Reaction to B12 tablets

[Sanrob]

I approached my doctor for blood tests as a problem I had with a reaction to a different plaster being used to strap my foot after problems with something ((Iquite recently) got diagnosed with. The reaction made the foot blister and the skin peel but months later it was still mess. Basically, I didn't heal like I usually do.

To make a long story short she tested for anaemia and sure enough I was deficient in B12 so she prescribed tablets. Within 3 days of commencing treatment all the skin started to peel from the palms of my hands and then started to peel elsewhere from my hands. No where else, just hands. I read a little research and stopped taking the tablets and the peeling stopped, but once again it took ages to heal.

I read that if you are allergic to Nickle, which i am, that this can happen due to the Cobalt in the tablets and that it is likely (as Nickle and Cobalt appear next to each other on the periodic table)

I am still having issues with healing but need to know what I can do next?

[palmier]

I've heard about desensitisation treatment for b12 allergy so it might be treatable. In the meantime, perhaps eating food rich in b12 is the best you can do, or is there any strength of tablets that you tolerate? Liver is the food that contains most b12, and that's what people had to eat as a cure before injections and tablets became available. Milk, fish and beef are also good, especially if not cooked for too long.

[Sanrob in reply to palmier]

I eat tons of meat, fish and goats products. I can't have any dairy that involves cows. I am just restarting a ketogenic diet including bone broth to attempt to cure what appears to be leaky gut syndrome. I am going to go and see my doctor again but don't hold out much hope from that direction. They only found out because I was anemic because I insisted on some tests.

[Sanrob in reply to palmier]

I will ask about the desensitisation treatment but it didn't work for my other allergies

[palmier in reply to Sanrob]

I've read about some people being sensitive only to some forms if b12, like cyanocobalamin. Perhaps there are tests that can be done to check if some other form might work or at least give less reaction? Like regular allergy testing.

If you have anemia from b12 deficiency it could help to eat extra folate/folic acid. They say that folate can mask a b12 deficiency because folate can prevent macrocytic anemia or enlarged red blood cells in people with b12 deficiency. You still need b12 to prevent neurological problems, but at least some effects of b12 deficiency might be helped by extra folate.

On the other hand, I've also seen it said that b12 should be treated first. When this can't be done because of allergy I don't know what is more important. Folate is said to be good for wound healing.

[Survivorette]

When I was undiagnosed I had palm issues. I hope you’ll try injections under medical supervision.

[Sanrob in reply to Survivorette]

Trying to get into see my doctor. I think sometimes it is easier to see God though! I am also looking at alternative methods and going to use them meanwhile. I was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis a long while ago which is when my numerous allergies and intolerances began to show. My doctor had treated me for piles for 4 years despite my saying I didn't think that was the problem at all. I think somehow a lot of my issues are connected to one another. I know as a nurse you can more than one thing going on at a time. I think the leaky gut syndrome and my anemia are linked so about to try a special diet to resolve one to affect the other hopefully

[Survivorette in reply to Sanrob]

The diet is no sugar, fruit, grains. And you can eat a lot of healthy fats.

I had long undiagnosed and pills made me sick. Eventually the pills saved my life.

There are at least 3 forms of injections. Read Martyn Hooper.

[Sanrob in reply to Survivorette]

Yes, this is an adaption of the Ketogenic diet but a Collagen version that I am going to use to see if I can reconcile it without having to risk tablets that I react to Thanks

[Survivorette in reply to Sanrob]

If you are B12 deficient you must address that. Injections under supervision. Best with hematologist.

[Sanrob in reply to Survivorette]

I am not going to lose skin again. I am going to look at alternatives. There must be research out there. Evidence of alternatives.

[Survivorette in reply to Sanrob]

Look for hematopathologist. Try Pat Kornic’s Facebook group on B12.

B12 is essential. There is perhaps something related my palms were raw for years. I think you dumped merhylmalonic acid

[Sanrob in reply to Survivorette]

I will do research. I have two degree modules in it. I am not going to settle for any one person's opinions. I was taught to assess the hierarchy of evidence. There will be research and as I am once again back in university I can access the research easily.

[Survivorette in reply to Sanrob]

Good luck with that. My research took about 40 years. I’ve broken my hip. You were just lucky to hear from me.

[Sanrob in reply to Survivorette]

Thanks for replying. There are advancements and new knowledge all the time in nursing and medicine I am going to see if anything will prove useful. Hope your hip heals quickly

[Survivorette in reply to Sanrob]

Are you vegan? Just trying to give you scope of seriousness. Terribly misunderstood disease. Look for Mayo Proceedings most recent on why misdiagnosed.

[Sanrob in reply to Survivorette]

As far from Vegan as I can be. I eat steak, minced beef ( gournd beef!) Salmon and all kinds of meat. I have been eating a ketogenic diet off and on the lose weight after reading all the evidence that it can help to control a number of problems

[Survivorette in reply to Sanrob]

Me too. And someone with true pernicious anemia would still die.

[Sanrob in reply to Survivorette]

Only reason I became aware that I was deficient in B12 was because I insisted on blood tests and with that kind of diet I never expected to be deficient but it is a very recent diagnosis. The doctor gave me tablets which is ridiculous as I obviously eat the right kind of diet.

[Survivorette in reply to Sanrob]

You have no other autoimmune disease or in your family?

[Sanrob in reply to Survivorette]

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis many years ago after being wrongly diagnosed with piles!!! Hmm they sent me to have them banded and apparently (surprise, surprise) I didn't have them but had to return for further tests. I was one of the lucky ones and after many numerous allergy and intolerance tests found a lot of foods were triggers, including yeast, eggs, dairy, rice, coffee and a ton of other foods. Touch wood, unless I eat something I am susceptible to I have been virtually symptoms free since

[Survivorette in reply to Sanrob]

What can you eat?

[Sanrob in reply to Survivorette]

Chicken, fish. Beef, lamb, pork, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, peas, carrots. Lots of things. Saw my doctor again yesterday and having repeat blood tests a week on Friday and intrinsic factor testing too. Bit like the blind leading the blind as he was convinced that I had been offered and given B12 injections!!! I told him about my reaction to the tablets then i told him that diet wasn't my problem. I also asked about the injections as I really don't want to risk anaphylaxis if I react badly

[palmier in reply to Sanrob]

You say you have lots of allergies, so there's a chance it was just some additive in the tablets you reacted to. For example, lemon flavouring may contain the natural substances limonene and/or citral which some people have a reaction to.

[Sanrob in reply to palmier]

I can't see me reacting that badly to something like that so that the skin is simply stripped from the palms of my hands. I have been involved in allergy testing as a nurse and just prior to leaving nursing was set to do a PhD in allergies and intolerances.

[Survivorette in reply to Sanrob]

I wish they would check MMA and homocysteine