Polka dots , anyone?

[Nana321]

1 year into B12 deficiency diagnosis. Still out of control. Just curious if anyone else has recurring red- purple spots looking like a perfectly round deep bruise that appear for no reason. I've noticed them on my arms. Non painful. B12 related?

[Akashrajput]

Even I've them on my arms , shoulder and chest they are non itchy nor do they cause any pain I've started to get them after I started taking b12 and iron medicine

[Nana321 in reply to Akashrajput]

No, not painful. Just curious. Thanks for your input.

[Hidden in reply to Nana321]

Yes I get them they are small haemorrhages under the skin and I was advised quite common but always best to discuss with your gp if you can.best of luck

[Derz]

Yes I had and still have them.

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

I have read that pinpoint haemorrhages under the skin, called petechiae, can be associated with B12 deficiency and folate deficiency. Also some other nutrient deficiencies.

I used to get what I called finger tip bruises on arms and legs...they'd appear without any injury. It looked like someone had grabbed me with their fingers (they hadn't).

This more or less stopped happening when I finally got enough B12...I need far more than in UK guidelines.

Have your iron levels been checked (and folate too) and vitamin D?

Might be worth taking a photo of the red -purple spots to show or send to GP.

Article that mentions bruising and B12 deficiency

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Uses the medical term for bruising (ecchymosis).

[Nana321 in reply to Sleepybunny]

Great advice. Thank you.

[Lurcher-lady in reply to Sleepybunny]

My daughter had these when she had low platelets prior to leukaemia. They were called purpura and disappeared after treatment.

[Sleepybunny]

Hi again,

Some links about B12 deficiency that might be of interest....

B12 books I found useful

"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 (US 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".

"Vitamin B12 deficiency in Clinical Practice" (subtitle "Doctor, you gave me my life back!" by Dr Joseph Alexander "Chandy" Kayyalackakom and Hugo Minney PhD.

PAS (Pernicious Anaemia Society)

Based in Wales, UK. Has some members in other countries.

pernicious-anaemia-society.org

There is a helpline number that PAS members can ring and an online contact form.

B12 Deficiency Info website

b12deficiency.info/

B12 Awareness (US website)

b12awareness.org/

US link about PA

rarediseases.org/rare-disea...

Stichting B12 Tekort (Dutch website with English articles)

stichtingb12tekort.nl/weten...

B12 article from Mayo Clinic in US

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Table 1 in above article is about frequent misconceptions about B12 deficiency.

Article suggests ....

1) No proof that oral b12 is as good at treating B12 deficiency as B12 injections

2) Many current tests eg serum b12, active B12, MMA, Homocysteine, are not totally effective as diagnostic tests for B12 deficiency.

3) Successful treatment should not be stopped

I am not medically trained.

[B12life]

I have had only two but they were raised like pimples and started as skin color then progressed to a flat shape with a dark deep red (within 4 days). I still have the dark spots. I have been injecting for 4 months before this happened. I recommend having a dermatologist look at your spots.