Could these blood results really make you feel this bad??

[Bug84]

vitamin d - 41.1 nmol/L
serum ferritin - 18.0 ug/L

Went to the gp last week as have been feeling really truly awful for about 3 weeks. Honestly thinking i must have an autoimmune condition or something horrific.

Horrible fatigue, literally feel it in my bones. Everything is taking much more effort. Sooo tired but finding it hard to sleep. Sore hip. Horrific anxiety (which I’ve had for years but just much worse) and just feeling really really shit. Had bloods done and all looked normal aside from the above two. Could these alone really make you feel so unwell??

Does anyone have any experience or tips to get these up quickly?

Sorry you're feeling so bad. What else did they test?

Ferritin is within range if you are female I believe.

They did fbc, folate, b12, crp, hba1c. All within normal range.

there is no chance you have gad a tick bite?

Any thyroid tests? Have you been having any stomach issues?

Vitamin D should be above 50.
Ferritin ranges are ridiculous. ‘Normal’ ranges go as low as 15 but when mine has been around that I felt truly dreadful. I mean short of breath climbing the stairs, white as a sheet (people kept asking me if I was ill!), palpitation especially after drinking alcohol, dizzy all the time, hair falling out. They’ll say normal ranges are 20+ but I’ve been advised it really needs to be over 100 to be optimal and prevent hair loss. I didn’t realise how bad I’d been until I got on iron tablets.
Did they check anything else like full blood count, thyroid, inflammatory markers?

Full blood count was normal. Thyroid they didn’t check because I had a full thyroid check including bloods and a scan last year. They checked CRP for inflammation and that was fine. Haven’t noticed any kind of bites @lovecotswoldsliving

@AbandonedSpatulastomach issues nothing out of the ordinary for me. Had a normal fit test about 6 months ago but will bear in mind.

Ferritin 18 is low even if classed as normal and your symptoms ring true for iron deficiency symptoms, which are linked to low ferritin.

When my ferritin was 23 I was immediately put onto iron tablets. 18 is definitely too low. I was having symptoms at 23.

I struggle with iron and only today was told ferritin needs to be at least 20 to not be counted as deficiency. Higher to be optimal. I'm aiming for 50 due to malabsorption issues.

Interestingly they changed the normal range for ferritin where I am a couple of years ago. The lowest it should be is 30 now when before it was 14

Your vitamin d is low. Do you take supplements ?

i do as of today @DrCoconuti bought some of the 25ug ones. And some iron supplements.
I just feel so odd and rubbish. Worrying that there’s something else wrong.😑 but i know I’m very anxious and I’ve done cbt in the past for health anxiety.

Join vitamin D wellness group on facebook. Yours is too low but you need to be taking much more, coupled with vitamin K2 and magnesium.
also, they may say your B12 is ok but it probably isn’t. And your ferritin is far too low to support utilisation of B12. It should be at least over 30 but preferably nearer 100. Look at vitamin b12 wake up group on facebook too.

so much drs don’t know, you need to be proactive. So much you can do to help yourself

My b12 was 204 ng/L

Did they test for coeliac? That causes fatigue & vitamin deficiency. Can also cause joint issues, depression and anxiety.

What kind of iron supplements? You need ferrous fumarate. Not just normal multi vitamin strength.

I felt anxious when my ferritin levels were low despite knowing I had nothing to be anxious about.

That is low. If you raised your ferritin it would go even lower. Because then your body would be able utilise the b12 you’ve got, thus lowering the blood levels. What was your folate?

B12 deficiency is the cause of so many symptoms (not saying that’s definitely what you’ve got of course)

@pasandafolate was 19.7 ug/L, seems quite good?

The iron I’ve bought is iron bisglycinate from Holland and Barrett. Any good?
just received a message from the gp advising I can discuss results with the nurse and can buy otc supplements. I really think I have a red flag next to my name because I’m a bit of a repeat offender at the gp 😅 they probably think I’m making it up. But genuinely haven’t felt this before.
thank you all by the way!!

Yes folate is very good. Should be 20 ish for effective B12 use

your ferritin level indicates you have iron deficiency anaemia

I'd have had my thyroid checked again because all the symptoms you described were exactly what I felt when I had an overactive thyroid