Macrocytic Anemia?

[Simonapo]

Hi, I am posting here for my Mom. She had blood work every year with perfect results until last year in September when the Hemoglobin/RBC/Hemocrit started dropping. She never had anemia before. In March of this year MCV and MCH started going up and be higher then normal. I took her to a hematologist at UCI, and they did bone marrow biopsy and over 40 blood test with all results normal, except the Hemoglobin/RBC/Hemocrit keeps dropping and MCV/MCH keep going up. All Folic Acid/Iron/B12 are normal, Ferritin a little high. We have not heard of a cause or any treatment from the doctor yet and being concerned. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

[Simonapo]

MCV/MCH/RDW high

Results

[Wheat]

hello Simonapo, would like to help but need more information.

Raised MCV for example usually means anaemia . Your mother's B12 and/or folate could actually be low.

Doctors frequently ignore symptoms and say bloods are 'normal', but the ranges are set far too low and are not normal.

Please supply us with blood test readings (and ranges if possible ), especially B12 and folate.

B12 should be 500 to 1000 for blood serum test. Recent research has 400 as a definite b12 deficiency state.

Best wishes x

[Simonapo in reply to Wheat]

Thank you so much for all your help. Please see the results you requested.

Iron Panel

[Simonapo in reply to Wheat]

see B12

B12

[Simonapo in reply to Wheat]

see B1

B1

[Simonapo in reply to Wheat]

see Folic Acid

Folic Acid

[Wheat in reply to Simonapo]

Hello Simonapo, I am of course not medically trained, but like you I saw many of the blood tests were abnormal. I am finding it difficult to translate USA ranges to UK ranges.

I hope others with more knowledge will respond.

You might re post to get more results.. Perhaps a heading, asking for help with blood tests.

Your Mother's B12 is low, as per my first reply. . Converted to UK its 343.9. Doctors should consider symptoms first., but do not.

Her high blood cell results do suggest macrocytic anaemia.

Does she have any symptoms of B12 deficiency.

A low B12 is known to deplete Iron.

Drs/Consultants generally are not educated to know of B12. They do not understand B12 is essential to survival. So B12 for many reasons, including financial, will not be even considered. Sally Pacholoc youtube film is worth watching.

Folate. 22.6 seems high, but not sure because of differing measurements used. However, if high suggest the following:

Look into Folate Trap.

A high folate level is known to masks low levels of B12. This can be through folate added to foods.

My post: Confusing Symptoms has replies re. Iron supplements. Also a link to post re. Iron deficiency without anaemia.

I hope you are able to investigate abnormal blood tests yourself, too often they are ignored here by gps.

Consider, other medications your mother may be taking that reduce B12 eg. ppi's, metformin, nitrous oxide (surgical/dental).

Has as your mother been taking eg, daily multivitamin, B vitamins/ complex or supplements. These can give false high results if not discontinued for 3 weeks prior to some tests.

With age stomach acid reduces and with it the ability to absorb B12 from diet. Hypothyroidism does this too.

An Active B12 test will show what is actually at cellular level. Its the only one I use now I am self injecting .

I do hope this is of some use too you. Unfortunately all too often we have to educate ourselves first.

You migh consider a Functional Practitioner .

All best wishes to you both, x

[Simonapo in reply to Wheat]

Thank you so much for taking the time to provide all this great info, I really appreciate it.

[Kennyatw]

I have the same problem, my bloodwork keeps going up and down and has been for a long time. I'm taking B12 and D3 and my doctor says it's nothing to worry about. You should find a neurologist that knows what he is talking about and take it from there

[Simonapo in reply to Kennyatw]

Thank you so much

[Kennyatw in reply to Simonapo]

I put my email on your page just in case you want to send me an email