Comments on: B12 deficiency – what the numbers mean http://www.b12anemia.org/b12-deficiency-what-the-numbers-mean.html Understanding vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:35:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.1 By: Chris http://www.b12anemia.org/b12-deficiency-what-the-numbers-mean.html/comment-page-3#comment-12521 Chris Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:35:06 +0000 http://www.b12anemia.org/?p=50#comment-12521 I started out feeling good this morning, went to pool for so excercise, made veg. soup, ran a few errands...then it hit. I started to get spots in my left eye, more than floaters...then noticed my vision was getting worse. I drove to eye doctor and after testing found the retina had come loose...was told this should resolve itself, not a tear or detachment...also told I have 2 bleeders. I have low blood presure so that is not a concern. Doctor can't say for sure it is from B12 problems, side effect from medications, or just one of thoses things. Was told it should all resolve itself over the next few months...recheck in 3 months. Has anyone had problems like this from B12?? I started out feeling good this morning, went to pool for so excercise, made veg. soup, ran a few errands…then it hit. I started to get spots in my left eye, more than floaters…then noticed my vision was getting worse. I drove to eye doctor and after testing found the retina had come loose…was told this should resolve itself, not a tear or detachment…also told I have 2 bleeders. I have low blood presure so that is not a concern. Doctor can’t say for sure it is from B12 problems, side effect from medications, or just one of thoses things. Was told it should all resolve itself over the next few months…recheck in 3 months. Has anyone had problems like this from B12??

]]> By: B12 Anemia http://www.b12anemia.org/b12-deficiency-what-the-numbers-mean.html/comment-page-3#comment-12512 B12 Anemia Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:52:44 +0000 http://www.b12anemia.org/?p=50#comment-12512 Chris, I know it is hard to have patience when you are trying to recover from B12 deficiency, but unfortunately you have no choice. Your doctor is correct it can (and usually does) take years to recover as much as you will from this deficiency. You have to remember that it probably took many, many years for your body to become so deficient. I can tell you from personal experience that it is a long road. When I started getting shots, I felt like I was taking one step forward and two steps back for the first 6 months. Then little by little I would start to have one good day, then another until I was having as many good days as bad. Then more good days than bad. Now I only have a few bad days every once in a while. While no one can determine how much you will be able to recover, you need to give your body lots of time to heal. It's ok to have days when you feel sorry for yourself, not many people truly understand how horrible B12 deficiency is. Hope you were able to have a nice walk and feel a little better:) Chris,
I know it is hard to have patience when you are trying to recover from B12 deficiency, but unfortunately you have no choice. Your doctor is correct it can (and usually does) take years to recover as much as you will from this deficiency. You have to remember that it probably took many, many years for your body to become so deficient. I can tell you from personal experience that it is a long road. When I started getting shots, I felt like I was taking one step forward and two steps back for the first 6 months. Then little by little I would start to have one good day, then another until I was having as many good days as bad. Then more good days than bad. Now I only have a few bad days every once in a while. While no one can determine how much you will be able to recover, you need to give your body lots of time to heal.
It’s ok to have days when you feel sorry for yourself, not many people truly understand how horrible B12 deficiency is.
Hope you were able to have a nice walk and feel a little better:)

]]> By: Chris http://www.b12anemia.org/b12-deficiency-what-the-numbers-mean.html/comment-page-3#comment-12487 Chris Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:04:10 +0000 http://www.b12anemia.org/?p=50#comment-12487 Only 2 weeks out from last shot and am having so many symptoms. Swept kitchen floor, then cleaned it, then had a shower, now feel like I could lay on floor...could hardly stand in shower! Even with my numbers being in the low 400's I suffer so much. Doctor said be patient, it may take years to resolve, may be permanent. This is hard...I am normally the person who does it all. To top it off, I am sleeping 10 hours a night and usually have to give in to a nap every day. Guess today I am feeling sorry for myself. When I feel better in a few hours will get out for a little walk, library etc. to lift my mood. Only 2 weeks out from last shot and am having so many symptoms. Swept kitchen floor, then cleaned it, then had a shower, now feel like I could lay on floor…could hardly stand in shower! Even with my numbers being in the low 400′s I suffer so much. Doctor said be patient, it may take years to resolve, may be permanent. This is hard…I am normally the person who does it all. To top it off, I am sleeping 10 hours a night and usually have to give in to a nap every day. Guess today I am feeling sorry for myself. When I feel better in a few hours will get out for a little walk, library etc. to lift my mood.

