I am 25 years old, Its been a month I was diagnosed with B12 deficiency as my serum levels were less than 150 pg/L. I was on vegan diet for last 7 months and was doing High intensity workouts which might describe how my body got robbed of nutrients(lost 12 kg). I was diagnosed immediately after I started having symptoms. My GP told me I don’t have PA. I have received 9 injections of 1000 Mcg Cynocobalamine in a month. And I take tablets 5000 mcg Methylcobalamin(on the day I don’t get injections)
I have seen an improvement in peripheral Neuropathy and other sensations like tingling and all. Lack of balance and unsteady movements is improved 90%. I felt depressed first few days but that is also gone and I don’t feel depressed anymore. The only thing I am bothered right now is, Every two days I, I am having those debilitating episodes where I feel totally out of the world, I don’t feel grounded at all. During this episode, I get afraid a lot. After this episode, I feel very less energetic.
I want to know what further steps can I take? I wanted to ask if PA is not diagnosed, And I was vegan, there should not be an absorption issue right?
I feel dreadful, I am living in USA right now for my studies and I don’t have many friends over here. I am glad I found out this forum.
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Seven months on a vegan diet shouldn't be enough to cause such a severe deficiency to cause neuropathy. The body can store four or five years worth of B12. Unless your previous diet lacked B12-rich foods (animals) then you should have had enough. Hi intensity training doesn't use up B12 as it gets recycled (that's why your body needs so little).
I would suspect a B12 absorption problem, most likely PA.
Some people react badly to methylcobalamin injections (I do) so you might try swapping over to cyanocobalamin. It should work just as well as methylcobalamin for fixing the symptoms.
I have been vegetarian 23 years and ate very less non veg food for only 2 years. I was told by GP that I don’t have anemia. I don’t know how she came to that. What further steps should i take?
Pernicious anaemia is a misnomer - anaemia (abnormal red blood cells) aren't present in 20% of patients. PA is actually an auto-immune condition that affects the gut - attacking the mechanism that allows you to absorb B12 from your food, resulting in a B12 deficiency.
As you have been on a diet that doesn't contain much B12 there is quite a strong possibility that the cause is dietary rather than an absorption problem, like PA.
If you have damage to nerve cells as a result of B12 deficiency then this heals very slowly. Some symptoms may actually get worse temporarily.
I would, like fbirder, suggest that you try tablets that aren't methylcobalamin, just in case the problems you have are related to that particular form of B12.
Thank you very much for the advice Gambit62. You guys have been really really helpful in this dreadful situation. Love you all. Hope we all find peace and good health.
I met my Gp today and asked if the Anemia test was done, she said she had done it with b12 test and said i do not have anemia. She is ready to refer hematologist if needed after few weeks.
Being a vegetarian or vegan one should have been taking B12 supplements for sure.
Let's hope you dont have PA and get yourself up to a healthy fitness with injections and supplements will be enough.
For now though my advice is to stay on injections.
I was an alcoholic who was bulimic and then got myself together and through myself into fitness and became a vegan over night and I did all those things without ever taking one supplement of B12. So as you can imagine my body hit rock bottom.
I have been on injections now for 18 months and back up to a good place but I'm still takining one a week.
We live and learn in life and it's the only way to gain experience
I'm 39 by the way
Good luck and always listen to your body as it's your best ally
Thank you for the response seren1932. I am trying to keep myself busy in work and trying to forget this all. Most of the symptoms have gone but those related to neurology takes time it seems
"Good luck and always listen to your body as it's your best ally."
So true. I can't even tell you the number of times that I have found health issues when doctors have said I am fine and/or just need rest. Including b12 deficiency.
Also agree with the methylcobalamin pills. I was asked to take them in between shots, after loading, as my province has a real push to get off these *expensive* shots, sigh. I felt awful within days. Pushed through and still felt awful. And in the end it was a productive failure. Why? It made me decide to self-inject instead of simply changing the pill source.
But not feeling healed either. I am only about three months in.
I had 80% of my symptoms go with loading, so I am very fortunate.
But when I push things a few come to say hello!
I am extremely fatigued. I would/could sleep through a day, if that was feasible. But I also recently found out I am very low (deficient) in vitamin d. So who knows what owns what.
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