Low floats = anaemia?

[Lulumama]

Had some blood tests last week as soooooooo tired and other issues. Got told today over the phone ( when booking my flu jab ) that I have low folates, I already have an appt to see the doc next week, but don't really know what it means. googling brings up some scary stuff !

so am i 'just' anaemic?

thanks

folates ! not floats in the title, damn you autocorrect

anyone ?

Low folates tends to go hand in hand with anaemia it means you are lacking vitamin B12, the doc will probably want to rule out pernicious anaemia and you will need supplements, if your folates are really low you may need B12 injections but this is really rare so they may just give you high strength iron tablets for a few months.

thank you very much rosie39.. I do eat a balanced (ish!) diet, with green veg, bread & cereals all fortified with vitamins, red meat etc so quite surprised if i am lacking in folates/b12. I have a doc appt on thursday, but will try to bring it forward

thank you for your reply..

bump for the evening crowd..anyone with experience of this?

You can be low in folate without anaemia but it will lead to anaemia if you let it go on for any length of time. Low B12 or folate will lead to fewer bigger red cells.

Speak to the doc first, and don't panic, if you were seriously anaemic you'd feel it and they'd have got you to go in today not told you to wait to an appointment next week.

thank you v much, I am exceptionally tired and have been for ages, and also have had some palpitations . hmmmm, think will try to get a monday appt.

anyone else ? x

anyone else ? x

final bump if anyone has experience of this ?

yes you have caught a fish finally... I have v low folates and low iron count. I think it's something like, low folate is that you have llittle of the vitamine, 'folate' and this means your blood cells are small/ or possibly large, anyway, folate effects the size and number of the blood cells. So obv, this will effect how much oxygen you can carry around: fewer blood cells = less oxygen. Iron deficiency I believe results in small, feeble blood cells with not enough iron to bond the oxygen to. so while the symptoms might be simliar, the cause is different. Mind you the treatment is similar - iron, and lots of it. I started taking mega iron doses on prescription 2 months ago and feel incredibly better. I cannot believe I have gone for so long feeling so utterly crap with the symptoms you list, I had forgotten what it is like to have breath, zip, and a steady heart beat ( and not to nap at every opportunity!). Good luck

wow ! Thanks so much, i had forgotten all about this so thank you for taking the time to reply x