How much b12 to take ??

[Razzar1977]

My 1000 mg b12 lozenges turned up today how often shall I take or how many bearing as my last test said my level was 180. I have tried to get my injections reinstated I'm going to change docs. It's a long story about my B12 deficiency so not going to get into it now . Just need help knowing how much to take thanks x

[Marz]

The 1000 mcg tablet needs to be held in the mouth - under the tongue or in the cheek - until it has dissolved. Gives it a chance to be absorbed into the micro-circulation. One daily. Once on supplements further testing will be skewed and of little value. You will also need to take a GOOD B Complex to keep all the B's in balance and one with Folic Acid which works with the B12 in the body.

Next time I would buy the 5000mcg Jarrow lozenge - as you are very low....

[Razzar1977 in reply to Marz]

Ohh didn't see the 5000 ones I must have scrolled right past it I might just order them and use these after. Think I will take a trip to H&b they most likely have b complex . All this is more complicated than I thought it would be and pricey. Get that's what u get for having a clueless doctor. Can't understand the fight I'm having to put up to get my injections back . It was same to get a endo and that was with tsh that was in 90's. So tired of this . So b complex. I have folic tabs prescribed here says 5mg on it. So do I still need 1 with folic acid. Sorry guys in advance x

[Marz in reply to Razzar1977]

By all means take the Folic Acid you have - but when they are finished it would be good to invest in a B Complex to keep all the B vitamins in balance. They are very important. Try not to think badly of your Docs - it doesn't help you to become well. If you want advice about having your injections re-instated - it may be worth going over to the PAS forum and asking their advice. Also there is a letter you can write to your GP which is posted on the B12D website....Also look at the main PAS website for up to date information. There is so much we can do to help ourselves.

Having somehow reached 69 I could write a book about the mistakes that have been made regarding my health - I choose not to dwell and do my best to be a very positive person. Make a list of all the good things about yourself and your life - you may be surprised

I refuse to be angry about the fact I should have been prescribed B12 injections over 40 years ago - but hey now I am having them weekly - so intend to make up for lost time !!

[Razzar1977 in reply to Marz]

I can see where you are coming from I'm just frustrated as when I was diagnosed with this illness I wasn't advised of all the things that could come along with it. Just said take this pill you will be fine. I moved from England to Wales and this is when things went wrong. 5 kids to look after and barely managing to keep my head off pillow. Never had this problem before. I'm now starting to research this disease I'm just not good when it comes to medical jargon lol. I'm more angry at the fact the docs have been reading my blood tests wrong and whacking my levo up and my body wasn't converting or absorbing it. You trust they know what they are talking about. As I have learned always ask for your results...my doc seemed a bit shocked when I even asked. Will have to go and have a look sorry for being a pain with all questions not been doing this long . I will get there. X

[Marz in reply to Razzar1977]

I think you are doing fine - but as you now know most of us have experienced similar issues to yourself with regards to lack of good medical care. Best not to get angry - get even - by quietly reading a little at a time and learning as much as possible. Information is power

[Razzar1977 in reply to Marz]

Thanks x

[Clutter]

Razzar, I agree with Marz, you need 5,000mcg. If you dissolve 5 x 1,000mcg your mouth might become sore and you may be better off ordering 5,000mcg. Once you're supplementing serum results will be high so you'll be unlikely to have injections restored. If you think a new GP will reinstate injections it may be better to hold off supplementing.

[Razzar1977 in reply to Clutter]

I can't rely in them if I can do it would rather do it myself. All I do is fight for stuff it's ridiculous. You have to be dying here before u get help makes me mad. At least the endo has sorted me out even tho the doc has not got back to me on the liothyronine. ..no surprise there oh well. Ty for ur help ladies x

[Razzar1977 in reply to Clutter]

It does say u can chew these b12 lozenges what if I chewed a few then put rest under my tounge lol . Ahhh might just get some more x

[Clutter in reply to Razzar1977]

Razzar, best to dissolve them as slowly as possible rather than chewing. Try 5 lozenges a day. Doesn't have to be in one dose. If it makes your mouth sore order the 5,000mcg. When B12 levels are good you can use the 1,000mcg as a maintenance dose.

