I'm new here, though I've posted on the Thyroid Forum before.
I'm a 51 year old male. In 2014 I went on a low carb high fat diet and it affected my thyroid function, causing low energy and brain fog. I self-medicated with dessicated thyroid for four or five years without any relief of symptoms - I must have either never got the dosage right or else needed T3 as well (not getting enough testing done was the real problem). In 2019 I stopped lchf and dessicated thyroid - my thyroid started working again and my energy has increased to a reasonable level.
However constant brain fog remains (poor short term memory) and although I accept it could be permanent brain damage by now, I'm considering trying B12 injections. I would self-inject to avoid a lot of trips to my GP's. (I'm in the UK.)
All thoughts welcome.
(My reason for going lchf was some symptoms, and a family history, of cardiovascular disease - I need to get back to lchf, but would like to address the brain fog first.)
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Arnold_Layne
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You should really see a GP first. There is always the risk of an anaphylactic reaction to one's first B12 injection, so we would always recommend it is done by a medical professional.
Haven't had any of those tests - I'm sure it's been discussed before here many times but I'm surprised B12 isn't included in the standard NHS blood test panel (maybe it is now, I haven't had one recently). The serum B12 test would be pointless as I've been taking Life Extension Two Per Day multivit which contains 300mcg methylcobalamin.
It also contains 680mcg folate as L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate calcium salt.
I take a total of 8000iu of vitamin D daily which gives me a very good level.
I eat a lot of broccoli and salad leaves, and also some red meat so should get enough iron from diet (I think men's iron levels tend to be on the high side, hence the multivit without iron).
Maybe I should try tablets (someone said on the Thyroid Forum that for men, the only way to overcome brain fog can be a really high B12 level achievable only with injections).
It's likely that my B12 level would not be low enough to get injections from the NHS but a brief search online has revealed a former nurse who does beauty treatments and gives B12 injections for £40, who is reasonably near me.
I think it woukd still be good to get b12 levels checked as if good then you would know yiu are able to absorb tablets if Low or borderline then push for injections .
The local private one sn option but I woukd get bloods first to see where you are.
B12 is often done with folate.
My husband was 'borderline' then 3 m later was well onto the range so we know he csn absorb but not at the rate he needed fro a very good mixed diet.
I have been taking 3 x 50 mcg of cyanocobalamin a day and after 2.5 months I noticed a partial (and very welcome) recovery of mental sharpness.
My memory has not improved so to address that and hopefully recover more mental sharpness I now intend to get back on thyroid medication and try to optimise the dosage.
While I understand that taking cyanocobalamin three times a day maximises absorption, has anyone any thoughts on what dosage I might try as a maintenance dose? Any opinions on sustained release cyanocobalamin?
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