I’m so lost!

[Shannonf247]

So I’ve been feeling so rubbish for the past 6 months, so many symptoms headaches, pins and needles , dizziness, numbness, poor vision, fatigue. major weight loss (I’ve finally got my appetite back) prior to my b12 injections I had no desire to eat, now I do, but I’ve still lost 10 pounds in 2 months. Recently been back to my doctor who found my ferritin to be low, it was at 8 iron deficiency but not animic as my CBC was good. I’ve had a brain CT done came back normal, I’ve had a brain MRI still awaiting results. I’ve been referred to a dietitian for the weight loss. My doctor really wants my MRI results back so we know where to go from there - her next step is to refer me to an endocrinologist. What could be making my body not absorb these nutrients and why I’m I losing weight?! Anyone else suffered this? I’m on injections to correct my b12.

Thank you!

[Av42]

I went from 8 stone 4 to 7 stone 6 in a month before starting on injections . It took about six months to gain 6lbs and now 15 months later back up to my usual weight of 8 stone 4 . Usually lose appetite a bit so lose a couple of pounds on lead up to injection and for the couple of weeks after then when appetite is higher I make sure I eat as much as I can . Hope this helps .

[Shannonf247 in reply to Av42]

Thank you for your reply! I was 59kg before injections my last injection was October, now I’m 52kg. My appetite is back but the weight keeps dropping. I suppose I just need to keep eating more and more. Hopefully the dietitian can shed some light. B12 has a lot to answer for !

[Av42 in reply to Shannonf247]

I feel I should add I did have a holiday to America a few weeks after injections so was eating massive portions and didn’t weigh anymore than before I went so that’s an idea of quantity I was eating !

[Shannonf247 in reply to Av42]

Oh god that is saying something, still waiting to find out if I have PA or not, I know the blood tests can be negative 50% of the time.

[Av42 in reply to Shannonf247]

They have never tested me , just said injections for life which will do me ! Worry if decided to investigate further they’d stop treatment altogether, I was worried enough at last injection as nurse told me I looked well !

[Shannonf247 in reply to Av42]

I know that is a worry for everyone! I seem to have a decent doctor so I don’t think she would stop them if it’s showing improvement on symptoms but as I’ve been treated for one deficiency another one as gone totally unoticed (iron) until today so hopefully being on the iron tablets 210mg 3x per day will start showing improvement.

[Jessie8]

Hi Shannon,

I’m so sorry you are feeling like this. I had the exact same symptoms. However my weight loss was due to anxiety as I felt awful and was just so frustrated with not feeling well.

Could it be due to stress and anxiety?

[Hidden]

I also suffered from and indeed had all the investigations you are having. For me it was truly worrying but thankfully the results were all good. I also lost 14lb from 183lb in 2 months. Everyone said it was due to stress or the b12. It wasn’t. Or at least not entirely. It was due to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). Apparently a lot of people have it and don’t know it. It means you don’t have enough enzymes to digest your food properly and is a form of malabsorption. The test for it is simple and accurate. Worth asking your GP to rule out. Wishing you well.