B-12 Deficiency Article

[MoKayD]

I came across this B-12 deficiency article today, health.com/mind-body/vitami...

[wedgewood]

Thank you for sending us that . Yes I’m quite sure that that happened to my mother . Now I know so much about b12 deficiency/ Pernicious Anaemia, I can recognise the various symptoms that she had . Her B12 was never tested . It took many years for her to die .

[Survivorette in reply to wedgewood]

My mum too. Had such miserable care.

[deniseinmilden in reply to wedgewood]

So sorry to hear this. x

[MoKayD in reply to wedgewood]

I suspect my grandmother had it. I used to worry because my family always told me that physically and personality-wise I was like her. Hopefully my B12 diagnosis and shots will keep me from such an awful fate.

[wedgewood in reply to MoKayD]

Yes , they will . You just need to get your injections often enough to keep symptoms at bay . My mother spent her final years in psychiatric hospitals . Just think of the £millions the NHS could save , if all b12 deficient /P.A. patients received the correct treatment . —But no brownie points from the Pharmaceutical industry for the drugs they don’t need to prescribe . Anti depressants are swiftly prescribed to PA. patients when they become so desperate from lack of sufficient B12 injections .I must shut up - I can get carried away because I’m so passionate about this subject .

[MoKayD in reply to wedgewood]

I completely agree with you. It's such a simple test and the cost is negligible compared to the cost of antidepressants and antianxiety drugs. There have been a lot of discussions in the news lately about the quantity of prescription medications older people take and how their doctor's don't always know exactly what they are taking and if there are any interactions. A simple monthly B12 shot could maybe do away with a couple of prescription meds and cut the risk of dangerous medication interactions.

[Sleepybunny in reply to wedgewood]

Even the ones who are showing B12 deficiency symptoms and who manage to get B12 tested, do not always get treatment.

I'm speaking from my experience of having severe B12 deficiency symptoms but all B12 tests apart from one being within normal range.

I'm willing to bet that there are many people in UK (and elsewhere) who are in a similar situation; desperately symptomatic and within normal range.

[badger4071 in reply to Sleepybunny]

Yes. That's my situation.

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

I watched someone within my close circle fade into dementia with severe psychiatric issues and after all the info I've read and knowing what their symptoms were through their life I'm convinced they were B12 deficient.

I tried to raise the possibility of B12 deficiency but was not taken seriously.

[MoKayD in reply to Sleepybunny]

Even more frustrating is when someone is diagnosed with B12 deficiency and prescribed treatment but won't follow through. My mother-in-law has a friend who was diagnosed by her doctor with pernicious anemia several years ago and was prescribed the US treatment of loading doses and then monthly shots for the rest of her life. She decided a couple of years ago that it was too much trouble to go to her doctor's office and get her shots. She's now suffering with constant tiredness is barely able to walk and is now seeing people who aren't there; but she still won't get her shots. Her doctor has warned her that she will die without them. I feel for her family. I think if B12 deficiency was more widely known and reported on people would understand what a devastating disease it is an take it more seriously.

[Sleepybunny in reply to MoKayD]

That's such a sad story. I guess lack of B12 may have affected her ability to make judgements on what is best for her health.

B12 deficiency of all causes can have a profound impact on mental health.

b12deficiency.info/b12-and-...

martynhooper.com/2017/01/22...

Have her family read these books?

"What You Need to Know About Pernicious Anaemia and B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper

Martyn Hooper is the chair of PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society).

"Living with Pernicious Anaemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper

Has several case studies.

"Could it Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses" by Sally Pacholok and JJ. Stuart (USA authors)

Very comprehensive with lots of case studies. There is also a paediatric version of this book "Could It Be B12? Paediatric Edition: What Every Parent Needs to Know".

PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society)

Based in Wales, UK.

pernicious-anaemia-society....

PAS tel no [phone] answerphone

B12 Deficiency Info website

b12deficiency.info/

B12 Awareness (US website)

b12awareness.org/

Stichting B12 Tekort (Dutch website with English articles)

stichtingb12tekort.nl/weten...

I am not medically trained.