]]> By: sarah http://www.b12anemia.org/b12-deficiency-what-the-numbers-mean.html/comment-page-3#comment-12466 sarah Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:20:47 +0000 http://www.b12anemia.org/?p=50#comment-12466 That should have said 'borderline 165' - sorry - keyboard playing up!!! That should have said ‘borderline 165′ – sorry – keyboard playing up!!!

]]> By: sarah http://www.b12anemia.org/b12-deficiency-what-the-numbers-mean.html/comment-page-3#comment-12465 sarah Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:19:32 +0000 http://www.b12anemia.org/?p=50#comment-12465 I have been having tests in rhematology in the hospital for variou ailments including paresthesia - 9 years plus, ongoing which causes intense itching in arms which, when scrathched causes horremdous burning pain like someone has set fire to me but continues to itch (on reserch I have found something called Brachioradial pruritis - but doctors fail to ee this as a recognised illnes), I also have posible cervical facet disease and joint pain in hips and recurrent nodular epicleritis. They don't think I have any underlying stematic autoimmune disese and dsay my B12 is ok, noderline 165 ??? Can anyone tell me what this level means? I have been having tests in rhematology in the hospital for variou ailments including paresthesia – 9 years plus, ongoing which causes intense itching in arms which, when scrathched causes horremdous burning pain like someone has set fire to me but continues to itch (on reserch I have found something called Brachioradial pruritis – but doctors fail to ee this as a recognised illnes), I also have posible cervical facet disease and joint pain in hips and recurrent nodular epicleritis. They don’t think I have any underlying stematic autoimmune disese and dsay my B12 is ok, noderline 165 ??? Can anyone tell me what this level means?

]]> By: B12 Anemia http://www.b12anemia.org/b12-deficiency-what-the-numbers-mean.html/comment-page-3#comment-12403 B12 Anemia Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:07:50 +0000 http://www.b12anemia.org/?p=50#comment-12403 Amanda, You need to have patients when it comes to recovering from B12 deficiency. It takes months and even years for you body to heal as much as it can. Some people have full recoveries, some partial and unfortunately some don't recover much. It is great that you're already getting the shots, and every two weeks is super (that's the schedule I am on ). If you can get your levels between 1000 - 1200 that is fabulous, but it can be hard to do. You want to be at least 800 if you can. As for the neurologist, you should definitely see one, but be aware that not every neurologist is as aware of the severity of B12 deficiency as they should be. If they brush you off, or don't think that 272 is deficient (many doctors won't diagnose B12 deficiency unless you are under 200, others realize you are deficient under 400) then be sure to get a second opinion. Good luck with your recovery! Amanda,
You need to have patients when it comes to recovering from B12 deficiency. It takes months and even years for you body to heal as much as it can. Some people have full recoveries, some partial and unfortunately some don’t recover much. It is great that you’re already getting the shots, and every two weeks is super (that’s the schedule I am on ). If you can get your levels between 1000 – 1200 that is fabulous, but it can be hard to do. You want to be at least 800 if you can. As for the neurologist, you should definitely see one, but be aware that not every neurologist is as aware of the severity of B12 deficiency as they should be. If they brush you off, or don’t think that 272 is deficient (many doctors won’t diagnose B12 deficiency unless you are under 200, others realize you are deficient under 400) then be sure to get a second opinion.
Good luck with your recovery!

