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B12 deficiency

Posted , 7 users are following.

PiliPalaB4ch
PiliPalaB4ch

The latest round of blood tests show that I have a b12 deficiency - I have started injections today and will be having 1 every 2/3 days in the first instance.

just wondering if anyone else is or has been in the same boat?

0 likes, 19 replies

19 Replies

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  • bronwyn97278
    bronwyn97278 PiliPalaB4ch

    Posted

    Hi PiliPala;  although I have Fibro/Osteo/ME, I havn't had to have injections, as I have been taking (luckily) Vitamin B+ for many years....originally to help my moods.  Funnily, I originally started all of Medical dramas with Endometriosis, for many years (and was successfully treated for same by my Obs and Gynae Specialist), so that's when I started the B12+.....and now the research states that many women who have Fibro, have/do suffer from the Endometrosis...whether coincidental or not, will have to await more studies.....Bron
  • tiswas24537
    tiswas24537 PiliPalaB4ch

    Posted

    a lot of people become deficent in b12 with age and anyone whos had stomach surgery can often require a b12 supplement .aswell.
  • archemedes
    archemedes PiliPalaB4ch

    Posted

    Hi Bill, yes I also suffer with Pernicious Anaemia and am required to have cobalamin (B12) injections every 3 months.

    Upon your initial diagnosis your surgery will have arranged a number of B12 injections in quick succession, and depending upon the results of your blood tests, this may also include a short course of Folic Acid.

    Once your levels have reached an acceptable limit, then you should go on to requiring top-up injections every three months.

    Apart from marking it on the calender, you will learn to recognise when you do need a top-up because you will tend to become quite tired and listless.

    It is fairly common for these deficiencies to strike at us as we get older, so don't worry about it. 

    • tiswas24537
      tiswas24537 archemedes

      Posted

      i am going back on my sublingual b12 at the end of the week i am sure my fatigue bouts are longer and worse since i stopped taking them 
    • archemedes
      archemedes tiswas24537

      Posted

      I keep forgetting to drop in for my jab on the due dates, so I might go for 6 months of more before I do anything about it.

      Silly boy! 

  • tiswas24537
    tiswas24537 PiliPalaB4ch

    Posted

    now thats not wise have you thought of taking a sublingual form of b12 daily might help with you not needing so many injections .

    i cam of my supplements i always do for several weeks a few times a year to see if they are making any differance .

    defo been worse with fatigue without daily b12 

    • PiliPalaB4ch
      PiliPalaB4ch tiswas24537

      Posted

      I wasn't given a choice today! I suspect the level is low and initially this is to boost the level. Bloods were taken today - it will take some time to come back To check the intrinsic levels and cell size, this will say whether I need injections for life or not- I think every three months or so! 
  • loxie
    loxie PiliPalaB4ch

    Posted

    I mentioned to my doctor about B12 deficiency as a possibility, mainly because I'm vegetarian and dont get it naturally from meat/fish etc., and eat very little dairy products. I also suffer from extreme fatigue, a possible symptom of deficiency.  He said the fatigue was probably due to my OA and he didn't think I would be B12 deficient but didnt offer any test.  He also pointed out that I'm not taking any meds which may cause a deficiency - eg anti seizure meds (prescribed sometimes for fibro), chemotherapy, prescription antacids etc.  I may raise it again next I go back however as after reading your post I looked up the symptoms of B12 deficiency as per the list below

    muscle weakness

    stiff, spastic muscles

    fatigue

    incontinence

    low blood pressure

    mood disturbances

    I can relate to quite a few of these, excluding incontinence as thankfully I dont have any bladder issues (yet).

    Thank you for your post, very helpful.

    • PiliPalaB4ch
      PiliPalaB4ch loxie

      Posted

      Hi loxie

      i don't take any medication that links to it either, I have an allergy to beef and don't often eat red meat, but do eat fish and shell fish. I questioned it purely because I have had cuts at the side of my mouth both sides since March, I do suffer fatigue but thought that was Fibro, if these injections give me more energy then happy days!! 

    • tiswas24537
      tiswas24537 loxie

      Posted

      ID TRY a sublingual form of b12 that you put under your tongue 

      and goes straight into the blood stream .

      see if you feel better after a few weeks .

      you can also buy it in patch form  theres only one b12 patch 

      iv found that works and its very expensive £24 for a month 

      the others on the market are rubbish 

    • loxie
      loxie tiswas24537

      Posted

      thanks both tiswas and pili.  I got told by a prev GP when I first became vegetarian that supplements were 'a waste of time' (his words) as B12 isnt synthesised well so its hard to replicate that which we get from food.  Was a while ago so hopefully lab methods have improved and new formulas etc are available.  I'll look out for the sub lingual one you mentioned, as I think the cheap capsule form one can buy anywhere are probably useless.  Thanks again for all your help.
    • tiswas24537
      tiswas24537 loxie

      Posted

      i asked a doctor about magneisum once he just shurged his shoulders and said we only do half a day on vitiamins and minerals in training 

      so i wouldnt hold much store by what doctors say.

      i pm the ones i use in a mo

  • theres67439
    theres67439 PiliPalaB4ch

    Posted

    from what i understand, vit B12 can also be supplemented orally. it is supposed to be as effective as injections. ask your doctor, just another way to avoid shots!
    • loxie
      loxie theres67439

      Posted

      just been reading up on it before ordering anything.  apparently there are two forms of oral supplement, the more recent being Methylcobalamin (methyl B-12) which is better absorbed than other forms, eg cyanocobalamin.  Having read the reviews, I've opted for 1000mcg as a 'starter' dose and will see how I get on.  Thanks again everyone for such helpful advice. 
    • tiswas24537
      tiswas24537 loxie

      Posted

      yes your dead right i forgot that methylcobalamin is the th only one to buy 

      the other just wasting your money .

    • loxie
      loxie

      Posted

      Ordered some Methyl B on Amazon and have been taking them for a week or so.  No noticeable difference as yet but I'll persevere until I've taken the 60 in the bottle. Theyre lemon flavoured lozenges so not unpalatable, although they are a bit large so take a while to dissolve and I have a tendency to want to crunch them smile  Here's hoping they help.
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