Hi all,

I have just been diagnosed with b12 and iron deficiency. I haven't seen the written results so am unsure of units (apologies) but I was told that my b12 is 85 (should be above 150), and my iron is 8 (should be above 15). Are those very low values, or just slightly low?

And also, is brain fog and a severe inability to focus common symptoms? I obviously don't know how long I've been deficient for, but I'd say I've had brain fog/focusing issues for about 2 years or more now. I often also fall asleep in the day.

I'm doing a PhD so these symptoms are certainly having a negative impact on that. My supervisor knows (as of yesterday) that I have an iron and b12 deficiency, but probably doesn't know how badly these can affect you - I certainly didn't until I did some research. Should I bring this up and explain to her? I don't want it to seem like I'm making excuses for my PhD not going to plan and me struggling to do enough work.

I'm waiting on blood results to see if celiac disease is the cause, and then have to wait another month to see if my b12 and iron levels have gone up with the tablets I've been given. I guess if they haven't then maybe pernicious anemia could be a cause? So for now I don't know why I'm deficient. I'm neither vegan or vegetarian, and while my diet isn't amazing, I think I eat enough meat and dairy (every day) to suggest that diet isn't the issue??? Who knows!