B12 symptomatic.. active B12 okay

[Samcj02]

Hello,

had blood tests last week as I’ve been so tired had really bad brain fog for months now.. The brain fog is definitely the worst!

I’ve had my results, active b12 was lower end of normal, i
take it the GP will not help with this even though
i I have symptoms? Anyone else had similar results and ended up going private?

thanks

You can just buy methylcobalmin or cyanocobalmin B12 from a pharmacy or Amazon. It's about £8-10. It's fine to do this.

www.nhs.uk/medicines/cyanocobalamin/about-cyanocobalamin/

Our lab actually writes on the lab reports that patients can be symptomatic at the lower end of normal, so to treat. You may feel better if you boost it.
What was your folate level? How was your vitamin D, ferritin (another thing that’s often marked ‘normal’ far too low) and thyroid? All things that can cause brain fog/tiredness.

Agree thyroid function tests and other bloods important too.
Did you have just B12 done or Methylmalonic acid too? Was that normal?

Ask the GP for a therapeutic course of B12 (this is the loading doses and a course of maybe 3 3 monthly injections. Keep notes of how you feel, and if you feel better, ask to keep going with them. Or you can pay between £25 and £35 for a private jab as often as you wish. I have NHS injections every 2 (yes) 2 weeks. Yes they hurt but they really help me

Ferritin levels. thyroid was normal. Still waiting on a few results I believe!

Had a few test done, still waiting on results for a few of them. They didn’t specify what I was having done. Just said I needed blood tests.

whats Methylmalonic acid? 🙈

Your ferritin is too low it needs to be at least 70

@SwornToSilence you say they hurt and sounds like you are clued up about them. I've got a couple of tips I’ve learnt over the years that might help, if not might help new B12 needng posters

always make sure they change the needle after extracting it from the bottle. I had locum dr covering who tried to jab me with the same blunt needle

get an experienced nurse who pushes it in slowly

and the biggest one! Make sure you warm the bottle up as much as possible. Do not leave it in your car in winter overnight so you don’t forget it like I did first time. The pain was awful

I always have low ferratin levels usually under 20 and now B12 levels below normal (186 normal level 190 odd). My GP surgery says they may test my B12 again in 6 months but unlikely to do injections but to take a B12 supplement. I bought a B12 spray today. I have had an under-active thyroid for over 20 years on levothyroxine and I am also gluten intolerant (which hinders absorption).

I have felt tired, lacking in energy and had brain fog for about 20 years (so not ideal).

Take care OP

Thank you! I’ve looked into this and nhs guidelines for normal seem to differ. I’ll pop to the pharmacy and see what I can get to help!

I would go and get a private b12 if I was you! They are trying to reduce the number given in the NHS. Mine is low but as they say I can take tablets rather than injections I can’t have it on the NHS.
i have it every 8 weeks and it’s the best £25 I’ve spent in a long time xx

There's nothing magic about injections. They can make oral supplements that are as effective these days.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5112015/