Cliffman, when you are taking iron are you still anemic? When I was pregnant I was anemic and I wasn't absorbing the form of iron I took. I went to a nutritionist and he switched my iron to a more absorbable one and it fixed the problem. Just wondering...

My iron goes up on when I'm on iron and drops when I'm not. I took Floradix for a while during all my pregnancies, it's supposed to be gentle on your system.
I don't have any issue with taking iron. It doesn't give me adverse effects.

And no, no one said my b12 was low. I was told everything except my iron and all the bits that go with it were low. Everything else was satisfactory, I only know the b12 as it was on the bottom and I asked about it.

There was something about the artefact on the pons and I'm to get some sort of ct and lumbar puncture as an inpatient and get refered to gastroenterology.

Do you know the units your B12 was measured in? In the US, anything below 400 is considered low. However - In Europe, the measurement might be given in different units, requiring a conversion factor.

In the UK B12 is measured in pmol/mL (US is pg/ml). So Blair's 265 pmol/mL is considered within the normal range in the UK (180-1,000pmol/mL). However as in the US the range reference is considered outdated by some physicians.

Here's a link to a UK website which explains it quite well:
http://www.drsharmadiagnostics.com/v...deficiency.htm

Blair it won't hurt to start supplementing with 1000mcg of oral B12 methylcobalamin daily for 3 mths, see if it helps, then reduce to a maintenance dose of 2-3 times weekly. Take it on an empty stomach at least 1 hr before food. Stop taking it for about 1 week if you're having a blood test - it can give a false high reading.
For more info check the B12 sticky: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread85103.html

Another thing to consider is that both your low iron absorption and B12 could be linked to gastro problems. Are you taking any probiotics to help with the stomach issues? All the best for improvement.

Link to website with conversion chart for those wanting to compare different ranges for tests in different measurements:
http://www.globalrph.com/conv_si.htm

Though I know you've had spinal issues--
 

--that may well be related to your symptoms, given your low B12, and the anemia that responds to iron (at least when you're on it), have you ever been tested, either serologically or by endoscopic biopsy, for celiac disease?

There is the possibility that you have both spinal issues and autoimmune ones--none of us are spared the possibility of co-morbidity, unfortunately. And when people have more than one condition the investigation/diagnostic process is just that much more confusing.

I've been refered to to gastroenterology for testing of digestive and absorption issues.

Lumbar puncture
 

I got my appointment for lumbar puncture and other tests in the post yesterday.
I go in on Thursday.
My mum has ordered me some b12 tablets same as the ones she takes, I'm also on iron tablets again so she gave me a pot of vit c tablets to take with each iron tablet.
Mum says that b.m.a. Says lower level should now be adjusted to 300-500 depending on age.
No matter what else happens I'll be taking supplements to do something to help myself.

B12
 

Hi. Bluesfan wrote this but in case you hadn't noticed there is a certain type of B12 that is considered to be the best for many reasons. I'm not sure what your mom was going to order for you. I take 1000mg of the sublingual form everyday. There is a link Bluesfan included and other information on this forum on the subject of B12.

B12 methylcobalamin.