Recurring colds, coughs and flu - Pernicious Anaemi...

Pernicious Anaemia Society

32,662 members24,045 posts

Recurring colds, coughs and flu

Yahaci profile image
17 Replies

Does anyone with PA or b12 deficiency, get recurring colds etc? Did supplementation help stop this, make no difference or make things worse?

Did people get covid and how severe was it?

For years I've been getting bad upper respiratory infections at least once a year. With an unending chesty cough. Just wondering if there's any connection.

Written by
Yahaci profile image
Yahaci
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
17 Replies
jacobwentworth profile image
jacobwentworth

I havent had this but Im pretty sure that it is a common side effect. Had a letter through from the doctors for a medical trial saying im more exposed to coughs, colds etc.

hi Yahaci.I used to get recurring colds and pleurisy before I was diagnosed as having b12 functional deficiency and pernicious anemia. Since regular injections I’ve had no colds or pleurisy for the last 3 or 4 years,I may possibly have had Covid,not convinced it was as tests showed neg for it I think it was just a nasty virus but I increased my injections to every other day and that really helped I’ve had no after effects whatever it was?

I’ve had no Covid vax neither has my husband,he worked from day one of Covid as he is a key worker,he’s not had Covid neither has any of his colleagues in a huge manufacturing industry.

I have a very large family.all of the multiple Covid vaxed members have had Covid several times and have been left with heart problems and long Covid,the other unvaxed members of my family have continued as key workers from day one and a couple had Covid symptoms,or winter virus symptoms take your pick,and recovered fine and back to work.

Yahaci profile image
Yahaci in reply to

Wow, that's amazing glad and you've been well, makes me question this covid/vaccine hysteria.

I really hope my illnesses will stop. They last a long time and leave me drained for months.

have a look on dr Sarah Myhills website she offers some good advice and there’s plenty info to read to boost your immune system.best of luck.

Yahaci profile image
Yahaci in reply to

I just got some blood results, done 2 weeks ago.

b12 - 2000

folate - 8

vit d - 88

Had these done just before I fell very ill. Given these numbers I'm suprised I did. Mind you the hospital makes me so ill. Baking hot, dirty and I'm allergic to the staff.

a very good gp told me you want your folate in double figures but under 20,highest I’ve gotten was 12 it drops so quickly and I always know because of the big sores I get on my tongue,I’m hoping my new regime of vit c and multi vit/ mineral helps my immune levels this winter.We can only do our best,it’s difficult with p.a

Best of luck

Yahaci profile image
Yahaci in reply to

I also heard high folate isn't good. As it increases in certain cancers. Mine has hovered around 6. Latest result is the highest its been, maybe because of B12. Maybe folate was making up for the lack of b12 before, and now it doesn't need to. I need to get some folic acid supplement on its own.

Are you going to take vit d? That helps.

in reply toYahaci

I already do I have vit d3/k2 spray.Biocare do a very good vit c 500 with magnesium to make it gentle on the gut,it reduces the acidity which a lot of us can’t tolerate,my gut goes on fire with lemon juice or lime anything citrus so this is a great alternative for me,I also use their multi vit/ mineral as it has no iron or copper which again I can’t seem to tolerate ,my iron levels have always been on the high side I get my levels checked regular.the folate in their product is methyl folate so I’m just trying different options for the moment.

Yahaci profile image
Yahaci

Cool about d3/k2. I get joint pain and stiffness with citrus or ascorbic acid. Recently I've been having it with my Magnesium and didn't have any pain. So must mimic the Biocare idea.

Interesting I have a zinc/copper tablet and can't tolerate the whole tablet, so I just take half. Maybe the copper.

So you can't tolerate methylfolate either? Makes me feel very strange esp my brain.

Do you think PA causes these sensitivities: citrus/acid/iron/copper/methyls?

I don’t have a problem as yet with methyl folate I’ve just started it though so it’s early days it’s folic acid I struggle with so have been trying to get from dietary means it just varies so much as I have trouble absorbing/ storing vits and minerals via food so I try to top up with monitored supplements.

There’s no doubt in my mind p.a causes food sensitivities or even sun sensitivity I fry now whereas when I lived in Spain I had a beautiful golden tan,I look more Nordic now lol quite a change for me but health comes first I guess.I must admit though this year I did get some lovely glows to my skin again and hair bleaches very quickly which suits me fine.

Most of my atrophy problems everywhere disappeared with b12 shots too so I get out so much more these days because I’m not worried about bladder leakage etc.

Yahaci profile image
Yahaci in reply to

If you've taken it a few days, then you should be fine. I reacted within hours of taking it, and this happened everytime I tried which was weeks apart.

I eat green veg like they're going out of fashion, a big bowl everyday atleast. But folate is always low.

Good to know about PA and sensitivites. My whole family has the citrus problem and its so sad cos citrus is so important. Would love to have hot water and lemon in the morning, but know I'd suffer for it.

What is ''atrophy problems''? Sorry probably being thick here.

Sure you look beautiful pale or tanned!

in reply toYahaci

Thank you.That’s why Bio Care vit c 500 is so good the magnesium ascorbate in it is much kinder to the stomach and better tolerated,it also has Bilberry which is great for antioxidant support.It would prob be worth a try for the family members too especially with winter heading our way.

