels. That's despite telling them I take supplements and have for years so where is it going?
Partner had a heart attack, had angioplasty, still getting pain, finally got echo after being asked by the cardiologist if we thought he had done his job properly? has akinetic and hyperkentic from midanteria.there are now crickets from the hospital.

The ability to hear what a patient is saying is lacking

I have monthly blood tests and mine came back as no further action, but we're all out of kilter.

Best one was CRP (inflammation marker), should be between 0 and 5, came back at 43. GP marked the result as normal!!! 🤣

If you aren't happy, question them.

Whilst I'm far from its greatest fan, your levels are within range but not optimum. The NHS's role is to treat diseases. You do not have a disease.

If you wish to move to optimal levels, read up, take some supplements, and get monitored privately. Your general health and your wellbeing is your responsibility, not the state's.

out of interest what was your thyroid TSH result? I feel total crap at the top end of ‘normal’ - luckily I have a GP that’s happy to keep me at the lower end, nearer the 0.5

Well, they are in the normal range. How are your sleep, exercise, and diet habits? There might be some easy tweaks there that would make a lot of difference.

My Vit D level was 43 and I was told to take 4,000iu a day to get it out of the low bracket. You should be taking similar. Looks like you could do with a B12 boost too.

I moved abroad and my endo (I have hypothyroid) says that women should ideally keep their ferritin at at least 60. Every time I go in for fatigue my ferritin levels are 30 which isn’t anaemic but it’s enough for me to feel exhausted.