New doctor declares I don't have B12 deficiency because my symptoms continue despite frequent SI

[Dopey-Grumpy-Sleepy]

I don't know how to refute the doctor's conclusion when even I don't understand how it's possible that I can SI every day or so and yet still have irregular symptoms. Three years ago my B12 level was 152 and it was belatedly noted that a test 4 years earlier had shown the same number. I was started on loading doses and for 2 years my former different doctor gave injections every 3 months, or every month, or even twice a month, and even took away the injections from time to time. My health suffered badly from the inconsistency and inadequacy of that treatment. Almost a year ago when I moved 2000 miles away from that doctor, I began self injecting 500 mcg 3 times per week and taking very high doses of liquid B12. A month ago I raised the injections to 1,000 mcg 2 to 3x a week along with the liquid B12. My new doctor seemed open to the information in printouts that I provided from this site, but she stunned me with that pronouncement at my last visit. Since I don't understand how I can have regular injections and yet have irregular symptoms, I don't know how to convince her that I do indeed have an absorption problem. I suspect it's time to find a new doctor but it's likely that I'll come up against the same "logic" in the next doctor. Can anyone explain to me why regular, apparently adequate treatment doesn't produce consistent results (i.e. why it doesn't stop the symptoms?)

Jayne (aka Dopey-Grumpy-Sleepy)

[Gambit62 Administrator]

The symptoms of B12 deficiency overlap with a huge number of other conditions. If you are injecting regulalry but only have the symptoms intermittently that would also suggest to me that there is probably more than B12 going on, unless you can demonstrate that the 'irregular' is actually regular towards the end of the interval between injections - in which case I would increase the frequency of injections.

[Dopey-Grumpy-Sleepy in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you. I do have Hashimoto's (which the doctor will not treat because my thyroid tests are well into the normal range) and I have Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus, for which I am told there is no viable treatment. I have considered that they're flaring, but since my symptoms are all in keeping with B12 deficiency symptoms, I assumed the culprit is B12. I have to acknowledge, though, that all three autoimmune diseases share similar symptoms. Your answer will stop me from fighting my doctor and instead make me demand that she figure out what's keeping me down!

Jayne

[Sita505USA]

Hi

I am having a very similar situation. After reading posts here, I have begun to see how complicated the interaction of B12, folate, iron and Vitamin D can be. Is it possible to get those levels tested to see if you

may have deficiencies in any of those areas? All of them can cause symptoms and in general affect the entire process of your body/mind functioning as they ‘should’. Good luck! Sita

[Dopey-Grumpy-Sleepy in reply to Sita505USA]

Thank you for your response. I have had B12, folate and D tested and they came back well into the normal range. (B12 has taught me to be distrustful of "normal ranges", but these were all "very" normal! I will look into the issue of iron deficiency.

Jayne