Questions about B12
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symptoms of b12 deficiency

In January ‘08 – I had what felt like a sinus infection – never saw doctor

In March ‘08 I had Trichomoniasis- My partner and I were treated with antibiotics

In May ‘08 I had what felt like a horrible sinus infection – Never went to doctor

At the end of May ‘08 I had a Urinary Tract infection – treated with over the counter medicine

In June ‘08 I had my first yeast infection – Doctor had me take over the counter monistat.

September ‘08 – I had another yeast infection – treated with monistat again

In October ‘08 I found out I was deficient in B12, but since have been taking it and many of the symptoms that led to this diagnosis have disappeared. I assumed that was the cause of getting sick so frequently.

In late October I had the worst head cold ever and it could have been a sinus infection. I never saw the doctor.

In November I was diagnosed with another Strep B vaginal infection. It was treated with antibiotics again.

In early December I had a very strange thing happen and a lot of my lymphnodes swelled up horribly. I felt healthy except it was very painful and the doctor gave me some antibiotics. About 4 days into the antibiotics my throat got horribly sore and I felt like I had strep throat again. This lasted about 4 days and then the sore throat went away but I had a lot of chest and nasal congestion. I don’t think it was an infection because the mucous drained but it was always clear. My lymphnodes remained swollen during all of this, but slowly went back to normal. The antibiotics seemed to have no effect on this and this whole episode lasted about 3 weeks.

Now I sit here very uncomfortable after taking a at home urinary tract infection test that came up incredibly positive.

So, I will call my doctor and get some more antibiotics. I just don’t think it is good to take this many antibiotics. Is there something else that could be leading to all these illnesses. Can they be related? I realized that my gynecologist who treated the vaginal infections has no idea that I keep getting sinus infections, colds, etc. Then I realized my general practitioner has no idea about all the bacteria, UTI, yeast infections. I never really considered they could be related some how, so never thought to bring it up. I have had blood tests and the only abnormal thing was my B12 levels. I had horrible b12 deficiency symptoms which is what let to that diagnosis and I notice that even though they have pretty much disappeared, I feel them when I am sick. My joints start cracking, my arms start hurting, My legs cramp and my toes tingle. I can’t concentrate and feel cloudy. I get better for a week and feel normal again, then some other illness comes along and I feel the symptoms again.

If the B12 deficiency was killing my immune system and leading to all these infections, than why hasn’t my immune system gotten stronger by taking b12?

A: You should probably see an allergist/immunologist. My sister was really anemic and her immune system was shot and they gave her all these boosters. Crandleberry is a herbal liquid supplement that is proven very affective in strengthening immune system naturally. A mixture of two pieces of ground garlic, 2 tablespoons of honey, and shot of lemon juice is a good remedy and natural (less potent antibiotic).

Q: B12 deficinecy?
What are the symptoms of a B12 deficiency and what happens if it is left untreated?

A: Vitamin B12 is needed to produce an adequate amount of healthy red blood cells in the bone marrow. Vitamin B12 is available only in animal foods (meat and dairy products) or yeast extracts (such as brewer’s yeast). Vitamin B12 deficiency is defined by low levels of stored B12 in the body that can result in anemia, a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can develop for the following reasons:
Absence of intrinsic factor, also called pernicious anemia Intrinsic factor is a protein secreted by cells of the stomach lining. Intrinsic factor attaches to vitamin B12 and takes it to the intestines to be absorbed. An absence of intrinsic factor is the most common cause of pernicious anemia, and it typically causes the stomach lining to shrink (atrophy). This condition often is seen in elderly people of African-American or Northern-European descent. In these people, pernicious anemia develops at about age 60. In children, decreased levels of intrinsic factor can be an inherited (genetic) condition. When this happens, low levels of intrinsic factor produce symptoms of juvenile pernicious anemia in patients younger than age 10. Pernicious anemia occurs more commonly in people who already have diseases that are linked to immune-system abnormalities, such as Graves’ disease, hypothyroidism (under-functioning thyroid gland), thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid), vitiligo and Addison’s disease (adrenocortical insufficiency).
Removal or destruction of the stomach Vitamin B12 deficiency can develop in people who have had surgery to remove part or all of the stomach.
Overgrowth of bacteria Some people develop vitamin B12 deficiency as a result of conditions that slow the movement of food through the intestines (diabetes, scleroderma, strictures, diverticula), allowing intestinal bacteria to multiply and overgrow in the upper part of the small intestine. These bacteria steal B12 for their own use, rather than allowing it to be absorbed by the body.
Dietary deficiency Vegans (strict vegetarians who do not eat any meat, fish, egg or dairy products) can develop vitamin B12 deficiency because they lack vitamin B12 in their diets. In patients with bulimia or anorexia nervosa, vitamin B12 deficiency also can be related to diet. However, your liver can store vitamin B12 for up to five years, so it’s rare for diet to cause this anemia.
Symptoms tend to develop slowly and may not be recognized immediately. As the condition worsens, common symptoms include:
Weakness and fatigue
Light-headedness and dizziness
Palpitations and rapid heartbeat
Shortness of breath
A sore tongue that has a red, beefy appearance
Nausea or poor appetite
Weight loss
Diarrhea
Yellowish tinge to the skin and eyes
If low levels of B12 remain for a long time, the condition also can lead to irreversible damage to nerve cells, which can cause the following symptoms:
Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
Difficulty walking
Muscle weakness
Irritability
Memory loss
Dementia
Depression
Psychosis

