B12 deficiency symptoms

[Antstarr]

Hi just wanted some advice really, it’s my 4th week of injections for my b12 deficiency I’m still having difficulty with my breathing, how long does it take for symptoms to get better? Thanks

[fbirder]

How frequent are your injection? Did you have two weeks worth of loading doses?

You should be feeling an improvement any time now if you’ve been treated properly. It will, of course, depends on how bad your deficiency was originally.

Also, we are pretty bad at remebering just how I’ll we were. So it’s possible that you’re felling slightly better and just don’t really notice.

[Antstarr in reply to fbirder]

My doctor told me 3 weeks of loaded doses I have finished them so now it’s one a week. The nerve pain has got so much better and even my eye issues are better but my eyes and my breathing come and go, sometimes I feel ok and the the pain returns, is this normal?

Thanks

[humaashraf in reply to Antstarr]

Yes this is normal. You will feel better and better as more days pass.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Antstarr - do you know if you your blood work showed signs of macrocytic anaemia - red blood cells larger and rounder than they were - this could take a few months to clear and would be likely to cause shortness of breath.

[Antstarr in reply to Gambit62]

I had anaemia but the doctor said iron anaemia

[deniseinmilden in reply to Antstarr]

As I read your post I was wondering if you had low iron levels.

This will cause breathlessness, even without a B12 deficiency and needs to be addressed, ideally under the supervision of your Dr as too much iron is also a problem. However I'm very aware that your Dr should have known/seen this and should have been treating you already so may not be hugely helpful. At least they should be able to run blood tests at your request if you want to know the effects of any supplements you have taken.

Iron bisglycinate capsules are more readily absorbed/have less side effects than other supplements and you can buy these easily.

You may need haem iron which is only available from meat, especially red meat, and fish. It is worth increasing your intake of this anyway until you feel better at least.

Avoid having any sources of calcium from dairy products, supplements and some fruit and veg for at least an hour before or after your iron supplements and foods, to stop the calcium "locking up" your iron and preventing your body using it. It's good to Google "sources of iron" and "sources of calcium" to see what are best kept apart in your diet, at least while you are trying to get better.

(Be aware that things like spinach are high in both so have a minimal net contribution to your overall iron levels).

Increase your iron intake until the breathlessness disappears and then back off a bit. After that get blood tests to monitor your levels and try to keep above the middle of the range.

I hope you feel better soon.