B12 tablets and folic acid

[WhenTheDragonsCame]

My 13 year old DD was diagnosed with B12 deficiency last year and needed injections. She has had another blood test recently that showed that he B12 is still low. The doctor has prescribed B12 tablets that she needs to take for 3 months and if her levels are still low they will write to the paediatric team asking for their opinion.

I thought the GP had said to take B12 for a month and then start taking iron but when I picked up the prescription they had provided folic acid. I am going to try and consult the doctor tomorrow and I know people here may not be aware of what has been recommended but does it sound normal to take the B12 now and start the folic acid in a month or take them both now. The GP mentioned that there is no point taking something until the B12 had increased but I thought he said iron but might have actually said folic acid!

This is getting a little frustrating as by the time she has he next blood test it will have been going on for nearly a year and due to how unwell she has felt her attendance at school has been awful this year!

Thank you.

Has she been tested for pernicious anaemia? DD (17) was diagnosed last year, it basically means the only way that she can absorb B12 is through injections, not through supplements or regular dietary sources. It would explain why she’s low again now if injections were last year.
Folic acid wise she was prescribed both at the same time, never heard of it being done another way and certainly something I would question

Thank you for replying.

They haven’t diagnosed her with anything yet. The first doctor told me they would refer to paediatrics if low again after 6 months and second doctor said he wanted her to take 3 months of high dose tablets then they would refer if still low. She really doesn’t seem very well though. Fatigued and headaches nearly every day. It’s frustrating as her school attendance is 82% this year. Her diet isn’t brilliant but she will happily eat lots of things with B12 in, it’s the fruit and veg she isn’t a fan of!

The threshold for normal range B12 is much lower in the UK than some other countries. I did some research on it a few years ago when DD was deficient but then met the UK normal and still had symptoms. You can still have symptoms until level is around 500 if my (currently crap) memory is correct. Definitely worth pushing to find out why the deficiency is happening (coeliac's?) but also about symptoms within UK normal range.

Thank you.

The doctor didn't tell me the actual results just that she was below. I didn't think to ask if they had improved since the test last year.

She doesn't have any other symptoms of celiac as far as I'm aware. She used to get a lot of diarrhoea but that seems to have improved.

It's possibly diet related. She is not vegan but she doesn't always eat a whole meal and can be terrible for eating at school or if I'm working.

She is still getting headaches most days but hopefully this will improve soon with taking the tablets. 🤞🏻