To read more on this go to web site below

Q: Tell me everything you know about Methylcobalamine deficiency?
Methylcobalamin deficiency is a deficiency in B12. More is becoming known about it’s role in the misdiagnoses of dementia-type diseases such as Alzheimers (AD), Lou Body syndrome, etc. With this type of deficiency, AD symptoms are present, ranging from mild memory loss (forgetting where you placed your car keys), to full-blown AD. If you have ever been diagnosed with a deficiency in Methylcobalamin, please write back with the results of your treatment. If you have been tested for B12 deficiency, 99.9% sure it was the type of test that looks for a deficiency in cytocobalamin (generic and less expensive) and not methylcobalamine (more expensive, so health insurers won’t pay for this test). You would have had to have been very specific about the type of test you wanted, otherwise, your physician would have ordered the cytocobalamin test by default. If you KNOW you’ve had the methylcobalamin test, you are who I want to hear from.
One thing to know: doctor’s are reluctant to order methylcobalamine test because the cost is prohibitive, and most will tell you the test is not warranted, which is double-speak for “the insurance company controls what tests I can and can’t perform.”

A: I’m not sure what my B12 test was. I do know it was completely inaccurate lol as it is not active B12. I have read the book Could It Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses and it has shown that a urinary methylmalonic acid test is the most accurate at picking up even the mildest of deficiencies. I have autoimmune pernicious anaemia (diagnosed myself btw..yep an epidemic lol) and after a bit of trial and error, i found under the tongue B12 spray daily works brillantly. :)

http://www.amazon.com/Could-Be-B12-Epidemic-Misdiagnoses/dp/1884956467

Q: Do i have B12 Deficiency?
AGAIN?? If you have had B12 deficiency once and get a episode of it again because you dont take supplements can you get different symptoms? Can it make you depressed feeling?
Does it cause low platlet counts?

A: I am a long time sufferer of Pernicious Anemia. By the time it was discovered my hemoglobin was down to 6.3 and my B12 was 24. Depression was the biggest symptom I had, along with every other symptom you can imagine. When you are low on B12 your blood and nervous system become so out of sync anything goes. Each time my B12 goes low my symptoms are totally different, but depression and fatigue are usually my first sign that I need a shot. There is nothing wrong with taking B12 shots if you aren’t absorbing the proper amounts of B12 from your diet. When my B12 first became low I had to have a shot every day for two weeks, then twice a week for 6 months before it became a normal level, which needs to be around 800. The standards many of the Dr’s use these days are way outdated. Most testing says 400 is normal, but at 400, neurological damage can begin. To function normally with pernicious anemia I keep my level between 1000-2000 by a weekly injection of 1ml 1000mcg B12. If I go to every other week my b12 level drops dramatically to around 200-400 within 3 months. That is when the depression sets in. To diagnose my B12 being low for MY body, the Dr watches for my MCV and MCH levels to be elevated. I’m not sure how this works but they control my B12 level religiously. This is all done by my Hematologist at 3 month intervals.
Another big symptom I get first off is restless leg.
I’m not sure about the low platelet count but with pernicious anemia nothing would surprise me.
Something that is funny, I keep myself supplied with B12 from CalVetsupply. It’s around $22 for 250 shots for cattle swine and sheep. As the Dr says, a vitamin is a vitamin is a vitamin! And I am healthy!

