Menopause

[Twench]

Does anyone have any experience of their B12 Deficiency symptoms being falsely attributed to the menopause?

[fionasloane]

Oh yes - well a combination of PMS and perimenopause. Mainly because, before i was diagnosed I found magnesium helped me considerably and the GPs didn't know what to do with this information. The only way I could talk them out of it was to keep a diary of symptoms and show them they had no correlation with my cycle.

[budmgf]

Yes! Before having a month of loading injections to boost my levels from 103, the GP said that my confusion and dreadful short term memory problems were due to menopause. I'm 51 and haven't had a period for 3 years. I am now havibg injections every 8 weeks and although the confusion/fogginess has gotten better my short term memory is still very bad. I forget names for objects, places and people which is very embarrassing. I have never had any adverse symptoms of menopause and it seems to be the default diagnosis for middle aged women!

[BlackInk]

Hi Twench

I'm going through early menopause (periods stopped out of the blue 2 years ago when I was 43). I started feeling AWFUL (loads of different symptoms) at around the same time so GP prescribed HRT. I didn't feel any benefit at all from the HRT so then GP tried to prescribe anti-depressants. I refused and it was only then that they actually looked at my blood test results properly and saw that my B12 was 122 and had been below 180 for at least 2 years. Also other slight abnormalities in bloods like borderline anaemia, positive ANA result, low platelets, low haemocrit. etc. I had 5 loading injections of B12 in November but don't feel much different to be honest. They told me to wait 6 months then get B12 retested. I'm currently trying to summon the energy to complain as I know this goes against NICE guidelines.

[MoKayD]

Yes, I misdiagnosed myself. I thought all of my symptoms were due to menopause or aging. The only symptom I couldn't attribute to menopause was my numb toes. Trying to figure out why my toes had gone numb led me to discovering my B-12 deficiency. Unfortunately, I had to ask my GP to test my B-12 levels. It never occurred to him. Oh well, he was a very nice doctor but not a good diagnostician.

[Twench]

Thank you ladies, this is most interesting.

[annmarierodnes]

My doc send me to a menopause clinic as I complained that I have very hot feet but as they had never heard of this my doc did persevere and eventually after taking loads of blood tests said that I have PA. I was not treated property - 2 weeks loading, then every 3 months. SI now and still have burning feet. Why is everything else considered first but not VitB12D when misdiagnosed is so damaging?