B12: Has anyone's low b12 got better on its own... - Thyroid UK

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B12

rachel35a profile image
15 Replies

Has anyone's low b12 got better on its own?

Mine came back low, 145, three months ago, doc said no treatment but a re-test in three months.

I had my bloods done Monday, I'm hating waiting to hear and want to know already! Patience has never been my strong point 😁

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rachel35a profile image
rachel35a
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15 Replies
shaws profile image
shawsAdministrator

You are extremely low in range for B12, probably the bottom of the range. We should have around 1,000 for us to be at optimum.

Before you supplement on your own and as your doctor obviously has no knowledge of the importance of B12 ask him to test the intrinsic factor to exclude you have pernicious anaemia because tell him you are going to supplement yourself with B12 to bring it up to around 1,000. He might tell you that's not necessary but tell him you don't want neurological damage which might not be reversed. You also cannot overdose as excess is excreted. If you do supplement (after a P.A test) it must be methylcobalamin B12 - sublingual is best as it goes into your bloodstream and bypasses your stomach.

Also if he hasn't tested Vitamin D he must do that too.

rachel35a profile image
rachel35a in reply toshaws

To be honest I don't think my doctor even knows what b12 is. He told me to eat lots of broccoli!

He did say if it's still low after this test he was going to start me on injections.

The nurse told me it's my iron stores and if it does come back low again it'll just be a couple of injections to get it back up and that's all I'll need.

Jazzw profile image
Jazzw in reply torachel35a

Oh good grief. There isn't any B12 in broccoli. None. Zilch. :) I think you may be right...

And B12 is not iron. B12 deficiency may be pernicious anaemia but it's not the same thing as iron deficiency anaemia.

These 2 sound like a right pair... :)

rachel35a profile image
rachel35a

Well I'm not sure what to do now? I've just rung the surgery and managed to get my b12 result. It's gone up to 199.

The doc has written that it's in normal range and no further action needed.

Any advice anyone?

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply torachel35a

Yes. Change your doctor. This one is going to kill you!

Seriously, though, he is so lacking in basic knowledge, he's a public danger. So is the nurse if she thinks B12 is the same as iron and that two injections will put you right! Oh dear!

So, I really, really think you ought to push for an intrinsic factor test, as Shaws said. The little that your B12 has risen is negligable. It's still dangerously low. And you must know if you have Pernicious Anemia. So, go down to the surgery, and start throwing the plant pots around until you get the test! (Only kidding, but you know what I mean.)

Hugs, Grey

rachel35a profile image
rachel35a in reply togreygoose

I've been to a different doctors surgery and filled in the registration forms.

I should be a patient there next week. Then it's just the struggle to actually get an appointment there ☺

greygoose profile image
greygoose in reply torachel35a

It's terrible, isn't it, trying to get an appointment. I Don't live in England, but I know the struggle my brother has.

So, when you do get an appointment, I would urge you to make B12 your top priority, because with that low level, a lot of permenant dammage can be done.

Hope your new doctor works out for you! Well done for changing. :)

Angel_of_the_North profile image
Angel_of_the_North in reply torachel35a

I'm not sure what tests you need to rule out PA, but I'd either supplement with 5000iu a day methylcobalamin or try to get a private doc to prescribe injections. I believe you can do them yourself, with training. The HU Pernicious Anaemia Society community would be able to help.

I always wonder why Docs seem to think that things will change on their own if you change nothing. To get more B12 you'd have to either

supplement

eat loads of liver

change your gut bacteria

or all three. If you don't change anything, why would you B12 change? Of course you might have an unknown B12 eating parasite/bacterium which just spontaneously dies ...

He's probably hoping you won't come back or that a small natural fluctuation will make things look better and preserve his budget.

_tracy_ profile image
_tracy_

Are you having neurological symptoms? Tingling, numbness or pain in your hands or feet, shortness of breath, memory problems, palpitations, balance issues, brain fog, depression, insomnia are some. Other symptoms include hair loss, outer half of eyebrows disappear, enlarged tongue, fatigue, ridges on fingernails or toenails, fingernail moons disappear, bruise easily.

I'm assuming you are in the UK, where the units B12 is measured in are ng/L (which is equivalent to pg/mL used in the US, where I live). If the units were nmol/L then multiply your B12 value by 1.355 to convert it to the US/UK units which are what people on this forum are most familiar with.

The book by Sally Pacholok, "Could It Be B12? An Epidemic of Misdiagnosis" says 200 - 450 is the gray area where neurological symptoms are known to occur. B12 levels below 450 should be investigated for the cause and get treated. Your B12 is below that minimum.

If you are in the UK you can show your doctor the BNF treatment guidance for B12 deficiency. It is only accessible from within the UK so perhaps someone on this list can provide the link.

rachel35a profile image
rachel35a

Yes I have a lot of the symptoms, all the nail ones, shortness of breath, dizzy wobbly rather than dizzy fainty, all the memory stuff and tingling painful hands and feet.

I put nearly all of it down to my thyroid!

And yes I'm in the UK

rachel35a profile image
rachel35a

Just hunted out my paperwork from the last 3 sets of bloods I had done. The b12 test that came back abnormal was 147 ng/L

The range next to it says 187.0 - 883.0

Guess that's why my result from this week at 199 is now 'normal'

I would think the new doctors I'm registering with will send blood to the same labs so will have the same reference range so same diagnosis??

punkyb profile image
punkyb

My husband has low b vitamin and the medical people said he had to get shots for 5 weeks and then they will give him another blood test. I think he is almost done with the shots...hope this helps somehow

helvella profile image
helvellaAdministrator in reply topunkyb

I urge you, or your husband, to go over to the Pernicious Anaemia forum here on HU.

Re-testing B12 after loading shots will always show a high level. And that level will mean nothing. But some medics will say "You are OK now" and not offer any more shots, ever.

If he needed loading shots, he almost certainly will need regular shots forever. Many find that the standard frequency of every three months isn't sufficient.

punkyb profile image
punkyb

Thank you I got all excited and began looking things up and almost forgot to say thanks! ha SO THANKS!

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