Q: Anxiety B-12 and grey hair? can anyone shed some light?
I have recently been through extreme stress as a result of bereavement and my hair is rapidly turning grey as a result (in just a two week period). I read that anxiety causes the “fight or flight” reaction that requires your body’s supplies of b12 in its recovery. I also read that a b12 deficiency can cause you to lose pigmentation in your hair. Could these things be linked? I also have extremely bloodshot eyes and pins and needles in my hands and feet, which i believe are also symptoms of b12/iron deficiency. can anyone tell me if this is likely? and if so, are there any foods which will have a fast effect on the deficiency?

A: Hi This happened to me when my mum died suddenly (My hair went grey almost overnight) You could try a food supplement with added vitamin b12/iron in to see if it helps, It is a shot to nothing. Good luck hope it all works out well for you.

Q: I am so uncomfortable right now. Are there any b12 deficiency experts around, I don’t know what to do.?
I was diagnosed a few weeks ago with being low on B12. I saw the doctor after about 2 years of feeling, “not right,” and getting strange ultimately painful symptoms. A summer of constant headaches and blurred vision that wouldn’t go away no matter what ended with feeling as if my hand, wrist, forearm, and shoulder were broken, all at separate parts of the day.

The doc. told me my b12 was low and at that point, I didn’t realize all the symptoms were related to this. I figured at best, I would get some energy so I started taking it as the doctor told me.

Within a week I was truly amazed as I woke up one morning pain free. I didn’t even know how much pain I was in until I woke up and didn’t feel any. I still got tingles in my hand and the occasional discomfort but I thought the b12 was like a magic pill.

So now about a month later I feel like I am relapsing or something. I haven’t changed anything in the month so I don’t know what is doing this. The only thing I can say is that I am about to begin menstruating and wonder could that be causing this discomfort. All the symptoms are coming back and I am so scared of that pain coming back now that I know what “normal” feels like.

Is there anything I can do right now because my calves are having spasms like crazy and I can’t sleep because it is so uncomfortable.

Is it normal to relapse? Should I call the doctor or wait it out. I also have a yeast infection that will not go away. I see a doctor about that tomorrow but not the one who diagnosed me. I will consult with her about all this, but I don’t know if she has any clue about b12 deficiency.

Most importantly right now, how do I get my legs to stop spasming, now. I need to rest. This is a new symptom that has slowly been introducing itself since last week and has come on full force tonight. My feet are also hurting. Between this yeast infection, the spasms and my body acting like it was healthy for a few weeks, I am just so frustrated! : (

A: Sounds like you have a few things going on here. You are on the right track with consulting your med professionals. AS for the muscle spasming – water and potasium (bananas) are good for that. I would ask for a full vitamin and mineral test if you have not already. I Wonder how your hemoglobin is? Just a thought.

Q: Hypothyroid, B12 Deficiency, and Iron Deficiency.?
I am a 20 year old female who was diagnosed with a hypothyroid last year and I have been on 88 MCG of synthroid every since. I have one large goiter on my right side which had a biopsy and was said to be benign.

Even after leveling out my TSH levels with the synthroid I was still suffering from the symptoms of my under active thyroid. My specialist doctor did many blood tests on me including testing my B12 and iron levels.

The results came back that I had Hashimoto’s disease, a B 12 Deficiency (284pg/mL out of a normal 200-1100), and Iron Deficiency. She recommended that I retest the two and if the problem was still there that we would put me on more medication.

The second results came back and my iron was 36 out of a normal 40-175 and my B 12 had fallen to 241. Since I did not have an appointment the nurse gave me the results. She said my numbers were “perfect for my age” even though the last visit my doctor said they were very low. And they only got lower.

I feel like I should make another appointment with my doctor to verify that I need help but I was wondering if anyone has had a similar diagnosis and what they did!

Thanks

A: yes, see the doctor- she can give you B12 shots to boost that up, and prescribe iron supplements, and also suggest iron rich foods to eat to boost those levels. never listen to a nurse, they dont have the degree a doctor does.

Q: B12 deficiency & pernicious anaemia?
Just wondering if B12 deficiency and pernicious anaemia are the same thing, or if one is a symptom of the other…

A: Not exactly.

