Blood Tests

[frustrated]

Hi

Have not been feeling great recently and have had terrible aches and pains in my joints and muscles for over a month now. I went to see my GP last week and they ran the ususal blood tests. Got a call from the doctor yesterday when they told me that some of the results were back and there is now concern over my red blood cells as they are larger than they should be. They say it could mean that I hae an iron or vitamin B12 deficiency.And I have to go for further tests next week

With everyone on this site being dairy free have any of you been told this by your gp or do you take supplements for vitamin b12 and iron if so can I have names of the tablets that you are taking

[matt]

well i have tescos multi vits which are dairy free but DO NOT start taking anything until after you've spoken to the doctor as it may mask an underlying medical problem.

[cnc]

I agree with Matt, don't start taking anything until you've had the investigations done. You could mask results and that's not something you really want to be doing.
I'd also suspect that if you're that deficient the doctor might be prescribing something instead.

[frustrated]

Just an update on my test results and surprise surprise my B12 level is low so much so I start on 5 injections in fourteen days tomorrow :( and have already been told that the injections are not pleasant and I shall have sore arms as a result :angry:

[jill]

I was going to say you might have to have injections but you beat me to it. My nana who is 92 has to have one every 3 months for Vit B12, I know she's a tough old thing but if she can cope then I'm sure you'll be fine.

[Copper]

I was talking to my friend the other day and she said that her coeliac husband has regular blood test to check on various things including B12. There must be a connection there then. Do you have problems with wheat and or gluten?

[zoefruitcake]

you poor thing :0( Hopefully although they are nasty they will make you feel so much better in the long run that you won't care.

[frustrated]

I have had all the tests and wheat and gluten seem to be ok but then again the consultant told me that I was not alergic to lactose even though the registrar gave me some lactose and Ihad ananaphylatic reaction! will mention this again to the GP and see what the say

[Copper]

I think that my firiend's husband is being checked for various things not so much because he is coeliac but because his intestine has been damaged by the disease. This is a temporary thing as the intestine can repair itself.

This site tells you everything you need to know about B12.

http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/anaemia_b12.html

Those of us who dairy and egg free need to be aware of our B12 intake - so that is me, PA and Goose then. I am not goimg to worry about it but if I get ill I at least will have some idea of what the problem might be.

[goose]

oh thats another thing to add to the list then!!