Hi, some of the regular posters may remember me posting in absolute despair last autumn about my husband’s cognitive issues and extreme memory loss.
I’m now posting an update in case it helps anyone else in his position. In summary he had experienced symptoms over a couple of decades since he was twenty which we now recognise as slowly developing B12 deficiency and autoimmune thyroiditis. After 4 years of misdiagnosis he was finally diagnosed with autoimmune thyroiditis and treated but it didn’t resolve his cognitive and memory problems and these continued to deteriorate. Against GP advice we trialled B12 injections at loading dose levels. After 3, we knew we’d found the missing link. Several months on and he’s like himself again, has been able to go back to his original profession, and his memory continues to keep improving.
He has been seen by so many specialists and none of them picked this up. One psychologist a couple of years ago suggested it looked like B12 deficiency but his levels didn’t score low enough in our area and he was already on supplements so doctors ignored her.
She was right. If only they’d listened to her then.
I desperately searched for answers to his unusual memory loss pattern. It was a few people on here who gave us the nudge we needed to try those injections and I’m so thankful they did x
Written by
Zmalp
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
That’s great news that now your husband can gradually improve and resume his life It’s quite shocking to witness a case of deficiency that responds so quickly and unequivocally to treatment isn’t it?
My stepfather was diagnosed with dementia when a chance blood test revealed low b12 and he was given injections at home by a community nurse. The difference in him was like night and day. After a week he was his usual self and was even able to say ’ I just don’t know what was happening to me’. It had really scared him. Sadly though they didn’t keep up the injections and he quickly went downhill again. It was only later that I learnt about b12 and that the treatment hadn’t been continued. It’s frightening to think how many people this happens to and what the consequences are. 😢
In your position I would be tempted to write to each of those professionals and let them know just how serious ignorance of the basics can be! 🤯
Sadly medical incompetence / neglect / or self importance is still prevalent. It was when I have seen these things affect my close family that I gradually became a total sceptic. e.g lately we see the emergence of credence given to phage therapy due to antibiotic resistance that has been roundly rubbished for 50 years by medical professionals. Suddenly it seems the Russians of WW2 seem to have been on to something.
Who knows how much valuable knowledge has been suppressed in the aggrandisement of scientific egos and to protect the income of pharmaceutical companies? Only to emerge when it suits the status quo. ☹️
I do remember reading your posts. Such good news, so happy he is making great progress and doing so much better 😍🤗 It must be a huge relief for the both of you to finally work out what was going on and get on the right treatment...at last! Thank you for posting, it's always good to hear stories of recovery 😊
Great news! Unfortunately, it is a common clinical misunderstanding to exclude the possibility of a B12 issue based on the B12 blood test level. Requires putting all the pieces together instead.
I do recall your post and it prompted me to get my hubby checked as he had similar issues.
He’s on B12 too now. Your story is so inpiring and goes to show the power of determination and strong will. So delighted for you both and may every day be your new day!
How wonderful to have such good news on the forum.
I hope you are both able to spread the word about B12 deficiency among colleagues, friends and family. I suspect there are hundreds of thousands of people in UK suffering from unrecognised B12 deficiency.
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.
Advice needed regarding doctors treatment of low b12 and low folate, please. 
I had b12 injections stopped during covid I’m now getting them again 
B12 overload on the liver
New here and desperate for advice on B12 deficiency
Paper preprint: Transcobalamin Receptor Autoantibodies in Central Vitamin B12 Deficiency 
