My B12 is 167ng but I have been refused treatment - what should I do?

You are being fobbed off by a GP who knows nothing about B12 deficiency and is doing you serious harm. Your readings are well into the danger zone, and your symptoms are typical of someone with long term neurological damage.  More recent research indicates that you sould be seeking readings of AT LEAST 500 to function, and ideally over 1,000!  GP ignorance in the UK is widespread and probably responsible for much of what Madge on this forum called "the tsunami of senile dementia" we are now seeing.  I had the same problem with GPs myself.  Insist on injected B12 therapy immediately, or change your GP.  This really cannot wait.  Obtain a copy of "Could It Be B12?" by Pacholok, study it, then demand proper testing and treatment.  I'm horrified at your story, but it's all too common.

I completely agree with everything bluemaran said, it's appalling the way doctors are ignoring this problem. I was lucky that my GP treated anything under 200.

as you are vegetarian and have been for a long time this will have maybe caused the deficiency, but certainly made it worse.

There are supplements available that can be absorbed under the tongue, and lots of us use these to top up our levels because we often only get three monthly injections. 

Please see if you can get a second opinion from another Doctor, your levels are too low, and will be doing you harm. Good luck Marion

Yes samantha I agree with what everyone has said ive been diagnosed with vitamin b12 efficiency I had my first injection last night. I will now have another 5 they are also checking me for pernicious anemia because I'm around the 175 mark which is low. I went to the doctors because me and my partner have been trying for a baby for about 3 years now with no joy and my old doctors kept fobbing me off so I changed and as soon as I had my first appointment they sent me for blood test and that's the results ive had. My new doctor told me that it is a good job I didn't get pregnant because of how low my results are it could have caused all sorts of problems with the baby's development. I have felt very lousy for along time and it's nice to get some answers finally. See the problems my old doctors have caused me or could have. Do not get fobbed off ur untitled to get treatment older age it can lead to dementia aswel. Hope you get it sorted because I know how it's made me feel

Hi all,  I have recently been diagnosed with vitamin b12 deficiency with a reading of 59.  I had given up all hope and just put it down to depression and a stressful job, how i deal with stress etc. which i'd say had a big part to play in it.  I started to go see a therapist a fw months ago to deal with the depression but it is something I should have done years ago.  I have had a lot of health issues over the years with regards to the stomach but in saying that my lifestyle was not great, still though i maintained it by going regularily for acupuncture, massages, doctors appointments, sports, yoga, pilates etc.  Looking back on my life (I am 36) i was always low on energy, v dry skin and had aches and pains but put this down to the intensity i played sort.  However over the last few years i made an effort to change things but the more i tried the more i was burying myself deeper into the ground.  for years i have been going for blood tests as i was low on energy, stomach problems, sleep problems depression etc. but everything came back ok.  my gums have receded badly in the last few years, had numbness in my right leg and arm.  only a few months ago at a trip to the dentist I was v frustrated as i was doing everyhting they said but could just see as things were getting worse and my grinding got worse.  So they sent me to a specialist orthopediac in cranial and she says my jaw on right side is v damaged.  She also sent me to her doctor.  So I went and the doctor knew something was not right.  Blood test came back and I was 59.9 which she aid is the lowest she had ever seen.  I didn't really know too much about the deficiency and was advised to take time off work.  only when i read up on it i realised how serious it was and how it fit with what i have been experincing for many years.  The reason they found out was leaky gut which i had complained to previous doctors about along with v bad heartburn but was just prescribed esomaporazole which after reading up also blocks the absorption of vitamin b12.  currently i am off work and also off alcohol and certain foods.  The recovery is v slow, i am on weekly injections, daily drops of b12, magnesium, b complex and l glutamine.  I can't stop beating myself up over how i caused this to happen and the irreversible damage i have done, i know i will recover but the psychological part for me is the most difficult.  Again I had a big part to play in this and over the years the more i tried to turm my life around the more I hurt myself.  on a postive note, my muscles, mood and brain fogness are getting better.  For sure if I had known about this earlier I wouldn't have done so much damage.  I work in the pharma industry and work with doctors and after being diagnosed and i asked one why so many doctors don't check thos she said something along the lines of 'it is the last thing they think to check'.  P.S. Sory for typos, shoulder and jaw a bit sore from typing!