Are my nerves recovering from my b12 deficiency?

[Chris5629]

B12 Nerve Recovery?

In 2016 I became really sick. I ended up having liver surgery. I had a 10cm blood mass on it. The mass was removed. Next, a cyst removed from my neck and then finally meniscus surgery in 2018.

After my liver surgery, I started having weird sensations. My doctor just said it was anxiety. Never had anxiety.

Fast forward ......

I was diagnosed with b12 deficiency February 2019 (201 with a lab range being ok over 233). I've been taking b12 vitamins everyday. Still get some anxiety every now and then (90% better).

For the last month, I've been getting what feels like lots of tiny jabs all over my body. It kind of feels like I'm itchy. Is this a sign of my nerves recovering/repairing themselves? If so, how long will it take?

As of June, my b12 levels were over 1500. I live in the USA.

Thanks.

[pvanderaa]

Are you on injections?

[McRose]

Make sure you take potassium supplements it gets exhausted when processing B12 supplements in the body, I get muscle cramps when I take B 12 sublingual pills if I don’t supplement w potassium.

[fbirder in reply to McRose]

Potassium supplements shouldn't be needed, except - possibly - in the first month after treatment starts for a B12 deficiency. And then, only if you had been suffering from megaloblastic anaemia.

During that period the body will have a burst of red cell formation. This can deplete the body's reserves of potassium. This rapid red cell production slows down after a month, back to normal levels. After which the body needs no more potassium than anybody else.

[LynneG]

Difficult. McRose speaks from experience and fbirder speaks from presumeably accepted knowledge. But as we know, we are all different and don't necessarily conform to the accepted norm.

I would make sure (considering their knowledge) that you cover your bases and eat lots of foods that are high in potassium - eg bananas, sweet potatoes and beetroots are higher in. But if you google there will be lots more that are rich in. I always think food cannot take you far wrong as there are so many minerals vitamins that work synergystically together and if just eating the rich food I am sure you will not be able to upset the balance your body requires. I had a quick google and it seems B12 and potassium interact. Potassium supplements can affect the absorption of B12. And B12 can make potassium levels drop severely.

I would have your Homocysteine blood level tested. B12 functional activity will reduce homocysteine as it converts homocysteine back into methionine. If you have a homocysteine level of 6 or 7 (ignore standard normal range, normal range does not mean healthy or optimum range) then it is a good indicator that your B12 is functioning normally in your body. Re testing can help you judge dose amounts of B12 required along with B12 def symptoms. I stopped taking B12 supplements (5,000mcg daily) for 9 months before my blood test (symptoms hadn't gone but did get worse when not taking B12) but I was appalled that my homocysteine had shot up to almost 10 - not good, route to alzheimers, heart disease etc. Over that 9 months my total B12 fell to about 600 from well over a 1000 poss nearer 2000. I am back taking 5000mcg daily - recommended course of action to get homocysteine down to a healthy level is to take B12.

My symptoms amongst many are burning /tingling in hands feet legs arms and burning scalded mouth. your jabs description sounds like nerve damage. I have been told on here and B12 charity and websites that it takes a B12 level of well over 1000 -2000 before damage that has been going on for years due to deficiency can start to repair

It is difficult to know what is happening and sometimes you think the high B12 dose could be causing perhaps the nerve issues. Which is why I stopped taking for 6 months intentionally - ended up being 9 months re obtaining blood test. When I saw my homocysteine level increase, that made me certain that I needed the B12 and then noted how my burning mouth was more intermittent daily rather than full on all day when resumed taking B12. Hope this helps.

Also google 'Food for the Brain' website along with homocysteine. will get you to the homocysteine/ B12 page/s