Low ferritin & B12 - should I supplement?

[GlitterGlue]

Got a call the other day to say ferritin was low and B12 borderline low and I needed to see the gp to discuss. Fine, except they can’t see me until July. And I feel like shit. Can I/should I take supplements in the interim?

It’s further complicated in that I’ve been taking PPIs for acid reflux, and low iron and B12 can be a side effect. I did ask if I should stop taking them now (supposed to be trying to wean myself off them soon anyway) but was told to wait and see the GP. Tests were negative for h pylori.

Anyone?

I'd say wait, just in case they want to do further tests that might be skewed by taking supplements at this stage.

Make sure you find out from the doc the reference ranges and your actual results. If B12 is low enough for a GP to have flagged it, a read of the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum wouldn't go amiss. Forewarned is forearmed and all that.

Thanks, I’ll have a read. I’ve also found the local trust guidelines on b12 so I know what they should be doing.

I’m just frustrated that a nearly four week wait is considered acceptable when someone has abnormal results. Apparently the only way to get a quicker appointment is to ring on the day for an emergency appointment, except it’s not an emergency so I can’t. I am tempted to supplement the iron at least.

How is your folate? Assuming you're not on a vegan diet, which can cause low B12, supplementation is unlikely to cure pernicious anaemia.

They didn’t mention folate. I’ve only spoken to a receptionist so far. Not vegan and diet is quite good.

I definitely tick the majority of the symptoms for low iron and low b12. I thought I was just getting lazy and unfit.

If you are going to spend the next four weeks reading , check out the magnesium advocacy group on Facebook for a different slant to your low ferritin. Hope you feel better soon.

Magnesium? I’ll look at that as well, thank you.

Sorry to butt in on this, but i have low ferritin and in my blood test results it says Transferrin is abnormal, any ideas about this please

Op how do you feel now?

I had up and down Ferritin level in my life and also issues with B12. I've self-supplement and been fine. You can get both over the counter. For iron, go to the pharmacy and ask for Ferrous Sulphate, and take two a day to start and see if you tolerate, go down to 1 if too constipated.

B12, try to go for sublingual (under the tongue) as these are better absorbed. You can't overdose on B12, so it's really safe to take.

Hello, I managed to get an earlier telephone apppintment in the end.

Ferritin is 4 and b12 is 158. Gp thinks it is likely because of the ppi’s so I’m to try and wean myself off them slowly. And then get bloods checked again in a couple of months. And I’m, obviously, not allowed to donate blood at the minute. I did have the mirena a few years ago and pretty much bled for six months so that probably didn’t help either.

Iron levels are on the low end of normal, but looking at previous results that’s normal for me. I’ve never had iron above 13.

I’ve also been referred for an endoscopy to see why I keep getting acid reflux. I think it all started when I had repeated antibiotics before I had my wisdom teeth out as they wrecked my stomach. But who knows.

Have had a few days of iron now and feel a bit more awake.

Swingofthings, do you have any recommendations for the sublingual b12? I’ve bought a spray as that’s all they had in the shop, but the tablets seem to be higher dose.

Poor you, you must feel absolutely exhausted with anemia from both low iron and low Vit B12. I think the spray can work. Tablets are not great because if your issue is with absorption of the Vit B12 (often the case), they won't work.

I found these on amazon:
www.amazon.co.uk/Vitamin-Methylcobalamin-Sublingual-Nu-Nutrition/dp/B01AG3V4Q4/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?keywords=sublingual+b12+vitamins&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1529695938&sr=8-1

Thanks!

You must feel Awful I’m so sorry. My b12 is low and I’m taking 3 of those volume tablets a day and a mountain of iron. My ferritin was 5 last year x

Going gluten free improves my rubbish iron and B12 levels

Check your stomach acid levels by doing the baking soda test (if you google it you’ll find a link, but it’s basically putting a quarter of a teaspoon of baking soda into 4-6oz water in the morning and drinking it in one go before eating/drinking anything else, and timing how long it takes you to burp).

I had awful B12 and ferritin levels, and horrendous symptoms of fatigue and brain fog after a couple of course of antibiotics and some steroids and they didn’t know what it was. Just an adverse reaction to the virus apparently Turns out I have really low stomach acid and treatment of that cleared everything up. It presents with the same symptoms as high levels of acid, so very often gets misdiagnosed and treated incorrectly, and actually makes things worse.

That’s so interesting about the acid 🤔

The worst thing about about it is that there is so little information about it! The is NOTHING on the NHS website about it at all. I found out about it from Dr Myhill’s website (which my doctor recommended I read).

Yet of course we need a healthy level of stomach acid to digest food, keep the bugs at bay etc. And not all stomach problems are due to high stomach acid. Because mine was so low, I ended up getting Candida in my stomach which gave me an absorption problem. Despite the fact I was eating —too much— normally, I put on very little weight and I spent 7months barely able to get out of bed because of the chronic fatigue. Yet as soon as I was treated, I was back working full time within a month. That was 2 years ago now and I’ve not had any symptoms since (although I don’t tolerate gluten very well now). Although the NHS still don’t recognise it so it costs me £60 a month just to stay active and healthy. Worth every penny though!

Wow that’s SO interesting! What’s the £60 for? I’m off to do the baking soda test. I have been in antibiotics for acne for years. Really low b12 and ferritin. V bad Candida too. V bad brain fog. Off now to test! Thanks! Sorry OP for hijacking

The £60 is what it costs me in acid tablets. I take Metagest which is betaine HCL with Pepsin. It was what the GP suggested I try when I was first diagnosed. But it’s not available on the NHS (which is bloody ridiculous if you ask me!!). I’m on 4 tablets per meal at the moment but my acid levels have definitely improved as last time I did the test, I burped at 13 minutes, which is a huge improvement on the 20 minutes plus that it used to be!! Although still nowhere near the 2-3 minutes it’s supposed to be . Oh and just be careful not to drink it too fast as if you gulp down a load of air with it, that can cause a false reading as you burp that up straight away. I did it 3 morning’s on the trot before I went back to the doctor the first time.

Sounds like it could be something that might be affecting you too, with your symptoms being pretty much the same as mine. If nothing else, I hope you get an answer

Thank you so much for that information
I did the test and didn’t burp for 5 mins so gave up and thought that was when you stopped watching. Did u change your diet too?

They do say to stop watching but I tend to just set my timer going then ignore it until I burp

I did actually, but not specifically because of that. The GP had already put me on a really strict elimination diet (no dairy, gluten, sugar, eggs etc) to see if my symptoms were down to a food allergy. Turns out I’m not allergic to anything but I can’t tolerate gluten like I used to —breakfast, lunch and tea— Which has meant I’m loads healthier now, as I just avoid it and eat a lot less processed food. So a nice side effect

After years on PPIs i worked out gluten was the trigger, though I'm not celiac. GP said I'd be on them for life but i did an elimination diet and found that gluten was the trigger. I came off them once i came off gluten. Your root problem might be different, but PPIs shouldn't be used to mask the problem as they cause malabsorbtion of vitamins. Your B12 seems very low and should be investigated for Pernicious anaemia before you start supplementing. Check healthunlocked forum!

Great info on here. Thank you all and god bless x

I have very similar symptoms. We have just had Lambs liver for dinner, and a satsuma for desert, as you know contains vitamin C, which helps absorb the iron. No need for supplements, iron can make you constipated. I know a lot of people don't like liver, just fry it gently in a little olive oil, 2 minutes each side, and just before serving a some butter, swirl it round and it's ready.