Confused

[Pasjc]

After reading several post below on folic I'm soooooo confused and concerned im PA and self inject twice a week what is the smount of folic should I be taking there seems to be several opinions not just on here but on the B12 forum to. Im going to remove myself from the other group so any advice isn't conflicting. I very good graphic has been put on but it might as well have been in Spanish for all the sense it made to me thats no reflection on the person who posted im just not in their academic level.

[StaceyWall]

I feel your pain with this. I’m b12d but not PA. I’m on a Facebook group that tells you all sorts and honestly, I’m starting to question their advice.

Have y out spoken to your doctor about this?

[Pasjc in reply to StaceyWall]

I haven't as I don't want him to know I self inject

[Nackapan in reply to Pasjc]

Unless you deficient by your blood results you only need to eat lots of green leafy veg.

Or a supplement of up to 400mcg of folic acid.

Most mutivits have 200mcg in.

I only take a supplement if 200mcg 3 rim4s a week. When I took 400mcg daily I went above range. Most child bearing age women are advised 400mcg folic acid.

When you have bloods next done check it.

[Pasjc in reply to Nackapan]

I will thank you but I'd assumed as I don't absorb b12 from food the same applied to folic

[Nackapan in reply to Pasjc]

So did I and I was wrong as I absoeb folate from food obviously. I do need iron though?? And have needed vit d before b12 deficient

[Mammaelf in reply to Nackapan]

Gosh, so did I ! It went on for 8 years . Back and fore the GP with chronic exhaustion and headaches. First is was “ ah you need vit d”. Then “ ah you need folate , then “ ah you need iron”. Eventually “ ah you’re B12 active is very low. Jezzz I mean come on. Just because I’m borderline they didn’t think of it. I now injection myself. Twice weekly. It’s changed my life !! I still take iron and folate twice a week. 5mg.

All I can say is they were going to put me on immune suppressants, and thank god I found this group. !

[Nackapan in reply to Mammaelf]

So glad twice weekly b12 injections have changed your life after 8 years!!

I've recently having more frequent injections every 5-7 days as the last year every 2 weeks prescribed not moving me forward. I'm nearly 2 years in from a b12 deficiency diagnosis. I was ill before that but was put down to stress ect ect . Headaches weakness bad fatigue paranoia but it creeps up dosent it. As I've said alot on here just so annoyed not done more routinely on blood tests . I was also falling over alot and had been to the dicties twice with sore ribs and saying I'm not right. After about 7 years of not needing to go you think it wouldve raised a red flag!! Nor even a blood test offered. I now as more 'with it' amazed I didnt push more and just accepted I was clumsy ' eyesight failing fatigue headaches flat emotionally. Unbelievable. By the time I had my first b12 serum blood test it was 106 range (200-900) of course they said I was depressed. I wasnt. Like you say gezzz

Hindsight hey.

Interesting the same order if events.

[Pasjc in reply to StaceyWall]

I've just had very good advice on here im deleting myself from the other 2 sites im on ive been overloading myself with folic but I trust this site

[Gambit62 Administrator]

B12 and folate are both absorbed in the ileum. If you have problems absorbing B12 then you are likely to have problems absorbing folate as well (iron is another common problem). This is why you might need to supplement folate.

Folate and B12 are used in a lot of the same processes at the cell level which is why the symptoms overlap. However, that doesn't create any need for extra folate if you have a B12 deficiency ... it's just the fact that a problem absorbing B12 is likely to mean a problem absorbing folate and both need to be addressed.

The dosages quoted on the face-book group 5mg=5000mcg are doses that relate to treating a folate deficiency and would be taken for a month or so and then folate levels would be rechecked. They are much larger than the doses you might need for maintenance of folate levels if you have an absorption problem but are not deficient.

The best source of folate is definitely food but if you have an absorption problem then diet alone may not be enough - which is where supplements come in. Large doses of folate taken daily for an extended period of time can cause problems in some of the processes going on at the cell level. Maintenance doses of 400mcg are well within this range. Doses of 1000mcg or more are the ones that seem to cause problems.

[Pasjc in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you yhink I understand now ill get the doctor to check my folate then take it from there. I have to have iron infusions periodically

[deniseinmilden in reply to Pasjc]

Gambit62's advice is always correct and extremely valuable so very well worth being guided by.

You are right to doubt some of the things said - often very bluntly - on the Facebook, and indeed any, groups. While there are thousands of people in the groups, and many of the contributors are excellent, there are some in all the groups who like to think their opinions and experiences are more valuable than the basic facts!

[Miss-guineapig in reply to Gambit62]

Perfect answer Gambit, thank you x

[Scothyroidy]

I inject twice a week and take no folic acid supplements. I had my bloods tested twice this year avd folate levels are fine.

[Pasjc in reply to Scothyroidy]

Thats good to hear as folic acid gives me stomach pain even though I take it after food x