B12 Advice needed

[UncleChip]

Last few weeks I have been very tired, a bit like flue but without the other symptoms,

Completely unrelated I was booked into the doctors for a well mans checkup as I am coming up to 55,

Blood tests showed my B12 as 93, and yesterday I got 1 of 6 jabs to be had every other day then come back in 3 months for a blood test,

Don’t know if it’s the placebo effect but I felt better after the injection for a few hours but now I feel worse,

As usual I hit the internet to see what it was all about and ended up here,

93 is quite low right? So you ask yourself why (as the nurse didn’t and the doctor didn’t feel it necessary to see me)

I eat all the foods with B12 in

The bit on the test about ability to absorb was ok (wife was a nurse)

My Gran and sister have regular b12 injections, my brother has them occasionally

Not sure if is connected but I stopped drinking 2 months ago, didn’t think I drunk a lot as you just do the same as everybody around you but when I stood back an analyses it I was drinking about 50 units a week, so I decided to stop for 3 months, I am only saying this as b12 is stored in the liver and mine has probably had a bit of a hammering, thought the bits on the blood test showed it as ok

Anyhow as the doctor wouldn’t even see me I thought I would ask opinions here

[Nackapan]

Mine was 106. I felt worse initially on loading g doses as your body gets a shock with the sudden flood I think. It then sets to work. You sound fortunate not to have had any neurologist symptoms. So I hope caught in the nick of time. I'm in my 50s 8 months in still with no explanation why it so low. Apparently it is usual for stomach acid to reduce with age. Stress and alcohol probably do not help either but my diet is good and includes Meat.

I've also stopped drinking any alcohol. I wasn't a heavy drinker but certainly up to the recommended limit per week. As your family history indicates or can indicate PA I imagine the blood test was done for it. On here I've learnt it only 50% accurate. Hopefully you will pick up with the b12 injections. If you concerned book a doctor's appointment they must see you. It is quite a shock when just told b12 injections needed for life. Glad bloods done as you will have to monitor iron ,ferritin , pottassium' vitamin d , folate. On here if you look at other posts most despite a good diet supplement with vitamins. Doctors are pretty ignorant on b12 and vitamins. Hope you feeling a bit better soon.

[pvanderaa]

Start your logbook of symptoms, food and meds. You will need to have evidence when you go to ask your GP for more frequent injections as most people (generalization- sorry) find that the 3 month between injections is too long. Try to assess a daily severity score for each symptom.

Once you are on injections, new symptoms will appear. Some are counterintuitive so don’t assume that things aren’t working. Increased pain is such a symptom of nerve repair. In the week after an injection it may even become a reassuring symptom that nerves are being repaired.

Are you also supplementing with folic acid and a daily multivitamin. Once you body gets B12 after being deficient for so long, the metabolism kicks into high gear and uses up other vitamins, minerals and metals. You may start to feel bad after the first week. The supplements replenish these.

To stimulate the repair of any nerve damage from the B12D, you need to develop your own set of physical and mental exercises. Swimming is a good all around exercise. Range of motion exercises is what you want not strength building at first. Mental game like mahjong stimulate short term memory, which is typically the first noticeable thing in the brain affected by B12D.

[pvanderaa]

Glad you’re off Alcohol. I found that any alcohol for me was like a four day hangover. Some people with B12D do not seem to be affected by alcohol. B12 itself is not impacted by alcohol but it seems that all the other vitamins that B12 needs to do it’s job are all consumed or destroyed by alcohol.

See how it goes for you.

[UncleChip]

Thanks for this, it is all very new to me,

I have upped my exercise over the last 2 months, a bit of running a few weights nothing silly but instead of getting easier it has been getting harder, it’s like running out of energy, and this last 2 weeks I can’t do more than walk the dogs,

I had a full blood set done and everything was ok, cholesterol was very slightly high (5.1)

Multivitamin is something I can add, and not thought of so thanks for that,

A little bit disappointed that I have not had b12 or the implications explained to me though I do understand our health service is reactive and not proactive,