Atrophy is when your body membranes dry out basically,usually centred around peri/post menopause ,it causes all sorts of bladder problems,ive not suffered since I started b12 shots,I was awful before then,up all night peeing never got a full hours sleep tried all sorts of remedy’s and the pain in my uretha and bladder was so debilitating,nothing at all now b12 turned my life around.

Yahaci profile image
Yahaci

I'll look into Biocare, when my current lot finish.

Ah yes, atrophy, surprised b12 affects that too. I do know my skin has softened a bit since starting SI. But still peeing like a trooper at night, despite using sudocrem to prevent irritation. Cos sometimes that makes you think you need to pee when you don't. Or it stops full evacuation. Years ago they told me, after a very painful procedure, that my bladder don't empty properly and I may need the uretha (? women?) widened. I ran for the hills and never went back, so no idea what the full prognosis was.

Just had a eureka moment. Even without cough/cold, I struggle to breathe, its shallow. Was diagnosed asthmatic, but can't get the hang of the pump. Wonder if this atrophy is causing the lining of my nose etc.. to be thin and more susceptible to allergens?

in reply toYahaci

your definately on the right track. Try the vit c from Bio Care because the billberry it has in it helps with collagen ,look up atrophy friendly foods,you’ll prob also have itchy dry ears and dry eye,I don’t recommend sudocrem it dries the skin terribly,use organic cold pressed coconut oil downstairs,it’s about two quid for small bluey grey tub from health food store.best of luck.once you solve the atrophy the peeing all night will gradually ease off.

I also refused invasive procedures thank god I did.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan

My immune system is definitely affected.

I used to be very resilient

When in psid work rarely a day off sick.

Ive had covid . Again unlucky as hardly go anywhere.

B12 helped in recovery.

I eat the same diet alot of homegrown veg. Same mixed diet ax my husband.

He has an autoimmune condition travels for work and much more resilient. He didn't get covid??

Ive had orsl thrush fir thd first timd ever.

Anoghef sign of weaker immune system.

I do take supplements as havd no idea of what im able to absorb from food.

Also needing a high dose of b12 lnocks other things out of whack.

Yahaci profile image
Yahaci in reply toNackapan

Sorry to hear you had covid and thrush. I think being inside actually lowers our immunity, rather than being out among people and all the germs. :-)

When I first got deficient, many moons ago. Immunity was the first thing that went. I got terribly bullied at work, because I kept being sick. Even though I ate extremely well.

Today I took my inhaler, for the first time in years, as I was wheezing and couldn't breathe. I read you have to rinse your mouth after or you can get thrush because of the steroids. I never knew that, but wonder if any of it may explain your thrush i.e. do you take steroids?

Do you know which things in particular are knocked out when we supplement b12? I'd been wondering the same. But I cannot tolerate B-complex vitamins. I occasionally take a supermarket one, but still get the jitters and nervy tingling iritability all over.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toYahaci

No im not on steroids or any other medication.

Initially oral thrush was triggeted after a tooth extraction.

Antibiotics needed .

However ive had this sort of antibiotic many times in my life and its not done this.

Ive avoided penicillin as that can caush vaginal thrush in alot of wonen.

Have had oral thrush twice now.

The second time called 'covid tongue ' Not easy to clear . Horrid.

A sure sign of weak immunity or perhaps only when somethibg else going on?

For me ,on much needed b12 injections i need to have a maintenance dose of iron supplements . I alternate them to tolerate them.

Never needed an iron supplement before

Ladt bloods i checked with Gp. He said to continue

Hb lower than before ill .

Ferritin now with supplements around 40 -50.

Only had 2 reading s to compare .

First blood test when ill. 61

So even slthough might have been raised at the time with inflammation in the body. Use that figure

My symptoms( related )went when it reached 41

After loading b12 it dropped to29(range start at 11) but to aim to keep 50-70) i had hair loss at the time cand restless legs and shakey.

I take vit d with k anyway .

My folate level okay . Something i can absorb it seens from food.

My daughter however has to take 400-600mcg to stop levels falling dramatically. She has liafs of folate rich food daily .

I do take a multivut with 100 or 200mcg of folic acid but not every day as difficult to find one without .

Last blood test magnesium

Pottassium. Okay.

So i think its ndividual .

Ive thought about getting a full nutritional blood test for some time. Wpuod have to ge private. Not done thst before .

Gp is good and was having 3 monthly blood tests. Shes added things on request

Ferritin

Magnesium

Not standard.

Due one now. Left it 6 months hoping my cholesterol numbers reduced .

Another raise ?? Ratio okay but total abive range .

An odd one as the same good diet as my husband and he has an excellent cholesterol level??

Difficult .

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Flu and Covid vaccine

I’m due to have my flu and Covid vaccines this weekend, did anyone find that they affected the B12...
Chickens44 profile image

Recurring B12 symptoms

About three weeks ago my doctor decided to switch from my weekly injection to monthly. I made it...
HBerry profile image

PA and flu.

Hi all. I have Autoimmune PA and autoimmune hypothyroidism. I am suffering badly from flu and can't...
Mannequin18 profile image

Lingering/Recurring Anemia

Hey everybody, I recently got some blood test back that have made me worried. I've been seriously...

Have flu, is extra B12 shot a good idea or not?

I usually get a flu shot (preservative-free for safety) but I waited too long this year and caught...
genesurf profile image

Moderation team

See all
Gambit62 profile image
Gambit62Administrator
Foggyme profile image
FoggymeAdministrator
taka profile image
takaAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.