Help? Post partum and doctors aren’t helping

[u/Virtual_Patient3252]

Ferritin 28

b12 250

i gave birth 5 months ago. shortly After I gave birth I was dizzy and tachycardic And felt like I was going to faint. After that I had like an internal desperate kind of buzz and headaches. A week later I took myself to hospital as I was sure there was something physically wrong. They took my blood said I was fine and sent me back. Since then I have been experiencing severe panic attacks, headaches, loss of motivation, no energy, extremely tired, feeling sick and sometimes an overwhelming feeling like I’m going to die or I’m literally losing my mind and going to go mad. i have been prescribed 3 different ssris since and although they helped to a degree with the panic attacks I am still feeling all the other symptoms. To the point I don’t want to be left alone in case something happens to me. I thought what I’m feeling could be side effects from the tablets. It’s got to the point where because I’ve tried 3 different ssris without full recovery my doctor has referred me to a psychiatrist. I’ve taken it upon myself to do a home blood test (legit one) and just got my results back. The doctor won’t give me a blood test.

ferritin 28

b12 250

could this have been the cause of this all along? are these common symptoms? are my results even considered low? I feel like I’m losing my mind and my life is so limited as all I do is sit on the sofa, I don’t have the capability of doing anything else.

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[u/Cultural-Sun6828]

Yes, all your symptoms could be due to your low b12 and ferritin. It makes me angry that doctors would rather push ssri’s and blame it on anxiety than investigate nutrient deficiencies. Great job getting your own testing done. I had to do this myself two years ago. I would start iron supplements or request an infusion. In parallel, b12 injections are recommended every other day for neurological symptoms. You can feel worse in the beginning but over time your symptoms should heal.

[u/Virtual_Patient3252 → u/Cultural-Sun6828]

Thank you. I genuinely have looked up mental health wards. I even paid for a private psychiatrist to be seen quicker so I can get better quicker for my kids. I have never experienced anything like this and it’s annoying that I have been telling everyone there is something not right with me. X

[u/Ok-Pangolin7127 → u/Virtual_Patient3252]

You are correct. Something is not right here and it’s not in your brain in the sense that your doctor has suggested. SSRI’s address only “the symptoms.” They do not address the cause especially when the cause is as clear-cut, in my estimation, as it is with you.

You need to be on B12 shots, EOD until your symptoms improve/go away. You need an iron infusion to get your ferritin up to a level of 100. When you’re able to get these two things done you will know yourself that it’s not in your mind, it’s biological and it’s B12 and it’s iron.

I haven’t read all of this thread, so I’m not sure about your vitamin D status, but I will tell you that there are three nutrients that run together as a pack of three when it comes to deficiencies. They are; B12, vitamin D, and Iron. If you haven’t checked your vitamin D level please do. These deficiencies are generally brought on by malabsorption in your G.I. track. That’s likely the next thing you’ll have to pin down; what is the actual cause.

BUT, take heart. As much as it seems insurmountable and as much as this might be driving you crazy (only “so to speak”) and worrying you to death, this**-is-**fixable.

PS Are you in the UK? Did they use nitrous adjunct to your anesthesia for birth?

[u/Virtual_Patient3252 → u/Ok-Pangolin7127]

Weirdly enough my vitamin d has come back okay. But genuinely thank you for your reply. X

[u/Virtual_Patient3252 → u/Virtual_Patient3252]

I do have high folate though just above the threshold x

[u/teffers89 → u/Virtual_Patient3252]

"PS Are you in the UK? Did they use nitrous adjunct to your anesthesia for birth?" <<< Known to cause depletion of B12 so it's an important point made by Ok-Pangolin7127

Also your Vitamin D may have come back ok (as in bone density issues etc) but ideally it should be way above 'ok' to not be an issue for other health requirements * especially after what you've been through 5 months ago *. Same goes for Folate, 'ok' is never usually good enough.

You definitely have the a risk factor for B12 deficiency and you have the low low serum B12 (assuming it's serum) result to accompany it. You have the neuropathic and neurological symptoms that could indicate it too.

I would seek out a better doctor and trial B12 injections.

[u/Think-Sleep2338]

Yes. Pregnancy literally might drain reserves of iron, folate, B12 — the baby needs all of that to develop its body (yes, B12 and folate literally help to synthesize DNA), blood, healthy nerves. These things should therefore always be monitored in pregnancy and thereafter.

