Is this why I feel so rubbish and how long until I don’t feel rubbish

[Jamieoliverstongue]

Late 40’s

Went to a endocrinologist, blood tests show low ferritin, folic acid, B12 and Vitamin D3
No issues with thyroid & bloods show no sign of Peri, although Dr said this doesn’t mean i’m not, am assuming I am at this age?!

Started taking prescribed supplements etc today, does anyone know how long it will take to make me feel better and could these issues alone be causing me to feel extremely tired, down a lot and low patience a lot of the time?

Why were you seeing an endo to begin with? It’s not easy to get a referral so they must have suspected something. Have they tested your morning cortisol for adrenal insufficiency and looked into any pituitary gland issues?

I have secondary adrenal insufficiency (mine caused by cancer treatment so was obvious something was wrong). Symptoms of low cortisol are often fatigue, poor appetite, nausea, and irritability. When I start snapping and losing my patience with the kids, I know I need to take some extra medicine!

The deficiencies though to me also indicate possible gut issues. Have they tested you for coeliac disease? Do you have any other digestive issues? It sounds like malabsorption to me. When I had folate deficiency, it was caused by an issue with my pancreas that was leading to malabsorption.

I went private to find out why i’m so tired, was a view to Hrt but will try this first
Interesting about it possibly being malabsorption, haven’t been tested for celiac, I do vary between constipation and diarrhoea (sorry tmi) and am gassy a lot and acid reflux

A lack of all those you listed will make you feel wiped out and rubbish. Are they prescribed meds you are taking or over the counter? If OTC see your regular GP with your blood results as they'll know what to prescribe.

Going on past experience about 2-3 weeks to perk up but you'll need to take them for a while, have bloods done again in 6 months.

Do you take omeprazole or similar for reflux? That's a bugger on your gut leading to malabsorbtion.

Dt has prescribed meds

No 🤔

I would recommend a VitD injection for faster results - you can google any IV Boost type place and they will offer them. The impact is immediate whereas supplements can take several months.

I have low everything that you have listed. I can't absorb B12 so have to have injections.

Theres were my symptoms (at first I thought it was due to work stress and then thought I might be having a mental breakdown!!). Also a lot of them I didnt realise were symptoms until I read up on it

• extreme fatigue - literally had to lay on the sofa most of the time
• going to bed at 8pm and getting up as late as possible
• headaches
• pins and needles and numbness in hands, feet and face
• dizziness
• nausea
• snappiness, irritability
• depression
• bleeding gums
• extremely brittle nails
• hair falling out in clumps
• Eye really dry and no longer able to tolerate contact lenses
• abnormal smears
• alternate between constipation and loose stools
• muscle aches - felt like I had run a marathon even though I had done nothing

I ams now taking various supplements and having the jabs. symptoms are up and down but getting better. If you cannot absorb b12 then the tablets will be useless.

Oh my God, I have all these symptoms. I have literally just woken up from a nap despite sleeping for 9 hours last night as I am so exhausted. How would I get tested for this?

Just make an appt with your GP. Make sure you ask for B12 as they wont do it as standard.

I have these symptoms too

What is your diet like, over the course of a typical day and/or week what would you eat and drink?

Supplementation is going to help if you're deficient, but if your current diet isn't great then changing it will give faster, more significant health and energy improvements.

In answer to your question, yes, these deficiencies can cause fatigue, low mood and irritability.

Took me about 6 months to feel somewhat better as I don’t absorb vitamins well due to IBS, coeliac and a whole host of other issues
Worth paying privately for injections
I’m now under neurology and rheumatology as they think I have either an auto immune problem or connective tissue disorder and not one of the more common ones
I still feel exhausted but can function better and am working full time with flexibility and sympathetic employer