New to B12 deficiency

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After 10 months of symptoms starting with hot itchy feet,felt on fire, followed by sore tonguye, getting more and more tired easily upset,breathlessness, blood test came back with a 169 reading.borderline, Dr put me on a 6 injection boost course,and said come back and see me after, but she said that should put you right.

I have just had my 5th injection, and because of Christmas have to wait another 5 days for 6th.the nurse practioner said you know you r on these for life now, inhj every 3 months. I have now read up all info I can get, and apparently because I'm 70,factor one, and have taken omprazole for 25 years,a prime candidate's. So!!! Can anyone tell me why!!?? I am coming out in itchy spots on my neck and chest, a sty in my eye, and although have the energy of a 30 year old, land up with backache after doing to much, note: because I feel can, why do I feel rubbish in the morning, especially the morning after the injection,I feel very tearful,picking up as the day goes on

, has anyone else been like this, and when ?? Will I feel like my old self again, incidentally I am in my 5th year of lung cancer remission , and must admit to putting down my breathlessness to having a lung removed. Not felt 100% since helpful advice please.

Tricia

1 like, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • Posted

    It is not uncommon for some symptoms to appear to get worse before they get better as the B12 starts repairing the damage done to your nervous system and your brain starts getting multiple messages from part of the body it had "forgotten about" or lost contact with.

    I sometimes liken it to a badly tuned radio on which you have turned the volume up high trying to catch the programme you want when all of a sudden the signal comes in loud and clear and the blast nearly deafens you.

    A lot will depend on the severity and longevity of your B12 deficiency as to how long before there is no further improvement or recovery. Some symptoms will "disappear" quite quickly whereas others may take months or even years. There is no set timescale as we are all different.

    If you can get to see a doctor please also ask him/her to check your Folate level as this and B12 help your iron to make red blood cells and to function properly.

    There is a complex interaction between folic acid, vitamin B12 and iron. A deficiency of one may be "masked" by excess of another so the three must always be in balance.

    Symptoms of a folate deficiency can include:

    symptoms related to anaemia

    reduced sense of taste

    diarrhoea

    numbness and tingling in the feet and hands

    muscle weakness

    depressionI am not a medically trained person but I've had P.A. (a form of B12 deficiency) for more than 45 years and I'm still "clivealive" and over 75 smile

    I wish you well  

    • Posted

      Thankyou Clive, I was beginning to think what's the point of these injections, !!! Have I really got PA, ??

      But your reply makes sense, I worked for a Dr for 17 years, and was really hands on, have always been interested in how the body works and you only have ??? Isn't enough,I have to read up as much as I can about what I have. ,so B12 deficiency came as a bit of a shock,but at least explained why ?? I felt like I did. These days I put everything down to my recovering from lung cancer, 5th year,Jan2018.

      I was told you will feel brilliant after your 2nd B12 inj, well yes !!! more energy in my brain, yes I can!! do this, but then exhausting myself physically,

      then gradually my emotions started changing, have been up and down, happy one min miserable the next , itchy back and chest, and back ache.

      Well now I know these symptoms are not uncommon, I will sit tight and wait for the old me to return. Thanks Clive and Happy Christmas 🎄🎄🎄🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎅🎅🎅🎅🎄

  • Posted

    The N.I.C.E. guidelines say that the loading doses should continue "until there is no further improvement" in your neurological symptoms and really only you can determine that.

    Click on the link, then on "Scenario: Management" and scroll down

    https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiYmdvK46TYAhVkDMAKHX7bC1oQFggpMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcks.nice.org.uk%2Fanaemia-b12-and-folate-deficiency&usg=AOvVaw3LC_YfL2F81El6A4vHmGvE

    Thanks for your kind wishes and I hope you will continue on your road to recovery. Don't forget your Folate...

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