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Posted , 3 users are following.

sharon06805
sharon06805

I am so sad when reading some of the problems people are having getting their doctors to give them a B12 injection.  I said in an earlier post what good doctors I have as from a routine blood test they called me to say my B12 was very low at 150.  I wasn't anaemic and another blood test showed there was nothing goin on in my stomach so they don't know why I'm not absorbing B12.  I didn't realise at the time how serious this was as my memory was going, I was having dizzy spells and the real worrying thing was going to the toilet.  It was as if my brain wasn't telling my muscles to work and I would be trying for a long time before I would go. All this has changed and I am not losing it, going to the toilet regular without a problem plus other stuff I have noticed.  

I went to my doctors to thank them, when I told him the things that were happening previously and that my dad had suffered Alzheimers he sent me for another blood test to see how much it had improved.  I had a full blood count done for B12 and Folic Acid.  The result now is 1357 for my B12 and 4.5 for Folic Acid which is a little low. I am taking vitamin supplements to top this up and I already have my injections ready for my dose in September.  

I so feel for anyone that doesn't have this support from their doctor as I know how worried I was thinking I was following my dad with Alzheimers.  Please don't give up, keep hounding them to get the help you need.

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • bethany84213
    bethany84213 sharon06805

    Posted

    I am glad you got the required help. Many of us don’t get it on time and suffer as a result of it, in time to come. People with high homocysteine levels are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Taking folic acid and vitamin B-12 are known to lower levels of homocysteine in the body. One study also concluded that taking vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid in medicinal quantities reduced the overall shrinkage of a person's brain by 30% over the course of the two-year.

    Apart from supplements one also needs to maintain a healthy brain for longer by keeping a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, not smoking, staying active, drinking in moderation and keeping blood pressure and cholesterol in check. Eat plenty of raw spinach, peas, beans, brown rice and other vegetables that are rich in folic acid; remember that folic acid is destroyed when cooked, so eat these vegetables raw.

    • holmerush
      holmerush bethany84213

      Posted

      Thank you for this information, Bethany. I hadn't realised that folic acid was destroyed (completely?) when vegetables were cooked; I cook my spinach and kale. (anyone got a  palatable recipe for uncooked kale?)  I take 5mg  prescribed Folic Acid daily. My Serum Folate level in October 2014 was 16.7ug/L which I think is okay? The range on the read-out just says >4ug?L. 
  • sharon06805
    sharon06805

    Posted

    Hi, thanks for the extra info although I don't smoke, I'm already on bp and cholesterol tablets, my weight is good and I'm very active although I was struggling to get going before my injections as I thought I was doing to much.  I had a lot of tiredness and fatigue before my injections which does seem to have improved and I'm sleeping better.  I am on my own now having lost my husband 2 years ago so salads are the easiest to do now so I do have plenty of uncooked already In my diet.  I have started taking multi vitamins to top up my folic acid so hope this will help.
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