Good news on memory following B12 tre... - Pernicious Anaemi...

Pernicious Anaemia Society

31,973 members23,121 posts

Good news on memory following B12 treatment

Zmalp profile image
17 Replies

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 profile image
Zmalp
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
17 Replies
Nackapan profile image
Nackapan

Thankyou for the update. Marvelous to hear of your husbands improvements

Jillymo profile image
Jillymo

Wonderful news to hear your husband is now well enough to return to work. I am sure your post will inspire others.

Muttilina profile image
Muttilina in reply to Jillymo

Thank you so much

Marymary7 profile image
Marymary7

That is such good news. It’s hard to believe that doctors and health professionals cannot seem to take this on board.

HowNowWhatNow profile image
HowNowWhatNow

So glad!

Litatamon profile image
Litatamon

So so so so happy! Did you get that I am happy to hear? 🤩😁

Absolute public health scandal that this goes on & so much money is wasted, not to mention people's hope.

All the best to you both.

(And yes I remember your post🌺)

MorningMist profile image
MorningMist

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! 🤯

rastusxxx profile image
rastusxxx in reply to MorningMist

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.

MorningMist profile image
MorningMist in reply to rastusxxx

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. ☹️

Bertiepuss profile image
Bertiepuss

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 😊

Technoid profile image
Technoid

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.

Wheat profile image
Wheat

I am so pleased that you found the answer and that your husband s improved. Wonderful news.

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support

Yes, I do remember you and am delighted for you both.

This may also help Mississippiriver9 - "....but his levels didn't score low enough in our area" particularly relevant.

bookish profile image
bookish

That is fabulous news, I am so happy for you both, and well done.

B12life profile image
B12life

thanks for sharing the results! So glad to hear yet another success story.

Wwwdot profile image
Wwwdot

Hi Zmalp

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!

🤗🤗🤗

Sleepybunny profile image
Sleepybunny

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.

For you and others reading this thread....

PAS publish members' stories

pernicious-anaemia-society....

PAS membership

pernicious-anaemia-society....

Tracy Witty of B12info.com sometimes blogs about people's stories.

b12info.com/blog/

Care Opinion is a review website where people can post their good and bad health experiences in UK.

careopinion.org.uk/

If you put B12 deficiency in search box you can see other people's experiences with B12 deficiency.

Thread about Patient Safety, has links for those having difficult health experiences with B12 deficiency in UK

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

You may also like...

B12 normal but folate low normal

serious memory loss. When investigated last year, the psychologist told me to check his B12 levels...

B12 deficiency follow up.

GP practice telling me I was ‘borderline’ deficient (my level was 121) Anyway, today I finally got...

Cherylclaire with good news!

results came back as high, confirming B12 deficiency - despite B12 blood test, taken at the same...

Combined iron and B12 treatment

recurrent iron deficiency resulting in infusions and low B12 culminating in active B12 deficiency...

Functional B12 deficiency question

dismissing B12 deficiency as a cause for unexplained memory loss and cognition because his B12...