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B12 levels

Posted , 5 users are following.

hayley38089
hayley38089

Can anyone tell me what the low measurements of B12 & the high please? I’m new to all this and trying to gather enough information before my next appointment. Thank you

1 like, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • Dena58
    Dena58 hayley38089

    Posted

    Search Pernicious Anemia B12 Deficiency Support Group on Facebook. They will have these answers for you. 

    There are Standards that are set but each body is different so what it low for one could be fatal in another. NHS considers anything under 150 as low. Your number is bottom of the range. 

  • hayley38089
    hayley38089

    Posted

    Thanks Dena58, I am still waiting for acceptance on the group smile
  • elaine30973
    elaine30973 hayley38089

    Posted

    Hello Hayley

    Mine was 98 and I've had 6 boosters then another and folic acid and now waiting on another blood test to see if its improved. What was yours? X

    • hayley38089
      hayley38089 elaine30973

      Posted

      Hi Elaine

      Oh that’s incredibly low then? Hope your results come back good 👌🏻, mine was 176 which he said was just slightly low, so I got a further testing on Thursday to check it again, also testing for CRP & Celiac too. Xx

    • elaine30973
      elaine30973 hayley38089

      Posted

      Hayley i felt So rough! Slightly better but not completely as have other problems also...... i couldnt work for 2 months and now back on reduced hours. Do you feel any better? X
    • hayley38089
      hayley38089 elaine30973

      Posted

      Oh no sad that’s the one thing that worries me that if I’m not treated rightly then it’ll effect me at work too! I haven’t had any tretement of shots as off yet, GP requested another b12 blood test on Thursday, if it’s low he said then I’ll have the injections, I also have other problems so been referred to different people, I feel I need a full body MOT lol! Been looking into paying privately so I’ve got more hours in work to fund for that! X

      Hope you feel better real soon!! 

  • marion29181
    marion29181 hayley38089

    Posted

    I was treated with a level of 176, but I had lots of symptoms. Once you are on treatment any excess B12 is excreted by the body.
    • hayley38089
      hayley38089 marion29181

      Posted

      Hi Marion,

      Yes my symptoms are, extreme tiredness, disturbed sleep, pins & needles in feet when I wake, extreme pain in lower pelvis area, giddy, restless legs, irritability, constantly yawning, fuzzy eyes in day, by night really dry itchy & swollen, headaches in centre off forehead, rapid heart rate, low Bp, forgetting silly things, loss off appetite, can’t maintain a good healthy weight. The list goes on sad unsure if the pelvis pain is related, I’m currently having further testing for that. X

    • marion29181
      marion29181 hayley38089

      Posted

      Do you have any balance problems too? I was banging into doorways and walls, so my arms and shoulders were always bruised. Burning pains in my arms. Tired to the point of exhaustion even after a night of sleep. I use hypromellose eyedrops for my eyes, and that helps. Is your digestive system messed up too? Forgetfulness and pins and needles are typical for Low B12. The forgetfulness was so bad with me I’d begun to think I was getting dementia! X
    • hayley38089
      hayley38089 marion29181

      Posted

      No I don’t have balance problems, yes I can be unbelievably tired even thought I have the odd good night sleep too rolleyes. Oh maybe I’ll get them eye drops? I had some off the pharmacist they were just saline though?. My digestive system is! Severe pressure when have bowel movements also bladder too! I’ve been referred to a Urologist as I have repeated blood in urine but no infections, so they are gonna look into that. Haven’t had my appointment through yet, I also have to send a stool sample to doctors Monday too sad . Do you have pain in your pelvis area? My seems constant! I’ve been prescribed co codamol and buscopan untill they investigate further! My forgetful ness isn’t to bad atm, it’s silly little things I’m forgetting but it’s not very frequent, did they give you shots straight away with your B12 level as he told me it’s 176 and said it’s not extremely low? X
    • marion29181
      marion29181 hayley38089

      Posted

      Yes my doctor did start the injections straight away. The thing was I kept getting infections, chest, urine, etc...I think when your B12 is low it has an effect on your immune system. Since I’ve been on injections things are so much better. I did have stomach pain, and they kept telling me it was irritable bowel syndrome. It cleared up about six months after I began injections. I still get problems from time to time but only when I’m stressed, and I discovered that stress depletes your B12. 

      Have they tested you for coeliac disease, sometimes it’s worth cutting out gluten from your diet to see if that helps? 

    • hayley38089
      hayley38089 marion29181

      Posted

      Maybe If my B12 comes back the same level or even lower then he will put me on the injections then, if not I will deffo keep on at him! Shame I have to wait till Thursday for more bloods then a further week for the results. Yes including in them bloods a celiac and also IF antibodies too. So fingers crossed they will be okay!  Yeah that’s why I have been so confused when researching information as everything is related to B12. It’s crazy lol! X
  • elaine30973
    elaine30973 hayley38089

    Posted

    When you tell anyone avout it they think oh its only a vitamin. If only they knew!
  • clivealive
    clivealive hayley38089

    Posted

    There are also two separate ways of measuring the amount of B12 in your blood - they have different units and will have different ranges - so in order to really understand what is going on you need to know exactly which test was done and what the ranges and units for the result and the normal range were.

    For test results within 4 - 6 weeks after a B12 injection the normal range doesn't really apply anymore so can't really be used to assess your B12 status but most medics aren't aware of this

    Here is a typical set of ranges and you can see there is a difference between the pmol/L and pg/ml

    Below 150pmol/L (200pg/ml). This level is most commonly used to signify vitamin B12 deficiency.

    Between 151 and 300pmol/L. This covers a range that might be described as the Total B12 “grey-zone” where the true status of the patient is uncertain. 

    Above 301 pmol/L. At this level it would not be expected to find (much) true vitamin B12 deficiency.

     I am not a medically trained person but I've had P.A. (a form of B12 deficiency) for more than 45 years.

    I wish you well.

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