Feeling worse is it normal?

[sammisboys]

Was diagnosed with B12 deficiency last week. Received first shot last Monday did ok. Another shot last Thursday felt great. Another shot yesterday and my tingling is worse today. Is this normal? I feel like I’m losing my mind because some days I feel worse instead of better. I will be taking injections 1x per week and daily oral supplements of 1000mcg

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi sammisboys

It is not uncommon for some symptoms to appear to get worse before they get better as the B12 you are having starts repairing the damage done to your nervous system and your brain starts getting multiple messages from part of the body it had "forgotten about" or lost contact with.

I sometimes liken it to a badly tuned radio on which you have turned the volume up high trying to catch the programme you want when all of a sudden the signal comes in loud and clear and the blast nearly deafens you.

A lot will depend on the severity and longevity of your B12 deficiency as to how long before there is no further improvement or recovery.

Some symptoms will "disappear" quite quickly whereas others may take months or even years. There is no set timescale as we are all different.

Has your Folate level been checked? Do you know why you became B12 deficient?

I am not a medically trained person but I've had Pernicious Anaemia (one of many causes of B12 deficiency) for more than 47 years.

I wish you well.

[sammisboys in reply to clivealive]

Hi, thank you so much for your kind response. It is good to speak with people who have been through this and can at least verify that I’m not insane.

My doctor has not ruled anything out however I was diagnosed with an inflamed stomach lining a few years back and have been on medication to reduce my stomach acid. I believe this to be the reason I am not absorbing B12.

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to sammisboys]

Yes PPI's will affect natural absorption of B12 which depends on high acid levels which is why you are having injections which bypass the stomach.

If you can get to see a doctor please also ask him/her to check your Folate level as this and B12 help your iron to make red blood cells and to function properly.

[helvella in reply to clivealive]

PPIs have other effects as well, it would appear. I posted this the other day over on Thyroid UK:

Stomach acid-reducing drugs may raise risk of future allergies

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

[Alfabeta]

Short fibre neuropathy is a common symptom of b12d - there are no quick fixes - I have been recovering for over four years and I am still not symptom free and I regularly have small fibre neuropathy

Welcome to the club and good health in the future!

[Gunj_redjem in reply to Alfabeta]

How often you inject?

[Alfabeta in reply to Gunj_redjem]

I received injections every 12 weeks at thevgp surgery but, since the guidelines changed, I demanded (nicely!) that I have them eight weekly which I have had twice now. I don’t think I have pA hence I get b12 through supplements and through eating cheeses like Emmental - 23 grams provides 30/40% daily b12- in addition to my injections.

[Gunj_redjem in reply to Alfabeta]

What were your symptoms