B12 deficiency and bruising

[scadman]

I have been having B12 injections for approx.15 months at 12 week intervals, recently increased to 10 weeks intervals. After a conversation with my GP, she has made a referral for me to see a neurologist, but in my area (South Wales) the waiting list is up to12 months. So she is also referring me to a Medical Registrar to do a more in depth investigation, as some of my symptoms could indicate other problems, she didn't say what, and to be honest I would rather not know and worry about specific illnesses before hand (friends have already mentioned MS as a possibility). What I am trying to do is compile a list of possible symptoms ready for the consultation. I have a problem with balance, tripping, and falling, stairs are a particular hazard. Recently I fell and knocked my knee, this resulted with swelling and bruising where I knocked it, but within a couple of days I developed bruises all down my leg, and on my other leg/foot considerable bruising all over my ankle, I can't remember any pain from injuring this, I have previous tested as having possible nerve damage in my lower legs. What I need to know is whether this easy bruising is part of the B12 problem. I am also taking levothyroxine, currently 62.5 mg. I take other medications, and having read the patients notes can't see any of these causing this. I am taking Oxybutynin and Betmiga for an incontinence problem caused by extensive gynaecology surgery, Statins for a hereditary heart condition, and Macrogol to prevent constipation developing that would put any strain on the pelvic surgery I have had (3 ops in 3 years). is bruising a common factor in B12 deficiency.

Thanks for any help.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

can't comment on thyroid and it does rather complicate things as symptoms of B12 deficiency and thyroid overlap.

bruising is often reported in relation to B12 deficiency - was a factor for me.

Would suggest you get your GP to test MMA and homocysteine to see if you have a functional B12 deficiency (lots in your blood but a reaction to high serum B12 meaning that the B12 isn't actually getting through to your cells. Most effective treatment is to keep B12 levels really high so there is enough B12 in your blood to beat the reaction.

Quite likely your GP won't have heard of functional B12 deficiency, so some articles on it

academic.oup.com/qjmed/arti...

watermark.silverchair.com/a...

[scadman in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks for your reply, the MMA test was done when I was initially diagnosed as B2 deficient, and came back normal. Don't know about homocysteine. I thought I was doing quite well in the GP consultation getting 2 hospital referrals, but when I asked about increasing the b12 jabs from 12 to 8 weeks, as this seems to be the point where my symptoms get a lot worse, she said no as there would be a danger of giving me too much, whereas the consensus of opinion on here suggests you can't over-dose on B12. I'm hoping the appointment with the medical registrar won't be too long a wait, (GP thinks waiting list is 2 to 3 months) and they will be more knowledgeable about the problem, but I also want to be prepared with the right questions and symptoms to put to him/her.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to scadman]

B12 is not toxic

the treatment for cyanide poisoning is 5000 x the amount you get in a shot administered intravenously over 15 minutes with a repeat dose 30 minutes later if needed ... and its the treatment of choice because of its low toxicity - the downside is the risk of hypertension (raised blood pressure) because of the amount of fluid that needs to be injected.

raised serum B12 can cause problems and lead to a functional deficiency but if you are B12 injections for an absorption problem 2 then that is somewhat irrelevant as the reaction is going to be kicked off by giving you an injection.

MMA may be very different now but sounds as if asking for test isn't going to get very far.

Quite likely the reaction that you will get is that it can't be anything to do with B12 because you are on shots but there is a lot more to treating a B12 deficiency than that. However, lets hope that the registrar is on the ball when it comes to B12

[kirsten555]

Hi scadman - when I was really suffering from B12 deficiency, I would bruise really easily and for no obvious reason. Sometimes I'd get great big bruises all over the place, as if I'd really bashed myself, and other times, little dainty bruises about the size of a 1p piece. Now that I'm finally on the mend (due to self-injecting every day) I haven't noticed the bruising being a problem any more, so can only assume it was due to being deficient. Hope yours improves soon!