Symptoms returning

[shaylynn]

Has anyone had a relapse of symptoms. I was doing great and my symptoms were going away when all of a sudden my headaches, dizziness, and eyesight started to get bad again. I am taking all the cofactors as usual. Has this happened to anyone? I am at a loss of what to do.

[deniseinmilden]

Yes, several times. I've always managed to find a way to get around it so far!

You say "all the cofactors" - what exactly have you been taking and for how long?

[shaylynn in reply to deniseinmilden]

I am taking a B complex pill with folate, vitamin D, vitamin C, eating alot of potassium foods.

[deniseinmilden in reply to shaylynn]

There is a wide range of vitamins and minerals that are used in conjunction with the B12 and if you become short of any of these it can become a "limiting factor" in the processes that use the B12 and so the B12 can't work properly and you can get a return of the B12d symptoms.

You may do better to take a broad spectrum multivitamin and mineral supplement plus extra folate, with higher levels of potassium, magnesium and iron sourced from your diet if possible, instead of the B-Complex and vitamins C and D.

If you are low in vitamin D and you don't think that the multivitamin and mineral supplement will provide you with enough additional vitamin D (normally it should) your vitamin D supplement should be combined with vitamin K2 to stop the calcium being laid down in your blood vessels, unless you are taking anticoagulants (vitamin K is antagonistic with anticoagulants).

The multivitamin and mineral supplement will contain the B vitamins in the complex plus other things you will also need so will give you a good basic starting point.

You may need to fine tune your requirements with other top ups depending on what you eat and what you absorb.

I find additional magnesium helps my eyesight. Google this to find out what rich dietary sources of this you might like and consider using Epsom Salts, (magnesium sulphate) which is available over the counter from any pharmacy, in your bath water or as a skin spray (called magnesium oil but isn't oily as it is basically magnesium sulphate or magnesium chloride dissolved in water - you can make your own). Magnesium is readily absorbed by your skin!

You may well need more folate (B9) as the B12 won't work without it and as the two are used together your body's resources can get used up, particularly with more frequent injections. It's best to get as much as possible from your diet (again Google the sources you like best) but it is also easily and cheaply obtained as over the counter folic acid from supermarkets and pharmacies. If this doesn't work long term, don't despair as there is a small possibility that you are one of the few that do better with methylfolate rather than plain folic acid. Even fewer people need folinic acid instead. If I get short of B9 I get hideous dizziness/labyrinthitis. The cure is more B9 but Sturgeron 15 antiseasickness tablets (originally suggested by my Doctor) help with the symptoms in the short term.

For more information you can look up my other replies by going to my profile (by double clicking on my name) and look under the heading "replies".

Keep trying different things (carefully and gently) and you will get there. The fact that the injections helped initially shows that B12d is the problem and you "just" need to get the balance of everything right to be OK again.

Good luck!

[Quigley2005 in reply to deniseinmilden]

Thank you this is very helpful. I take mega mag liquid. It's amazing. Also b complex high strength vit d. Fish oil and primrose oil and just got some ferrous sulphate. X

[deniseinmilden in reply to Quigley2005]

I hope you find a good balance to suit your needs soon.

Best wishes!

[Quigley2005]

These are same symptoms that won't go away for me. Loading doses finished mid December and had 8 shots since that I self inject. My gp says it can't be b12 deficiency causing this and referred me to ent in case it's a balance issue.

[deniseinmilden in reply to Quigley2005]

Frustrating, isn't it? See my reply above.

[Twench]

Yes. This tends to happen to me when under extreme stress or when my coping strategies have broken down.

[topher2018]

Yes. Happens to me as well. Eyesight hasn’t really gotten back to normal and periodically am dizzy. Not sure what causes mine.

[deniseinmilden in reply to topher2018]

Hi! See my long reply above, especially with regards to magnesium and eyesight. I hope you can get it sorted.

[MariLiz]

When I’m stressed the symptoms return with a vengeance, could that be a reason for yours to be worse? I don’t just mean mental stress, but physically pushing myself too hard to get things done, or being ill with a cold or flu or tummy bug.

[shaylynn in reply to MariLiz]

Yes, stress could be an issue. I am trying NOT to be stressed, but can't help it sometimes. Thank you for the reminder.