Low B12 but only given tablets

[Noreek]

Hi all,

I was recently discovered to have low B12 levels. I went to see the Dr with dizziness/vertigo, unilateral tingling in my face and some pins and needles in my back. I am a pescatarian who regularly used Omeprazole for the last few years.

My B12 level was 138 pg/mL

Folate 7.2 ng/mL (Which I believe is OK).

My MCV etc was normal. Despite informing the Dr that I supplement anyway he prescribed me tablets that would be "stronger than the ones i can get in the shops" - they were 50mcg, I already took 1000mcg every day. Despite my protestations and the fact that I now have tingling feet and awful dizziness he insisted on the tablets.

I am feeling a bit lost now, Dr has requested blood tests for antibodies but this is a two week process between Dr asking for tests, getting a slot for blood to be taken a week later and getting results a week after that. I could feasibly be four weeks away from getting this treated properly and I feel awful. This has given me anxiety about other causes for the dizziness, I am scared to exert myself at the gym and I am a bit scared to be alone in case i fall or pass out.

I am based in Kent, UK. Is there a way to get the B12 injections privately?

I have also recently been prescribed Thyroxine for subclinical thyroidism with symptoms (Which may be b12 related!).

[fbirder]

Write to your doctor, including this NHS document hey.nhs.uk/wp/wp-content/up... and demand to be treated according to this protocol. Then book an appointment to discuss it.

[Noreek in reply to fbirder]

Thank you. Unfortunately for me he does appear to be following this chart as my result was between 115 and 150. I guess I need to tough it out a bit more, if there are antibodies (Should know next week) then i will get injections otherwise i will keep taking the supplements and hope they start to work soon.

[fbirder in reply to Noreek]

The chart says that somebody presenting with objective evidence of a deficiency and a serum B12 in the intermediate range should be started on B12 replacement, by which they mean injections.

Only if you show to be negative for IF antibodies and there is no objective response (i. e., you don’t start feeling better) should you be trialled on the tablets. If you do start feeling better than you’re on unj cations for life with no further testing.

[genesurf]

Don't B12 supplements within one week of a blood draw give a false positive on the IFA test?

[KimberinUS in reply to genesurf]

yep, especially if he continues the high dose pills. Noreek imo you need to stop b12 supplimentation, in fact also biotin supplimentation if taking in a multi due to it possibly effecting b12 and thyroid tests!!! biotin supplimentation leaves in 2 days but high dose b12 takes at least 2 weeks of stopping before testing.

your dr. is an idiot and if he cared about how you felt, you would not have left there with 50 mcg pills when you already take 1000mcg pills.

stop working out. that uses b12 up. and when you have a b12 deficiency the exercise will not help. i know. i used to jog 3 miles a day 3-5 days week prior to being diagnosised b12 deficient.

thankfully mine was h pylori induced and thankfully 8 months after h pylori treatment my stomach, which produces intrensic factor cells, has healed enough to absorb b12 on its own again.

i haven't had a b12 injection since 7-6-18 and my b12 level went up from one week after injection being 1072 to being 1300 something on 8-28-18. in between i had zero multivitamins and only one 2000 mcg b12 sublingual which i have had for over 15 months and had taken on probably 30 different occasions and had never felt it helped in addition to almost weekly b12 injections and of course daily b12 tables of 120mcg.

if you are taking 1000 mcg of b12 and your level is 138 you have an absorption problem.

ask for an h pylori test. i was positive without ANY heartburn. and if you have heartburn that is a classic symptom.

best of luck and health.