Blood test results for B12 and Folate.

[TheLurpackYears]

My gp thought the symptoms I was having suggested anaemia or vitamin d deficiency. He offered me blood tests and said take 25ug ug vit d daily. (He also thought I have osteoarthritis)
I got the results and went back to ask if because they are on the low end of normal (as far as I can tell?) should I take supliment. He said no, they are normal levels.

The results are :

HBA1C.
Haemoglobin A1c level - IFCC standardised 36 mmol/mol [26.0 - 41.0]

Serum vitamin B12 level 167 ng/L [110.0 - 914.0]

Serum folate level 6.4 ug/L [3.1 - 19.9]

Those of you with experience of this, what should I do?
I was taking Lamprazole (? A PPIfor reflux) for 5 months untill February, I stopped when I realised how ill it was making me feel,I'd had a total of 5 weeks off work during that time, loss of coordination, crippling anxiety and awful palpitations.
I ache, my joints hurt, my concentration and memory have been crap for ages. I now have tinitus and am weirdly squeamish. I'm knackered and struggling. I'm 45, take hrt,which previously made me feel alot better.
This post is probably as muddled as I am, I'm not a strong writer at the best if times.

Normal isn’t the same as optimal and B12 levels are set really low in the U.K. compared to other countries. The ampoules to self inject are sold otc in Germany for example because of how important B12 is.
I’d take the supplements, or even consider booking a couple of injections at a place where you can pay for them. They are around £15.
I do have injections on prescription but I have also bought it from Germany and self injected before now for a boost as I feel so ill before my injection is due. My GP sticks rigidly to 12 weekly injections but nice guidelines say they can be given earlier.
What about your ferritin levels, how were they? That’s something else Drs are fond of saying you are normal at 20 or whatever but it needs to be over 70 for healthy hair growth and normal is up to around 300.

Thank you ChocolateCoveredCookie. That's all the GP wanted to test for, I need to read up on this more. I write "my" GP, but he isn't one I'd seen before and I wanted a quick appointment and the Dr who I have been to for years has a few weeks wait for appointments.
A friend recommended taking methylated supplements, is that something you've come across?

I’ve read a bit about it in the past. Tbh I never had any improvements with supplements but I am vegetarian so don’t get enough B12 diet wise to help either.

There are two forms of vitamin B12 that you're likely to come across – methylcobalamin and cyanocobalamin. Cyanocobalamin is the most commonly supplemented form of vitamin B12 and is chemically synthesised. Methylcobalamin is found in animal-based foods and is therefore obviously naturally occuring.

Many thanks 😀

You are folate deficient by the NHS's own standards and that B12 is much too low as well.

Google "nhs cks vitamin B12" to find out what your GP should be doing. For further advice, look at the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum on Health Unlocked.

Raising your vitamin D should help relieve some symptoms, but you need softgels, not tablets, as vitamin D is fat soluble. I buy from Amazon and take 2,000iu daily in the summer and 4,000 iu daily in winter.

Your B12 is far too low. I had loading doses plus ongoing injections every 12 weeks after my test result of 197

As others have said, your B12 is quite low. The PPI you were taking has a side effect of making it difficult for your stomach to absorb B12, so perhaps that's why you are so low?

I was diagnosed with pernicious (positive for IF antibodies) when my B12 was 285. I never had any symptoms whatsoever.

In your shoes I'd try increasing my dietary B12 and would add a daily B12 supplement. Now that you're no longer taking the PPI you may be able to absorb the B12 sufficiently to get your levels up.

Do you have any neurological symptoms such as pins and needles/tingling in your hands or feet?

GulfCoastBeachGirl I was getting alot of pins and needles down my left arm and fingers and in my tongue when I was on Propranolol, which I'd asked for because I was having such awful palpitations when I was on the PPI. I've stopped the Propranolol and am now back to a bit down the back of my neck and into my left hand.
I'm mired in a divorce this year, so it's easier than ever for a GP to tell me it's all down to stress.
I did mention to my normal GP that my memory is terrible, as is my attention span. She suggested to was lack of adult conversation. I'm also having trouble with my hearing, I know people are speaking, but struggle to tell what is being said , I had an all clear from audiology and ent, although the ent consultant diagnosed silent reflux without asking about symptoms or observing anything to suggest it. Hence the PPI and pints of gaviscon.

Thanks Pleasemrstweedie Oll get back on Google for a loom.

Take sublingual B12 xxx

Tha ks Ladybug14 , I'd seen that advertised.

If you feel its a good idea, try Cytoplan. I'm not affiliated to the company in any way, but their sub B12 is on special atm and generally their products are good

Have you had your thyroid function checked?

Ummhmmm not for a long time.