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Is this b12 deficiency?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Lillysmummy
Lillysmummy

Hi

For many years (5+) I've been getting tingling in my hands and feet with weird humming sensations around my body. My feet and hands often feel like they're burning. My arms sometimes feel heavy and weak and I get "growing" type pains in my legs often. I've always felt tired and never refreshed when I wake. I've been checked out for Ms as my symptoms are very similar and mris have always come back clear.

I've started taking a vitamin b complex supplement to help with anxiety (due to worrying I have ms) and I think my symptoms have improved slightly. I don't feel as much tingling or the humming sensations and I generally feel more normal.

My question is could the b vitamins have been the reason for the improvement and I'm actually b12 deficient? I've had bloods done many times and I'm pretty sure b12 was included. No gp has ever mentioned it's not within normal ranges but I've been reading that you can still be deficient even within normal?

I will mention it to my gp but I want to go armed with evidence that the vit b supplements have improved my symptoms so I need to know if it's possible!

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • caitlin39841
    caitlin39841 Lillysmummy

    Posted

    hi lillysmummy. it's highly unlikely u've had ur b12 serum blood levels done when the cbc/full blood work up was completed. it's something that ud have to request or have overt signs/symptoms of b12 deficiency.

    Caitlin

  • yirara
    yirara Lillysmummy

    Posted

    Have you been taking the vitamin B complex before a bloodtest was done? Normally you'd need to stop doing so for several weeks before a blood test as it falsifies blood results. At least if your doctor only checks for serum B12. Serum B12 might thus be normal if you take supplements. Serum B12 might also be lowish normal if you have absorption issues as the B12 is circulating around your blood but doesn't get where your body really needs it. For that you need special tests. Hey, my serum B12 was around 350pg/ml or 258pmol/l. It's low, but still within lab ranges here. Still I benefitted so much from injections, while normal tablets didn't do anything as I suppose too little was actually absorbed.
    • Lillysmummy
      Lillysmummy yirara

      Posted

      No I only started taking the b supplements 2 weeks ago. I had bloods done months ago, but it was just the usual standard bloods.
  • Lillysmummy
    Lillysmummy

    Posted

    Thanks for the replies

    Ah ok so maybe that's why it's not been picked up before. What should I be asking to be tested?

    Does it also cause bruising? I get loads of bruises on my legs even though I can't think of when I've bumped them.

    • caitlin39841
      caitlin39841 Lillysmummy

      Posted

      easy bruising tend to be caused by insufficient platelets in the blood - i.e. the stuff that coagulates the blood cells & controls bleeding. low b12 can cause megaloblastic anemia. often iron deficiency anemia can run concurrently with b12 def. these 2 together, if severe enough, could cause easy bruising. however platlet levels would need to be evaluated.
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