Stop injecting b12 before Homocysteine, MMA & Schilling Tests?

[Shajarin]

I have b12 deficiency and neurological symptoms so I have started cyanocoblamin 1000mcg injection therapy 2 days ago and I'm about to ask My Doc to run Homocysteine, MMA and Schilling tests for me.

Do I need to stop the therapy in order to avoid distorting the tests and if so for how long?

[Gambit62 Administrator]

I don't think the schilling test is available anymore. There is no real point in having MMA and homocysteine now.

You would really need to stop for at least 3-6 months.

[Shajarin in reply to Gambit62]

even if only one injection is done until now?

and what about IFAB test (the one that is used today instead of shilling)

Is waiting for a week is fine?

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Shajarin]

even 2 days after first injection the tests aren't going to mean much.

IFAB doesn't require such a long period - 2 weeks should be ok. However it is notoriously insensitive - positive good confirmation but negative doesn't mean anything as it gives false negatives about 50% of the time

[Shajarin in reply to Gambit62]

I see.. So what do you suggest me to do?

Holding the treatment for two weeks until the IFAB test?

Or keep the treatment going - let say for 6 doses and then wait the 2 weeks?

I suffer from severe symptoms right now and afraid to stop treatment..

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Shajarin]

carry on with treatment.

[Shajarin in reply to Gambit62]

Ok thanks!

One last thing - can I do folate, ferritin and Iron blood test few days after b12 injection or these would be distorted as well?

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Shajarin]

unlikely folate and iron will be any different-too early to be doing tests for folate.

B12 won't directly affect iron - though having a B12 absorption problem can also cause problems with other vitamins and minerals - notably folate and B12.

if you have macroyctosis then your GP should monitor your potassium levels as these can drop as your body corrects the anaemia - which takes a couple of months.

refer to your GP or a medical profession if you start to experience severe cramps, palpitations/fast heart beats or are having great difficulty breathing.

[Shajarin in reply to Gambit62]

Ok great, thanks. So I guess the best solution for me is completing one month of treatment and then two weeks later to do the ifab and the rest of these blood tests.. sorry for bothering u Im just confused how to manage everything correctly

[Survivorette]

Yes you must be off b12 for tests to be accurate. They don’t use Schilling anymore in U.S.