Pernicious anemia is caused by Vit. B12 deficiency, but not all B12 deficiencies are pernicious anemias. Strictly speaking, pernicious anemia refers to B12 deficiency caused by atrophic gastritis and parietal cell loss only. In pernicious anemia there is impaired absorption of vitamin B12 due to the absence of intrinsic factor, which is secreted by the parietal cells of the stomach.

But some people tend to take them as interchangable, since it is the most common cause of B12 deficiency.

Q: Anyone know about a b12 deficiency?
I had blood work last week and my drs office just called me and told me i have very low vitamin b12. She said something about coming in monthly for injections? I didnt know anything about it so i read a little bit about the symptoms and that deffinately describes me. Does anyone know anything about this and the possibility of injections to treat this? Is there any other ways to resolve it? She said maybe my body is injesting it but it has issues with the absoption part of it? I have another appt tomorrow i just wanted a heads up of what to expect… Thanks so much!

A: If your body is having a problem absorbing it then you will have to get shots. Taking a pill or increasing your diet would not help b/c you’re not able to absorb it. When you receive your shot it goes directly into your blood stream and does not have to be absorbed in the intestines.

Q: B12 linked to Depression and Anxiety?
Im 16 and have struggled with B12 deficiency a year ago. I had shots or injections done and they relieved my symptoms in the matter of a month but i stopped taking supplements BAD MOVE!!! Now im worse then ever and have been having anxiety, depression( which is not like me at all and hit me out of no where) as well as numbness in hands/arms, sore chest and tongue, mood swings and low appetite along with other symptoms. Could this be my B12 down again? should i be worried about the depression?

A: A lack of B 12 can cause nervous symptoms. A lack of calcium can also contribute to these feelings. I recommend a combination of B 12 and calcium supplements. for the calcium to be effective it must be a balanced blend with magnesium and Phosphorous.

To get the B 12 without the needle try an isotonic supplement. Isotonic forms of B 12 and Calcium are available from this web site:

http://free2bme.ws

Mike

http://www.natural-healing-coach.com

Q: I got a shot of B12 last Monday..?
Because I have a B12 deficiency.
The next day I woke up and the skin on my right shoulder(where I got the needle) was completely numb.
It’s still numb today, a week later.
When my shoulder gets itchy I scratch but I can’t feel it at all.
I poked my shoulder with a pin and felt nothing on my skin.

Today, I woke up with a pain in that spot.
Also, since I have gotten the shot, every time I move my arm a certain way I get a pulling feeling in the muscle there.

Are these normal symptoms of a B12 injection or is there something wrong?
My doctor didn’t really give me any information about the shot.
It was a normal size needle.. not very big.

A: That is an accidental lesion of the sensitive superficial branches of the axilary nerve.
Nothing to do with the injected vitamin B12, nut with an accidentally pinched nerve in your shoulder. (in can happen with many other injected substances and vaccines)…..that is what we call a “traumatic neuritis”,,,
It wil resolve by itself in about 10-12 days, however contact your doctor, and expose the problem
This kind of disturbing mishaps are quite frightening, however the prognosis in the short term, is excellent.
Please tell you physician, my opinion, and see what he or she says…

Q: I have had a headache since April 20th 2007, with migraines, heart palpitations, shortness of breath……?
and irregular periods. I saw my primary care doctor who couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me. So he sent me to see a Neurologist who thought I had a rebound headache from all the medicine I was taking. He took me off all the medicine and put me on Naparoxen and Maxalt and told me to go for an MRI, MRA, and MRV of the Brain which were normal. I recently had bloodwork done and my B12 levels were extreamly low. Has anyone had these symptoms and had B12 deficiency? I was a strict vegetarian for 9 years but have eaten only chicken and turkey for 7 years,, I’m worried all these years of malnutrition has harmed my body.

A: B12 plays a role in neurology. It is not uncommon for vegetarians to find themselves with a B12 deficiency. Talk to your neurologist and perhaps a nutritionist who can help make sure you get more B12 in your diet.

