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Original poster

Teen blood test help

4 replies

windmill26 · 18/08/2023 15:25

Can anyone help with my son's blood test please?
A bit of background; He is 17 years old, active and eats well. Last year around this time we noticed his hair thinning and he has been constantly complaining of feeling tired. I asked the Doctor for a blood test last September and I was told that everything was OK. A year down the line he is still complaining of tiredness and the hair is looking a bit better but not great so I have asked for another blood test (see attached). I was told once again that everything is fine.
For the last year he has been taking a multivitamin to help with the hair issue (pink box ,see pic) plus he has just started taking Boots multivitamins a month ago so it could take a while to see the effects. On top of that we spray and massage the scalp every evening with Rosemary tonic and we apply Rosemary oil twice weekly . He has also been using Dercos or Klorane shampoo.
I have asked the Doctor for a referral to a Dermatologist to try to get to the bottom of it but in the mean time I would really appreciate some advice from someone that understands blood tests. Thank you!

Teen blood test help
Teen blood test help
OP posts:
clipclop5 · 18/08/2023 15:52

His bloods there are all well within normal range - have they tested his B12 and vitamin D levels? Around the same age DD started to complain of tiredness and was losing more hair than usual, it turned out that both were low. She was actually diagnosed with pernicious anaemia meaning she’s on B12 injections every few months for life. It did fix things though and no more hair loss

Original poster
windmill26 · 18/08/2023 16:16

clipclop5 · 18/08/2023 15:52

His bloods there are all well within normal range - have they tested his B12 and vitamin D levels? Around the same age DD started to complain of tiredness and was losing more hair than usual, it turned out that both were low. She was actually diagnosed with pernicious anaemia meaning she’s on B12 injections every few months for life. It did fix things though and no more hair loss

From the test I can see vitamin D3 is 63 ( range 50 to 174) is it a bit low?
I can't see the B12 at all.

OP posts:
AriannasGuitarCase · 18/08/2023 16:25

Does he eat meat/dairy? If so, then if he has been taking vitamins, it will skew a Serum B12 test. He'd need to be free of all B12 supplements (inc stuff like energy drinks that have added B12) for about 3 months in order to get an accurate result. B12 deficiency can definitely affect hair thinning and cause fatigue. The first thing I would do is ask your GP if B12 was ever tested before your son started taking the vitamins, and see what the level was like then, just to have a base point to work off of

Original poster
windmill26 · 18/08/2023 16:40

AriannasGuitarCase · 18/08/2023 16:25

Does he eat meat/dairy? If so, then if he has been taking vitamins, it will skew a Serum B12 test. He'd need to be free of all B12 supplements (inc stuff like energy drinks that have added B12) for about 3 months in order to get an accurate result. B12 deficiency can definitely affect hair thinning and cause fatigue. The first thing I would do is ask your GP if B12 was ever tested before your son started taking the vitamins, and see what the level was like then, just to have a base point to work off of

We generally eat well ,what I would call a Mediterranean diet.He eats red meat a couple of times weekly , same for white meat. He eats cheese but until recently he was just drinking oat milk instead of cows milk as he prefers the taste. I asked him to drink a small glass of cows milk everyday (hopefully that will help a bit). He doesn't drink energy drinks. It is a minefield and feels like pulling teeth in regards to getting to the bottom of it!

OP posts:
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