To wonder why the NHS has such a high threshold for blood work?

[SailAwaySandra]

In a nutshell, my folate levels are actually low after all. But they’re NHS borderline.

For about 6 months now, I’ve felt like utter death. Really stanage symptoms, fatigue and joint pain making me feel like walking through treacle.

It turns out my folate levels are borderline and actually low. And the ideal is that they’re much better than they are!

I’ve had 3 blood tests via the NHS, each time going to the GP very worried as I am only 26 and physically felt like my body was aging! Sometimes I had to flinch to move a leg, for example, if I had to sit for a minute or so and get up again

GPs kept saying all was normal. Nothing to worry about.

Paid for a blood test and told within 72 hours that my folate levels are too low. And to take folic acid (I’ve already put loads of it in my diet)

Why or why did no GP say ‘it’s within normal range but your folate is in the low side. You might want to consider buying some folic acid and introducing more of it into the diet’?

You've misunderstood this - you have low levels of Vitamin D, which typically would not cause any symptoms. However this is bad for your bone health and future risk of osteoporosis. Most people with low folic acid, iron, B12 or vit D will not have symptoms.

I didn't really have any signs but I was still massively deficient
I think my level was 9. The only thing I had was a bit of shin pain which I put down to exercise and ageing
I took the high dose course and I still take them daily and don't feel different but I do it because I know it's important

I guess I'll come back & update in 20 years if I have osteoP by then.

Or you could take supplements?

I will persist in my firm belief that vitamin & mineral supplements are utterly unnecessary for me (assuming no change in evidence to date).

Presuming MNHQ haven't banned me by then or I don't die of something else first, I'll try to remember to update.

This makes me so cross!!
I am tired of women’s health being dismissed this way. We are talking about it on the Peri thread as well… low iron also causes anxiety/depression/brain fog/fatigue and I wonder how many GPs would just tell a woman presenting with these symptoms (and is 40+) that she is in peri and don’t bother treating her?! Or worse, treating her with hormones she doesn’t need…
It especially makes my blood boil that a GP would prescribe anti depressants instead of iron!!

Have you done some good research eh?