Raised B12 Levels and frequent headaches could that be a problem or us there another issue with my blood results

[jaxie28]

Hi I’m posting my blood results again. (Without my personal details) to see if anyone can explain why I am having such frequent headaches

Any advice will be gratefully appreciated

Thanks. I take 2 grains of NDT and 25 umg Levothyroxine twice a week

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Hi Jaxie28, as advised in your last post, it is likely that your B12 is over range through supplementation. As  humanbean noted ‘Having high B12 as a result of supplementing is not an issue and is not dangerous’ . She also provided useful links with further information.

As the Teva brand disagreed with you, have you managed to source Levo that you can tolerate?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Headaches are hypothyroid symptom

Ft4 is very low

Was test done early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Day before test did you split NDT and last dose approx 8-12 hours before test

Do you normally split NDT every day

More likely to be better taking some levothyroxine everyday rather than just twice a week

Initially perhaps try 25mcg levothyroxine daily

You may need to reduce NDT a little after next test

Folate is too low

supplementing a good quality daily vitamin B complex, one with folate in (not folic acid) 

This can help keep all B vitamins in balance

Difference between folate and folic acid 

chriskresser.com/folate-vs-...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

Thorne Basic B recommended vitamin B complex that contains folate, but they are large capsules. (You can tip powder out if can’t swallow capsule) 

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate methyl folate supplement

[jaxie28 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi there

Yes test was done early in the morning and I took no Vitamin B or Biotin a week before the test and yes I did split the NDT the day before the test (last dose 10 hours before test) but usually I take both NDT grains at the same time and do take my Vitamin B after my breakfast and my Biotin in the evening, but I’ll take both after breakfast from now on and change to the Thorne Brand for my B Complex

I will also take 25 mcg Levothyroxine daily and see how I get on with that and also I’ll add methyl folate to my supplements when I am not taking B Vitamins before my next test

Thanks so much for the advice. I do appreciate it x

[Buddy195 Administrator]

In your last post you said that you already take take a B Complex (as recommended by SlowDragon). Just checking if this is daily? 10 months ago your folate was 12 and it’s now 10. You might consider a separate methyl folate supplement to improve this.

[jaxie28 in reply to Buddy195]

Hi yes I take a Vitamin B Complex everyday and Biotin separately. I take Igennus brand for the B Complex and I take Aristo Pharma for my Levothyroxine

Pinnacle Nutrition Biotin 12000 mcg daily is the brand I use

As you say my folate is low, perhaps I should change my B Complex to the Thorne brand which includes folate?

Thanks so much for your response x

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to jaxie28]

I successfully raised my folate using Thorne Basic B. I’m unsure of the other brands, so will tag SeasideSusie to comment, as she is very knowledgeable in this area.

[jaxie28 in reply to Buddy195]

Is this the one you use?

Vitamin B Supplement bottle

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to jaxie28]

👍 It’s worth shopping around as sometimes cheaper on Amazon, other times Ebay if you decide to swap B Complex. The other option would be to stay off the B complex if you think high B12 may contribute to headaches, as radd suggested. Perhaps try a separate methyl folate supplement & closely monitor how you feel.

[jaxie28 in reply to Buddy195]

Thanks for your response. I was wondering if perhaps I just take the B Complex every other day and the Biotin daily (I’ve noticed a lot of hair loss when I stop taking Biotin in the past) and perhaps add a methyl folate supplement? Thanks again x

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to jaxie28]

jaxie28

Leaving off your B Complex for a week before the test wasn't necessary. The amount of biotin in a B Complex, often arund 400-500mcg, only needs about 3 days, it's high dose biotin such as your stand alone biotin supplement that needs a week. So leaving off your B Complex for a week could have caused a lower than usual folate level.

I've always used Thorne Basic B and been happy with it. I am currently experimenting with Vitablossom Liposomal B Complex capsules which are supposed to be better absorbed (being liposomal) but I have yet to retest to see if it's made a difference.

[jaxie28 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thanks for your kind response

I thought I had to lay off all B Vitamins for a week before but I’ll know from now on so thanks again

I’m going to try the Thorne Vitamin B Complex. Did you see the photo I uploaded to confirm that I’m looking at the correct one please?

Thanks so much

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to jaxie28]

Yes, it clearly says Thorne Basic B Complex.

[legallyspeaking1]

what have you tried for your headache? Iced coffee really really helps the most. You can also try a decongestant you may have some congestion in your sinuses even though you don’t feel it, try a decongestant. Ice cream, anything cold. That’s because cold is a Vasoconstrictor and that’s what you want because when you have a headache it’s caused from vasodilation of the blood vessels so now you want something to re-restrict that and that’s what the vasoconstrictor will do. I hope that helps

[radd]

jaxie28,

For many people high VitB-12 per se shouldn’t be a problem when folate is balanced as they use same pathways and excess is simply pee’d out, but your folate is too low.

Also some methylation issues can mean high amounts aren’t readily processed resulting in buildup (as opposed to utilising/excreting).  

If you suspect your high levels of VitB-12 levels could be the cause of or contributing to headaches, I would reduce levels. MTHFR issues are common and methyl-version supplements are great for some but not all, and only trial and error can establish where we feel best. 

[jamesal0]

Hi Jaxie I get a head ache when I take too much NDT, try easing off on it for a few days and see if you improve.

J