B12 deficiency?

[waveylines]

Hi Everyone.

I have been experiencing a variety of symptoms:fatigue not relieve by resting, postural tremor in legs and hand, weakness, timgling and burning in hands and feet, periodic blurred vision, poor memory and concentration. I am optimally treated for hypothyroidism. I have been referred to Neurology by GP.

Now got my blood tests back so would be grateful if you lovely people would comment on them. Am told by GP receptionist no further action is required.

Many thanks.

Serum folate. 4.6 ug/L deficient if below 3.9ug/L

Serum ferritin. 138ug/L (30-400)

Serum vit B12. 287 (197-771)

Haemoglobin concentrate. 140 g/L (110-147)

Total whiteblood count. 4.5 10*9/L (3.5-9.5)

Platelet count. 298 10*9/L (150-400)

Red blood count. 5.19 10*12 ( 3.75-5.00) above range

Mean cell volume. 83.4 fl (80-98)

Haematocrit 0.433 fl. ( 0.32-0.43) above range

Mean cell Haemoglobin level 27.0 pg ( 27-33)

Mean cell haemoglobin concentrate 323 g/L ( 335-370) below range

ESR 23 mm/h (1-15)

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi waveylines your test results are all within "range" but it is known that if you have thyroid problems you are at an elevated risk of developing a Vitamin B12 deficiency.

Symptoms of B12 deficiency tend to develop slowly and may not be recognised immediately. As the condition worsens, common symptoms include:

Weakness and fatigue

Light-headedness and dizziness

Palpitations and rapid heartbeat

Shortness of breath

A sore tongue that has a red, beefy appearance

Nausea or poor appetite

Weight loss

Diarrhoea

Yellowish tinge to the skin and eyes

If low levels of B12 remain for a long time, the condition also can lead to irreversible damage to nerve cells, which can cause the following symptoms:

Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet

Difficulty walking

Muscle weakness

Irritability

Memory loss

Dementia

Depression

Psychosis

The British Society for Haematology guidelines say on the Diagnosis of B12 and Folate Deficiency "In the presence of discordance between the test result and strong clinical features of deficiency, treatment should not be delayed to avoid neurological impairment".

google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j...

Make a list of your symptoms and present this to your doctor and ask him to treat you according to your symptoms and (perhaps) even start you on loading doses "until there is no further improvement" according to the N.I.C.E guidelines below. Click on the link, then on "Scenario: Management" and scroll down to "Treatment for B12 deficiency"

google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j...

If possible take someone with you who can validate your neurological symptoms as the doctor is less likely to pooh pooh you in front of a witness.

I am not a medically trained person but I've had Pernicious Anaemia (a form of B12 deficiency) for more than 46 years.

I wish you well.

[waveylines in reply to clivealive]

Thanks Clivealive....I dont really know what to make of it tbh. I can see my B12 is in range and the other bloods seem to be fine although I did wonder about the mean haemoglobin concentrate being below range if that was relevant at all?

I do have many of the symptoms you list above though I note that tremor is not something you listed and that is a major symptom of mine. Maybe its something else.

I very much doubt my GP will start me on B12 injections as am sure she will want the neurologist to assess me but I will talk to her about this. Thankyou -really appreciate your info and the links.

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to waveylines]

Your Haematocrit 0.433 fl. ( 0.32-0.43) above range

Dehydration—this is the most common cause of a high haematocrit. As the volume of fluid in the blood drops, the RBCs per volume of fluid artificially rises; with adequate fluid intake, the hematocrit returns to normal.

Your Red blood count. 5.19 10*12 ( 3.75-5.00) is above range

Your Mean cell haemoglobin concentrate 323 g/L ( 335-370) is below range

You really do need to speak to your doctor about these.

Please remember I'm not medically trained.

[waveylines in reply to clivealive]

Yes it was a hot day so dehydration is a distinct probability....but will check with GP. Thanks.

[Marz in reply to waveylines]

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

Hi - you can see that Tremor is mentioned in the neurological signs and symptoms in the above link. Are you supplementing any B12 ?

[waveylines in reply to Marz]

So it is Martz!! I always like to find the underlying links as theyre ususlly there somewhere!! Thankyou.

My GP & I are confused by my tremors as they dont fit any proper pattern of the dreaded diseases of Parkinson's (in my family) ms or essential tremor. My tremor is postural.

Ive not taken any B12 & b complex for three years as once I was diagnosed with breast cancer my Oncologist banned it. He doesnt like me taking supplements though ive been clear of bc for two years now. However in desperation I reinstated my sublingual b12 & b complex for a couple of days. ....upping the B12 to 3000 of the methyl..... The burning tingling went on second day. Not changed the tremors though.

[Marz in reply to waveylines]

Some symptoms take much longer to heal and in particular nerve damage. I think B12 injections is the way to go as others have suggested. Docs need to be shown the way - it is the symptoms of the patient that need treating not the number on the computer screen 😊

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to waveylines]

It is not uncommon for some symptoms to appear to get worse before they get better as the B12 you are supplementing starts repairing the damage done to your nervous system and your brain starts getting multiple messages from parts of the body it had "forgotten about" or lost contact with.

I sometimes liken it to a badly tuned radio on which you have turned the volume up high trying to catch the programme you want when all of a sudden the signal comes in loud and clear and the blast nearly deafens you.

A lot will depend on the severity and longevity of your B12 deficiency as to how long before there is no further improvement or recovery.

Some symptoms will "disappear" quite quickly whereas others may take months or even years. There is no set timescale as we are all different.