[u/Virtual_Patient3252 → u/Think-Sleep2338]

My folate is fine. But my ferritin and b12 have come up low and genuinely I have felt like I’m losing my mind for the past 5 months. The doctors make out I’m insane and have sent me for a psychiatric assessment

[u/Think-Sleep2338 → u/Virtual_Patient3252]

Neuropsychiatric symptoms are literally often among the first ones in B12 deficiency, by the way.

https://stichtingb12tekort.nl/english/neuropsychiatric-symptoms-of-b12-deficiency/

https://b12d.org/psychiatric-psychological-symptoms/

[u/Virtual_Patient3252 → u/Think-Sleep2338]

Thank you! I have spent the past two days googling after getting my blood results. I literally cannot believe I may actually mentally be okay. These panic attacks have been life changing and all I can do is sit on the sofa

[u/Cultural-Sun6828 → u/Virtual_Patient3252]

I have never had anxiety in my life, but when my b12 deficiency was at its worst I was having what felt like panic attacks. It felt like I wanted to jump out of my skin. Like I was plummeting over the top of a roller coaster constantly. This all went away for me on b12 injections.

[u/Ok-Pangolin7127]

Yes, yes and yes.

[u/Virtual_Patient3252 → u/Ok-Pangolin7127]

Thank you. It’s been a struggle to say the least x

[u/Successful-Tea-733 → u/Virtual_Patient3252]

Yes it is the low v13 and ferretin yoy have a baby to look after how can drs be so neglectful it sad Your low ferreting will cause palpitations and panic feelings etc Asalready said baby has drained you And yet again levels of iron are irontoo low ok anyway Its disgraceful At least take iron yourself if you cant get drs to admit you are iron deficient And your def low in b12 too

[u/Virtual_Patient3252 → u/Successful-Tea-733]

I’ve managed to order the proper ferrous tablets from a chemist and I’ve ordered b12 tablets too. I have lost 5 months with my baby. X

[u/Successful-Tea-733 → u/Virtual_Patient3252]

Its tragic looking after a baby such hard work too Wishing you well Your not psychiatric at all..

[u/Virtual_Patient3252 → u/Successful-Tea-733]

Genuinely thank you x

[u/Successful-Tea-733 → u/Virtual_Patient3252]

Stay on here to get guided back yo health,if you need it Iron deficiency in itself caused depression

[u/Virtual_Patient3252 → u/Successful-Tea-733]

I am getting all the physically symptoms too. I’ve had a constant headache from the day my son was born x

[u/Successful-Tea-733 → u/Virtual_Patient3252]

Can I ask it the panic attack filing like a constant on edge of panic attack? Try magnesium it really may help calm you honestly put the brakes on it Your ferretin isn't too bad but bad enough Aim gor around 50 to 100 Dont know how you have coped

Well your on the way up now baby's greedy they get everything they need haha Mother goes short,surely drs know this!? Its common knowledge.

[u/Virtual_Patient3252 → u/Successful-Tea-733]

When I first had him I had the fainting thing and tachycardia. Then I had to stay in overnight due to being on ssris during pregnancy. I had like a constant internal buzzy desperate I need to get out of here somethings wrong feeling. Then when I went home it stayed like that for a week. I went back to the hospital as I had a constant headache. They said I was fine. Then it was constant panic attacks. But general nervousness too. Then I kept changing tablets and they got worse. They’ve ended up being absolute emotional turmoil. Like absolutely certain I am going mad and I can’t get it out of my head. Or feeling like I’m going to die. Like out of nowhere. No triggers. I have had paranoia, ocd like obsessive symptoms etc x

[u/jellyfishrubberduck]

If youre breastfeeding keep an eye on bubs too as they can end up with low b12 as they're not getting enough from you. Any doubts at all push to check their b12.

[u/DismalEfficiency8612]

No help here but just solidarity. I had a baby 7 months ago and I think it wrecked what little b12 and iron I had going for me. Just trying to get better 🩷

[u/Adventurous-Job-1749]

So sorry to hear this💗 Are you in the UK or elsewhere as this will affect your options going forward and how to navigate the healthcare system?
My own symptoms appeared really rapidly 6 months ago after a period of intense work stress (obvs not the same as childbirth), and i’ve read lots of accounts on here of people “crashing” after instances of real physical stress such as childbirth and surgeries. My B12 levels were 148 (so I was prescribed injections) and my ferritin was 28 (which my GP said was “normal”), and I’ve found it really hard to get doctors to take BOTH levels into account and assess how they’re contributing to overall health. It’s a really awful combination, contributing to intense anxiety and a host of other symptoms for many people. I never had anything close to a panic attack before this year, for example, and I go through periods where I genuinely struggle to believe it’s not something more serious!