I have injections every 3 months for B12 defiency. I would like to have them every 2 months, but after additional blood tests, the doctor declined.
My query is about exercise and B12. I attend the gym 3 times a week, attending classes and running on the treadmill. I really struggle with the classes and notice a marked weakness in my muscles and stamina when the 3 months is nearly up.
Is there any link between exercise and 'using up' my reserve of B12?
I am trying to stay healthy, but am finding it more and more difficult as time goes by.
Thanks
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Anitae44
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Yes, certain things such as alcohol, sugar, and exercise deplete B12 levels more quickly.
Finding a good balance of exercise that doesn't wipe you out is difficult. I have had difficulties with that also. It all comes down to listening to your body and pacing yourself.
I found there has been for me. Since going to 8weekly injections (look at my previous posts for info) and starting to take a 5000mcg sublingual once a day (sometimes 2 in that last week), I have gone from struggling with 45 mins twice a week, to doing between 45mins and 90 mins 4-5 times a week in classes.
Do you have neurological symptoms? If so print some research and highlight relevant bits to make your point about inj every 8 weeks. Short of that buy sublinguals or patches and try them.
I've had P.A for over 45 years and in addition a couple of years ago got diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and I was "advised" to exercise. After I stopped laughing I thought about how exhausted I got just living day by day and having retired nearly a decade earlier . I was not overweight at thirteen and a half stones standing six feet four but my wife spotted a sit down, mini, electrically powered exercise bike which I could use in my arm chair regulating both the speed and length of session. Together with my Metformin medication and my little bike I'm now down to twelve and a half stone and exercise for twenty minutes a day.
I'm still a bit weedy up top but boy you ought to see my thighs.
Seriously though exercise needs to be self limiting and only you Anitae44 can do that.
I would say that there is no obvious reason why exercise should increas requirements for B12.
I would, but I can't. Over the last two years it has become plain to me that I need some extra B12 if I'm going to be doing something more than usual. In the past that would mean I'd need an injection earlier than usual. Now I pre-empt the problem by having an extra jab on a Thursday if I know I have an energetic weekend ahead.
So I shall be having an extra dose this Thursday or Friday in preparation for the archery competition I'm taking part in on Sunday.
Thank you for your responses. It all makes sense now. People say exercise should energise you, it just makes me exhausted. I will look into taking folic acid supplements. Really don't want to stop exercising as an underactive thyroid makes it difficult to maintain weight.
I have been a keen runner and competitive badminton player for years. Every Saturday I would run the parkrun (5k race) but I found my times were going down. I then had my loading doses at the end of 2013 and the next year I felt great and in the Summer broke my personal best by almost a minute.
Then as the year went on I started to notice stamina issues. I would run slowly and be so tired that when I returned home that I needed a sleep. My legs would be full of lactic acid...even if I hadn't exercised for a few days. But every time I had an injection my times would drop by about a minute (though still slow) and for a few weeks I would be able to train and my times would come down. This would last for about 6 weeks and then I would just feel as if I was on empty and my times would drop week by week until the next shot. B12 sublingual spray would help me get through exercise (BetterYou Boost, H&B) but wouldn't stop the fact that I felt exhausted for longer and longer after runs. If I picked up an injury I would start to feel as if I had more energy but then I would fool myself into thinking I was getting better and throw myself into exercise and go back to square one.
This carried on with the benefit of the injection seemingly lasting less and less time. I eventually convinced the doctor to give me more injections which were reluctantly reduced to 8 weeks but as 6 to 8 weeks was how long after the injection it took me to go from just feeling run down to really feeling terrible I decided to self inject. At the moment I am trying with weekly injections and have certainly noticed a huge difference. Apart from a big improvement in the usual symptoms (foggy brain, irritability, exhaustion and sore muscles and joints...) I am able to train more :o)
I do still feel like I have limited energy and have to keep checking myself from overdoing things but the reserve tank is certainly much bigger and I feel like I'm heading in the right direction for the first time since my loading doses.
I would certainly push for more injections. With 3 monthly injections I certainly felt better when I was injured and unable to train but surely that's not the answer.
I exercise 5-7 times weekly. Cardio and weights. I self inject weekly and take L-methylfolate. This keeps my energy and wind up. Otherwise i gasp with less frequent injections.
I have been self injecting weekly for two years. My strength and stamina has improved steadily where i feel consistently great, physically and mentally.
I have been in the same boat as you! I had my thryoid removed and also have PA. Exercise is EVERYTHING to me. But when I was at my low with B12, I could barely walk 20 minutes without needing a nap. I wasn't able to get back to my usual workout routine (about 9 hours a week of running/weights/hot yoga/other cardio) until I got injections weekly for a few months. I agree with those above who suggest pushing for more frequent injections. I know it can be difficult convincing doctors, but it's worth it. And maybe if your doctor isn't listening, you should see if another will. I wish you the best of luck!
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