Is anyone knowledgeable about blood tests?

[mumofjust1]

Would appreciate your thoughts.

I had a blood test on Friday as I have nerve pain in the skin on my chest. I was at the gp surgery today and the dr saw me and asked me if she could have a word.

My results were all normal apart from vitamin B12. I have to have an injection of vitamin B12 and a follow up blood test in 6 months. She gave me the form for the follow up bloods and the form says the following:

? Improvement in vit B12
Exclude pernicious anaemia

Requests:

Red cell folate/B12
Blood group/antibody screen
Intrinsic factor antibodies
Gastric parietal cell
Antibodies
TTG

Any ideas what all of this means?

As well as the nerve pain I have dizziness, tinnitus, fatigue, palpitations and breathlessness

Thanks

Others here are way better than me however no way should you be waiting six months. Not if you have symptoms like that.

When is the B12 injection?

Make an appointment and ask the doc how long that takes to work, what it does, does it cause (lack of) the other symptoms, how long should it be before you feel any improvement and why do you have to wait 6 months!

Sometimes you just have to pester and if you are worrying then pester (rather than google).

Thanks look, my B12 level is 182 and the injection is booked for May 21st. The dr said I would need another blood test 6 months after the injection.

Do you think I will be ok to wait until 23rd may or should I try and get something sooner?

With all due respect to your doc, one injection and a text six months later is not going to cut the mustard with your level so low. It needs to be at least 500 and preferably more for you to be symptom free.

It would be usual to have a course of injections first to raise your level to an acceptable point and then to have injections every three months or so, or possibly more often.

As you get into this, you will be able to tell when you need another from the way you feel.

This article refers to a course of injections first. It might be worth showing this to your doc. This is the website that our GPs always quote!

www.patient.co.uk/health/Anaemia-(Pernicious)-and-Vitamin-B12-Deficiency.htm

D

Thamks Rockin - does my level being so low mean that I definately have pernicious anaemia? I'm hoping not.

I have an apt on the 21st with the doctor so will take a list of questions with me to ask.

I'm feeling quite bad today actually - probably because a know now that somethings going on and I'm a complete hypochondriac!

Is 182 quite low then? Do you know the normal range for B12?

Ranges vary round the country - here it's 191-663, so here you would be below range.

They will need to test specifically for PA. You may have it, you may not. I have a general absorption problem which leaves me low in all sorts of things if I don't keep on top of it.

If you don't have any joy with your doc, you could always look into buying a sublingual supplement. My DSD takes these to ward off the pre-injection slump and I take them to keep my levels up.

D

Its interesting how acceptable levels vary isn't it?

Thanks rockin, you've been really helpful - the link was great and I have printed it off to take with me to the gp.
Hopefully then I will know a bit more, I've googled it when I know I shouldn't have and worried myself silly!

Thanks again :)