Menopause

[Welsh15]

I just read q post where Nackerpan said her symptoms started at the time of the menopause. I could relate to that. I wonder if hormones play a big part in regulating b12? Anyone else had similar experiences.?

[Hidden]

By any chance are you on HRT of any description ?I was on HRT and it made me very sick, dizzy and lowers B12.

[Welsh15 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Sally Annie, well past using HRT!!! but I was on it for a while then the gynaecologist doubled the dose and I ended up with a hysterectomy and an abdomen full of adhesions which may have been due to high doses of oestrogen.Side effects of HRT can be very unpleasant!! Take care.

[Hidden in reply to Welsh15]

Sorry ! From experience low b12 plays havoc with hormones...... and a hell of alot more !🙄

[Welsh15 in reply to Hidden]

Thats interesting Sallyanni, never thought of it that way round. 🤔. I have been having gastric,neurological and other b12 deficiency symptoms for 20 years before being diagnosed with what the doctor called an absorption problem 18month ago.☹Thank you for replying to me.take care

[Nackapan in reply to Welsh15]

I think it's definitely hormones and also with the menopause you have less stomach acid. Thd timing just so spot on fir my b12 stores running out.

My Gp was a gynecologist she's convinced of the connection in my case.

She even persuaded me to try hrt .

I lasted 3 weeks then got off it.

Sorry to hear the damage it caused you.

I've not heard of b12 /PA affecting hormones though .

The menopause is a known risk factor fir b12 deficiency. So annoying its not taken note of.

The over 59s vitamins all have higher b12 . Why dies nobody tell us to pre emt the problem

[SigNi]

Ditto. I think it's why it was dismissed for so long by doctors. They said all my symptoms were due to age and hormones. I felt differently, but couldn't get them to take me seriously. In truth, absorption declines as we age - so it makes sense to me that it would coincide with menopause.

[ACritical]

My symptoms got worse. With, alas , infrequent so called ‘vitamin injections’ over decennia, the menopause only worsened my precarious balance between feeling ok and not.

[Welsh15 in reply to ACritical]

I sympathise with that ACritical., it a long and often difficult journey. Hope you are feeling OK now. Take care.

[KBird01]

Does anyone know of any studies/research re: B12 and the menopause? There's a significant overlap in symptoms but as in my case, everything becomes attributed to the menopause and/or associated depression, rather than B12 also being a factor..

[GalDriver]

I have Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis which, for me, includes B12 deficiency. I was diagnosed with MS during my menopause, when symptoms worsened, but have had it (hindsight's a wonderful thing, eh?) since I started menstruating at age 11/12. I've always said hormones play a part in it but, you're right, maybe it's a part in B12 deficiency specifically. I shall read the comments with interest.👍

[KBird01 in reply to GalDriver]

So hard to separate out the different issues. Thanks for sharing your experience. 😊

[Bunbun123]

I know by personal experience that hormones can have a big impact with Pernicious a Anemia. I am 47 and in peri menopause, and my symptoms are affected by the menstrual cycle greatly and the hormones. In fact after taking the Covid vaccine, I had a great relapse that I’m still trying to recover. What I read is that hormones are closely related to the immune system and women have a very strong immune system. The vaccine heightened the activity of the immune system and consequently of the hormones specially prostaglandin.

Prostaglandin is a lipid and an inflamatory hormone every cell has the ability to produce it. It is also responsible for the cramps during the period because it helps to release the lining of the uterus which we expel through the cycle. In my case the level of prostaglandin and consequently inflammation was so high, that started damaging the nerves. My PA symptoms were all nerve symptoms. Glad that I was taking two B12 injections a day, so I never went back to how I was when I was diagnosed, but it has taken me at least nine months and I’m still recovering from that.

Another interesting fact for women to consider is that saturated fats in milk, coconut coconut oil, and butter can increase prostaglandins and consequently inflammation. So I kept having this huge inflammatory flares Until I realized that the homemade ice cream I was eating that my sweet husband made me with dates was worsening my symptoms. The ice cream had cream on it and I ate lots of it since was “healthy”. What I didn’t know is that saturated fats increase prostaglandin. Since then I have eliminated saturated fats from my diet and I am so much better. I eat fats but instead I eat olive oil, avocado lots of fish etc.

[Bunbun123]

So sorry, I sent it before I concluded my point. I don’t know how B12 affects menopause but I definitely know that hormones interact with the pernicious anemia in women. I’m glad that my doctor is a female and understood what was happening and was able to guide me through it. I understand that every person is different and this might not apply to every woman.

I must say though that the changes in my diet really helped to continue my healing because it lowered the inflammation.

[KBird01 in reply to Bunbun123]

Thanks for sharing this. Yes, diet is an interesting aspect isn't it? So difficult to unravel the strands though...