Escalating symptoms - further tests?

[siamese_dream]

Hi I need to keep this brief because I feel like I'm dying but basically I'm wanting to get my active B12 and MMA levels checked. Please could somebody tell me, is that everything I need to get an accurate picture of what's going on in terms of my B12 status? Or should I get my homocysteine level checked too? I was diagnosed as being B12 deficient last June having already had neurological symptoms for almost 2 years at that point (!), however the GP only prescribed me three 50mcg supplements/day. I don't have PA so the supplements brought my B12 level up and within normal range but my symptoms have only really gotten worse. I'm in constant pain at this point, it gets so bad sometimes that it causes me to vomit. Unremitting tremors all over my body, pins and needles, numbness in my hands and feet, permanent double vision... Migraines, palpitations, painful skin, crushing breastbone pain, feeling like there's grit in my eyes, vertigo, balance problems, unbearable nausea. And brain fog and memory problems so bad that I'm actually really messed up mentally. I have OCD as well and having these symptoms on top has basically left me completely housebound. Yet doctors still say it's "just anxiety"....... Anyway so since around New Year I've only been taking one or two 50mcg supplements a day, please does anybody know if this will affect my results if I get these tests done? Thank you in advance for any advice.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

what exactly were the test results before and after the supplements.

serum B12 is only accurate to within 20% so if the supplements had caused a rise from just below normal level to just above normal level that could just be down to the accuracy of the test.

Symptoms of B12 deficiency also overlap with a number of other conditions, which would include other vitamin and mineral deficiencies, thyroid problems, diabetes ...

What is your diet like eg in terms of animal products (B12) and also in terms of fruit and vegetables (sources of folate). If your diet included meat/fish/dairy/eggs in good quantities then you are unlikely to have a dietary deficiency and 50mcg tablets wouldn't make any significant difference to tests for B12 deficiency.

You should stop taking the supplements for about a week before testing for IFA.

[Martin_12]

I would request homocysteine and folate tests in addition to MMA, total serum B12 and active B12.

Unless you are vegetarian or vegan, oral treatment of B12 deficiency usually requires high doses, e.g. at least 1000 micrograms of B12 every day. I agree with beginner1. I would be demanding injections just as soon as bloods are taken for your tests. This web page might be helpful:

b12-institute.nl/caution-no...