Buying supplements

[Scazzoh]

I wish to buy either sublingual tablets, skin patches or nasal sprays and wonder if you could pm me with advice on the best brands and where to get them? thanks.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Welcome.

Unlike TUK we don't have any restrictions on the PAS forum on sharing details of where to get sublingual tablets, patches and nasal sprays - you can also get sublingual sprays. You will find details of where people source theirs - including myself - if you do a search for posts and references.

However, I am a bit curious as to why you are wanting to supplement and wondering if you have looked at symptoms or just test results.

Suggest that you read through the pinned posts and in particular take a note of this one

b12researchgroup.wordpress....

I recognise that it can be very difficult to get GPs to listen or investigate a possible B12 deficiency - especially if you have thyroid problems and an overlap of symptoms. However, it is best to try and get a formal diagnosis if there is a problem.

Unfortunately the serum B12 test isn't a good guide as it doesn't tell you whether you are deficient at the cell level which is why symptoms are important - and the reverse is true - don't just supplement because your levels aren't above some arbitrary number (there is a lot on TUK about PAS recommending levels be 1000 but there is no such recommendation) - check to see if you have symptoms. The normal range is called the normal range because, statistically speaking it is the range where most people are okay.

Although B12 isn't toxic I would caution against just supplementing as it is possible that raising your B12 levels above where they need to be for you may lead to a functional deficiency - something happening that stops the B12 actually getting to your cells. You can beat this by taking more and more B12 but it does seem a bit unnecessary to do this if you didn't actually have a B12 deficiency in the first place.

[Scazzoh in reply to Gambit62]

Hi Gambit, thanks for the helpful info. My serum B12 in March was 257 (190-663), before supplementing and then 970 (223-1132)in July, when I started taking sublingual 1200 ug methylcobalamin spray. I am not supplementing 'willy nilly'! I had a negative IF test in August. I know symptoms can overlap, and I have been given a diagnosis of chronic fatigue and I have been ill all year, but I have developed since February tingling feet and hands, burning feet, tinnitus, a burning tongue sensation,palour, loss of appetite and aching legs. I am seeing a functional doctor at the moment who thinks I have 'B12 deficiency in the absence of true Pernicious Anaemia,' which she believes stems from food intolerances, which I am addressing through the Immune Protocol diet. She also takes the view that my folate is too high at 14.7 (4.6 - 18.7) Give my symptoms, the B12 deficiency and the link with thyroid disease, should I be then asking for further tests, for example an MMA test?

[Scazzoh in reply to Gambit62]

I have just received an email from the doctor telling me I should be on injections, and the information she gave me related to someone else! Alleluia and joy!

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Scazzoh]

really glad that the GP is treating you as you need to be treated - that's really good news.

Food intolerances have certainly been linked to B12 deficiency

However, also true that the IFA test is only 50% accurate - produces false negatives - so although a positive establishes that you do have PA a negative doesn't rule it out.

[Scazzoh in reply to Gambit62]

That's very helpful. Thanks, Gambit.