Low B12 symptoms?

[Murphysmum]

Hi, I’ve jumped over from the thyroid forum!

I’ve recently been struggling with fatigue again. For a bit of background, I’ve been struggling to be consistently well for a couple of years now since I had a bit of a thyroid “crisis” for lack of a better description! However, I’ve been fairly stable with new meds and I am hugely better this year. I’m much more active and I’ve even been doing the couch to 5k to try to regain some fitness.

This last couple of weeks I’m really struggling with fatigue. I cannot do the runs I was doing no problem a couple of weeks ago. (Well, I say no problem, it’s not easy but you know what I mean!) I have nothing in my legs. I’m also generally feeling just not right, it’s so hard to describe... slightly faint, I don’t know, just off. Also, I have crazy pins and needles like a trapped nerve down my left arm and my shoulders are very heavy.

I’ve put off doing anything about it as I’ve had weird things like this before with my thyroid problems - it never surprises me now what can be attributed to that - but this is different and there’s no real thyroid/medication reason for it.

Could it be B12? I’m now wondering if there’s something like that running along in the background that’s making getting my thyroid meds consistent difficult.

I used to supplement every day with B12 - when last tested (may 19) i had an active B12 level of 70 with medichecks. I had been taking 3x the recommended daily dose of 1000mcg.

Can anyone offer any advice or am I barking up the wrong tree and it’s still thyroid issues? They’re so similar!

TIA 😊

Edited to add I get a strange feeling like my tongue is going to spasm 🤷🏼‍♀️, and I’ve had brain fog and difficulty finding words for ages now. I also regularly suffer with tinnitus and balance problems but just put this down to thyroid issues.

[wedgewood]

I know that tinnitus is a fairly common symptom of Pernicious Anaemia . I also read on this forum that P.A. and thyroid problems often accompany each other . Both are autoimmune conditions and one autoimmune condition seldom comes alone . Also the tongue disturbance and the difficulty in finding words rather point to PA / B12 deficiency . Try to get your b12 levels tested for a start . Best wishes .

[fbirder]

Just 70 for a Medichecks holotranscobalamin in somebody who has been consuming massive amounts of oral B12 does seem low.

I agree with wedgewood - get your GP to test your B12.

[Murphysmum]

The last test I have was in May 19 with medichecks and the active B12 was 70.

I don’t remember if I was supplementing immediately before that but as I’m quite well up on timing of bloods etc (thanks to these forums) I think I would’ve stopped supplementing in advance.

Prior to that my last gp test was around 400... I’m sorry I can’t remember the range or units 😳 but it would’ve been a standard gp test. Between the two tests (a period of about 18 months) I was supplementing Thorne b complex and extra sublingual B12.

I was quite good prior to lockdown at popping the kids multi vits in as they left the house, and popping 3/4 sublingual sunder my tongue at the same time do this means barring the occasional day, I haven’t taken any B12 for around 4 months.

So you think I should see the gp then? I had asked about PA/low B12 I mutually when my thyroid problems started and got the brush off and told it was fine but then they told me that about my thyroid bloods too and I now know that was not the case!!

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

I wrote very detailed replies on another forum thread with more info eg symptoms lists, causes of B12 deficiency, tests for PA, list of B12 books, list of B12 websites, more UK B12 documents, letters to GP about B12 deficiency and other B12 info including hints on dealing with unhelpful GPs, which you might find helpful.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

If you're in UK, be aware that the pandemic is impacting patients' B12 treatment.

I left a detailed reply about impact of pandemic on B12 treatment in UK in next link.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po.....

I am not medically trained.

[suztango]

If you have had any b12 suppliments 4 months prior to the b12 test it will elevate your results. You need to be off b12 suppliments for 4 months to get an accurate picture of where you are.

[Murphysmum in reply to suztango]

I don’t realise it was a long as four months, thank you.

I’ll need to suffer for a while yet then 😞!

[suztango in reply to Murphysmum]

And make sure your folate is in the upper third in its range. Folate is a cofactor of b12 and if you’d have a b12 deficiency, your b12 levels will drop.

[Murphysmum in reply to suztango]

Thankyou. Folate was good at the last test 😊

[Jengastar]

My B12 Symptoms were very similar to yours - the fatigue, faint feeling (especially uphill) the heavy shoulders, pins and needles, forgetting words and brain fog. I don’t know much about thyroid issues but definitely recognise your symptoms. Hope you get it sorted!

[Murphysmum in reply to Jengastar]

Thank you.

This is the thing, they’re so similar. But I’ve been treating my thyroid symptoms now for a couple of years and while it takes time to get it optimal, I feel like I’m getting more tired and “heavy” in the last few months.

The other things have been hanging around for a while, never getting better where lots of other things have. Worth asking I figured 😊