I'm new to this.

[Bjonson]

It's back again. Hello I'm new too this. I was diagnosed about 2mos ago with b12 deficiency. Dr told me at first to take one pill a day which wasn't doing anything for me;  legs numb and tingly could hardly make it upstairs then he told me to start taking 1000 mg. I started to feel better. Now it comes and goes. Now it's just in one leg like my leg is throbbing. What shall I do? Has anyone else experienced this problem?

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Are you still being treated with tablets? or are you getting injections.  Significant numbers of people actually need much more B12 than the normal guidelines.

Whilst high level oral can be effective for some people it doesn't work for everyone.

B12 isn't toxic and you cannot overdose on it, so no problems in trying more than you are currently taking.

You need other vitamins and minerals to process B12 so if you are trying to process lots of B12 it can lead to deficiencies in other vitamins - folate is one of them - so it may be worth looking at supplementing some folate as well.

[Bjonson in reply to Gambit62]

Yes I am. When I saw my Dr this last time he cheecked my level said that it was improving and within time my legs would stop feeling numb. But to me it feels like I'm aiming at back to square one again. I go back to my Dr in July.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Bjonson]

tablets are not prescription only - they are considered to be a vitamin supplement so there aren't any restriction son sourcing your own  but you do need to be sourcing 1000mcg tablets - Jarrows is a popular brand.

You might also want to look at other methods of supplementation - sublingual tablets and sprays, nasal sprays (which work very well for me) and skin patches.  Again, these are all readily available - some at health food shops, some at chemists.  They usually state doses of somewhere around 1000mcg but it is okay to go over this dose and to actually listen to what your symptoms are taking.

I use a company called detoxpeople to source most of the B12 products I use - think others use amazon - and there are probably other companies out there.

It is unfortunate but it sounds as if you are going to have to take treatment into your own hands, though you might want to consider pointing your GP at some sources of information on treating B12 that make it clear how much variation there is in people.

This site might be of some help

pernicious-anaemia-society....

[Bjonson in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks alot

[Withattitude in reply to Gambit62]

Do you get your nasal spray from detoxpeople Gambit62? I've been trying to source one without much luck.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Withattitude]

yes, I use detox people - they have the yuliv hydroxo spray but also do some things they call 'nasal drops'.  I use both

[Withattitude in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks. Do you put the drops up your nose?

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Withattitude]

it's more tilt your head back and squirt if it is the nasal drops and if it is the nasal spray then it's like using any other nasal spray like the ones used for allergies. Sniff a bit after you have done it to make sure that the spray/drops disperse

[Withattitude in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks.

[Marz]

Once you are supplementing B12 - further testing leads to a skewed result and is of little or no value.  What was your result ?  How low was it ?

Jarrow Methycobalamin also do a 5000 mcg tablet - think I would be inclined to start with those - your symptoms sound as if you may need more ....  Are you taking any medications that could be inhibiting the uptake of B12 ?  Do take a GOOD B complex too to keep all the B's balanced.

[Bjonson in reply to Marz]

Yes I take other meds too. Guess I should ask if they clash. Thanks for the information

[Marz in reply to Bjonson]

PPI's and Metformin are the usual culprits ....