B12 deficiency and rapid shallow breathing?

[seamail57]

Hi, I suffered from many symptoms of B12 deficiency for the past 12 months, one of which had been breathlessness, but only when walking up a hill or slope. If I pump myself full of methylcobalamin using sub-lingual tablets and a spray, this all but disappears!

Just recently I've noticed when relaxing quietly, such as lying in bed before I go to sleep my breathing is somewhat shallow and rapid. If I take a couple of deep breaths and fill my lungs then it returns to normal for a good few minutes.

Is this a symptom of air hunger or "The Sighs" other B12 sufferers talk about? I've have no other breathing related symptoms (ie cough, congestion etc.)

[clivealive Forum Support]

Yes seamail57 I have long had the same "problem" - it's almost like I "forget" to breathe.

I'm not a medically qualified person but I've had Pernicious Anaemia for 45 years but that's said not to worry you into thinking that you have it too as you seem to resolve it by taking B12 supplements.

Try and find out what your Folate level is as this is essential to process the B12 and a deficiency of which has many of the same symptoms as B12 deficiency including "shortness of breath".

I wish you well

[seamail57 in reply to clivealive]

Thanks for your reply. My folate had been below mid-range for quite a while too. Last blood test it was 23.02 (range 8.83 to 60.8). B12 is 253.

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to seamail57]

You can "bump up" your Folate by eating leafy green vegetables, sprouts, broccoli , asparagus, spinach etc or look out for it being fortified in breakfast cereals or buy some folic acid from your local chemist.

Personally I've taken 1 – Folic Acid 400μg tablet every day as a "maintenance dose" for more years than I can remember and my level was about 60% of "normal" at the last test

[seamail57 in reply to clivealive]

Yes, I've been taking daily Thorne Research B complex along with my B12 for about a year now too, but still only less than mid-range....

[Gambit62 Administrator]

shallow and rapid breathing doesn't actually sound like the sighs - which is more like gulping for air