Doesn't this FBC show anemia?

[KitKatChunki]

Just had some results back and given the all clear but now I've looked at them I'm pretty sure the reason I'm super tired and dizzy is because I am anaemic? Can someone less tired and fuzzy of brain guide me here as to whether I need to push the Doc?

Did they test your B12? I've felt similar and been diagnosed with a deficiency

Thank you @MyOtherCarisAVauxhallZafira It isn't on the FBC - is that what the MCHC would suggest?

B12 is tested aside from fbc given you've said you are fatigued and dizzy it surprises me they haven't tested your B12, your haemoglobin is low end of normal, b12 deficiency and anaemia often go hand in hand

What I'm taking from those results, is that your overall haemoglobin levels are within the normal range, so you are by definition not anaemic. However, the Hb concentration and overall Hb in your individual blood cells is low/borderline low. There are several potential explanations for this (I'd also like to see the "MCV" - size of your red cells) - that could include relatively low iron levels, low B12/folate (usually goes with larger cells, this could be true with a low Hb concentration I think, but not sure), but could also include things like thalassaemia trait which leads to slightly smaller red cells as your normal state. It would be reasonable to ask to talk to your GP further about these results and your current symptoms.

Did you have your ferritin level tested?

Thank you @pythonesque I think I missed a screen shot - here's the MCV which looks fine.

No, just the FBC is back for now. I wonder if the lab is slightly slower to process the in depth ones over the FBC though, maybe there will be more information coming. I did ask the nurse if this was flagged to show iron etc and she said it would so I am hopeful.

From personal experience, your HB level can be normal and your ferritin can be on the floor - which will make you feel awful and as you describe,

That would be the one I'd be paying close attention to!

I wonder if the lab is slightly slower to process the in depth ones over the FBC though

Generally takes the same amount of time.

The only one that I have had that takes longer is vitamin D levels as it has gone to a different lab. (It was about a day longer. I only know as I got the printouts)

Your GP has to specifically ask for Ferritin, B12, Folate and vitamin D to be tested, however some will only do FBC when a woman complains of anaemia symptoms as blood tests cost money.

(The GP can actually just do Haemoglobin and Ferritin if you are frequently anaemic and they know the underlying cause e.g. periods.)

As a PP said go back and say you don't feel well. Refuse to be fobbed off. Don't accept their explanations that you are mentally unwell or you don't really feel dizzy or whatever.

(I just realised I'm on another thread where a woman is being gaslit about her ferritin levels. There as you are being fobbed off by not being tested properly. )