[Razzar1977 in reply to Clutter]

Ok that's cool not long had some thought they would dissolve faster than that lol. I also bought the methyl folate not realising that I get prescribed 5mg folic acid tablets. Sooo a bit confused now. I don't know which 1s are best to take x

[Clutter in reply to Razzar1977]

Razzar, Folic Acid is usually prescribed for 3-4 months until deficiency corrects. It's not recommended for long term use. When was folate last tested?

[Razzar1977 in reply to Clutter]

I'm not sure hun tbh will ring the docs up. It's on a weekly script. See this I what frustrates me they prescribe it but never question or tell me if it's ok or not. They just tell me if my I have had full blood counts and keeps showing inflammation no idea why this the 4th time. Before I came on this site I never put any of these things together as symptoms. I'm not a doctor u just assume ur results are normal if they are telling you they are within normal range. As u all said before don't take doc normal as being optimal . There's so much to learn. Now I know why my mum Google everything lol. Ty anyways x

[Polaris in reply to Razzar1977]

As your B12 is so low, Razza, I would hold off on the folic acid until levels are raised:

b12deficiency.info/b12-writ.... (an excellent film with important info on folic acid)

rivm.openrepository.com/riv...

"the best treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency subjects is supplementation with vitamin B12 and not additional folic acid."

gbhealthwatch.com/Nutrient-...

"High levels of folate are normally okay as long as your vitamin B12 level is also normal. Cells need vitamin B12 to use folic acid and when vitamin B12 levels are too low, folic acid cannot be used and builds up in the blood.

PS. You probably already know that supplements will skew any further tests, in case you have an absorption problem.

[Razzar1977 in reply to Polaris]

I know I got an absorbton Prob for levo as for anything else no idea I hope not . Yea I know they will skew my results. Not taken the supplements yet as I feel I ain't got a clue what I'm doing. Everybody on here seem very much clued up how to do all of this. I feel a bit simple lol I'm going to have to do alot of research. I didn't even know folate was folic acid or something similar until yesterday. I wouldn't have to do all this if I could get my b12 injections reinstated. Long story. Thanks for links will have a look ty for response xx

[Polaris in reply to Razzar1977]

I hadn't realised you'd already been on injections and had them taken away - I'm shocked they could do that...

You're not simple at all - it's very complicated and we all need our B12 to understand it !

[Razzar1977 in reply to Polaris]

Yea docs are just being right jerks . I moved from England to Wales anyways I was prescribed injections there. I moved over and they didn't have my notes. I gave them a copy of my repeat script from there. Anyways the doctor prescribed me the injections. I had an appointment all set up to have them. By this point my doc had gone on maternity leave. The nurse said said we'll seeing as you have had no b12 injections since being at this surgery u will.need a blood test..even tho the doc had ok it. So I had blood test and she said we'll because my bloods were Borderline I think what she said she would not let me have the injections. So I have been fighting to get them back . I think it's disgusting the way they treat people. I have already pulled my daughter out from there and moved her as they wouldn't help. Told her she had ibs and she got chrons. I know people keep saying don't be mad and stuff but it gets so frustrating when you have to fight to keep ur self alive cos they are so ignorant. It's ok lol just having a bad day. You weren't to know. I just given up going now unless I need a blood test...then to be told my tsh is slightly out of range then to find out its 92 . My endo was horrified. I'm trying to learn about all this illness but there so much I'm losing track. Sometimes I wonder why I bother. Xx

[Polaris in reply to Razzar1977]

Keep fighting Razzar - I would write a letter of complaint - I can't see that nurses have a right to decide on B12 injections when they obviously know little about it*

cmim.org/pdf2014/funcion.ph... :

The above latest UK research document is supported by many research papers and has a useful summary if GP won't read full document. It also tells GP that, *once b12 treatment is started, the test results don't mean anything and blood levels are not reflective of how effective the treatment is - it is the clinical condition of the patient that matters....

I hope you get your treatment back soon.

[Razzar1977]

I'm trying ...I think the only way to get them back is let myself go down with my b12. You would think me having been prescribed it and I was only Borderline when they retested that means my b12 not optimal and it's starting to get bad again. It's a joke really people have to be half dead to get help these days. Ty tho means alot x