Q: Am I crazy or do I have a problem?
I think I have a neurological problem but now I’m not so sure because of what people are telling me. I had gone to the doctor for numbness that happened on my left arm and then traveled to my left leg. I didn’t go the day that it happened because I ignored it seeing as I didn’t seem to have any problems it just went away on its own. (which was stupid….) I gave up and went to the doctor after I had trouble walking (spasticity) in my left leg about a month later (I know stupid to wait a month but I’m stubborn and hate doctors…I hate doctors even more so now.) I told the doctor about weakness and stiffness in my left leg. She did blood tests and recommended me to a neurologist. I still haven’t been to the neurologist yet so…) Anyway the blood tests said my b12 level was a little low (little…) and they gave me injections which I have been getting for 6 weeks. My problems have not gone away. (The spasticity went away before the injections btw) Also before I was getting the injections I had some trouble with my eyesight and my doctor recommended me to an eye doctor which I have been to.

The eye doctor said it was astigmatism. (Which I trust the diagnosis but also find it hard to believe that as my eye sight got worse in the span of 3 days and was perfect before…) And now my eyesight has gotten even worse more blurry than it was and I had some pain in my eyes for about 3 days whenever I moved them. The doctors are basically (I can tell) putting all of my symptoms apart Like b12 deficiency, astigmatism…that randomly appears then goes away??? (I haven’t been back to the eye doctor because it had mostly gone away it was a little residual blurriness left over but I could function and did not need glasses.)

I had an MRI done recently without contrast and the results came back normal. So this discouraged me a bit I’m glad it’s normal I guess but now I’m back where I started…not knowing a damn thing and I’m getting so frustrated. My question is, I suppose, is can all of this be a coincidence or could it be something the doctors are just brushing off because of my age I’m 19 btw and female. I don’t want to think of the worst but I feel that I have MS because I have also had tingling that comes and goes and tremors after a hot shower. I’ve been having dizziness now and I don’t want to tell the doctor as I feel they will just brush it off as sinuses or something.. And I had trouble swallowing at one point early on that went away after a few days. Ugh…I don’t know anymore! I think now it all may be in my head…they’re making me feel like I’m crazy or complaining too much. My parents also because they want to believe it’s nothing keep brushing it off and saying it’s all in my head. I know they’re trying to help but they’re making me feel worse!

A: I think it is the neurologists job to inform you of any disease you may or may not have

In the way you describe illness and the feelings towards Doctors-it’s not unlike Health Anxiety Disorder, but you would need that to be diagnosed.

So far it seems you are in fact healthy
Tell the Doctors you feel you won’t be taken seriously, then the Doctor will make themselves more clear with you and explain they aren’t really allowed to lie to you about anything,because at 19 you are an Adult.
At 19 a stroke is very very very rare.
There are so many minor health problems that can amplify somatic symptoms at times of emotional distress that it is far better to actually trust your Doctor than imagine them as the enemy,no?

Q: I have persistant tingly legs and I dont know what it is.?
My legs tingle, like fall asleep, all the time, while Im sitting and standing. I am on a strict caloric diet, Im having symptoms of anemia and or B12 deficiency which I considered because I eat very limited amount of animal products. I am only sixteen, so I will rule out Restless Leg Syndrome, although I am constantly figeting and bouncing my legs.

A: Neuropathy can cause tingling sensations in your arms and legs, although you don’t mention having any condition that could lend itself to that.

Q: I’m Confused About My B-12 Deficiency?
This is the second time in my life I have been diagnosed with very low B-12 levels, and so for the second time in my life I am getting B-12 shots. (I am currently on my third shot, the rate being one shot a week currently). Both times the doctor has thought I am a vegetarian because my levels are so low, but I eat meat all the time. Especially red meat and chicken, I usually get meats in my diet at least twice a day. Another thing that is confusing me is that a few months before i had my blood tested again this time (for a routine physical) I was taking multivitamins regularly, and these contained B12 and iron etc.

I don’t understand why my levels are so regularly low. I was having some symptoms before such as the insomnia and tiredness and weakness etc, but I didn’t realize it was caused by that at the time. However, I’m taking the shots and really trying to load up on natural sources of B12 but I still feel these symptoms. I also feel symptoms with my legs that apparently can be caused by B12 deficiency. I am not longer taking the vitamins because my doctor advised against taking them while I am taking the shots.

Also, every other level in my body is completely 100% normal. So, my symptoms are not likely caused by anything else.

Does anyone have any idea of why my body is acting this way, and how I can stop it? Do you know of any particular foods rich in B12? Otherwise I am healthy and I drink lots of water, get some exercise every day, and eat an almost balanced diet.

A: you obviously have a B12 absorbtion problem.

Do you have Celiac?
Have you taken a Schilling Test?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schilling_test

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