]]> By: Amanda http://www.b12anemia.org/b12-deficiency-what-the-numbers-mean.html/comment-page-3#comment-12380 Amanda Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:56:21 +0000 http://www.b12anemia.org/?p=50#comment-12380 Hello! I am a 29 year old female. I went to my gyno to have some tests ran because my mom recently got diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I had been feeling extremely sluggish and started gaining weight. My thyroid came back fine but my B12 was 272. My gyno started giving me B12 shots once a month, then every two weeks and over the past 4 months its only went up to 344. A week or so ago, Dr Oz had a special on B12 and had a neurologist on with him. They acted like if your B12 was low you need to seek a neurologist immediately. So, I called my gyno and they sat me up with one. The one thing I am questioning is before they would take me as a patient they said I have to be having headaches?? My gyno told them I have been, but I havent? I dont understand. Will I just be wasting my time? I do feel like the B12 shots help me for maybe 3 or 4 days then I feel bad again. I am unsure of any of this. Any helpful information would be GREAT! And where exactly should my level be for my age? I was told that my B12 level was that of an elderly and that I should be pushing 1100-1200. What is correct? Thanks! Hello! I am a 29 year old female. I went to my gyno to have some tests ran because my mom recently got diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I had been feeling extremely sluggish and started gaining weight. My thyroid came back fine but my B12 was 272. My gyno started giving me B12 shots once a month, then every two weeks and over the past 4 months its only went up to 344.

A week or so ago, Dr Oz had a special on B12 and had a neurologist on with him. They acted like if your B12 was low you need to seek a neurologist immediately. So, I called my gyno and they sat me up with one. The one thing I am questioning is before they would take me as a patient they said I have to be having headaches?? My gyno told them I have been, but I havent? I dont understand. Will I just be wasting my time? I do feel like the B12 shots help me for maybe 3 or 4 days then I feel bad again. I am unsure of any of this. Any helpful information would be GREAT! And where exactly should my level be for my age? I was told that my B12 level was that of an elderly and that I should be pushing 1100-1200. What is correct? Thanks!

]]> By: Elena http://www.b12anemia.org/b12-deficiency-what-the-numbers-mean.html/comment-page-3#comment-12357 Elena Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:24:55 +0000 http://www.b12anemia.org/?p=50#comment-12357 Read this article and comments with much interest. Excellent information from all of you. I agree with getting not just a B12, but thyroid and Vit D. I've just gone through 2 1/2 years of pure hell and felt I would surely die from LPR. My esphogeal spinchters just went "limp" on me and didn't work anymore. My Drs gave up on me last summer. They said there was not much more they could do for me. No one every bothered to give me any of the tests you have all mentioned. I've always been tired my whole life, had anemia always, had bad memory...on my own I found out I was deficient in Vit D. I've been slowly recovering. I am going to try to get my B12 levels up to 800+ after reading your comments. When I think too much about how badly I've been treated by my Drs its makes me want to cry. They even sent me to mental health in Oct 2010 as I couldn't take the throat pain anymore. I looked at all the men laying in the ER room hooked up to monitors laughing with their families and I laid on a gurney in writhing throat pain and the Dr sent me to mental health. They later said they were sorry that they believed me. My throat was seared from the spinchters not closing off the stomach and acid hitting my throat and burning through the nerves that go up into the head. It was a horrible thing to go through. To know your real sick and Drs think its mental. I am totally digusted with my health care and I'm stuck as I'm in a HMO. If they pharmacuetals don't work then they blame it on mental illness. I think its worse for women.One Dr told me to "...you have an allergy, keep taking the Flonase, if the pain is not gone in two months then there is nothing more we can do for you." That is an exact quote. I will never forget it. If you all have time check out Dr. Gomainak's opinions. She has indexes at the top of her page and its so interesting. She mentions B12 and Vit D and sleep. Read this article and comments with much interest. Excellent information from all of you. I agree with getting not just a B12, but thyroid and Vit D. I’ve just gone through 2 1/2 years of pure hell and felt I would surely die from LPR. My esphogeal spinchters just went “limp” on me and didn’t work anymore. My Drs gave up on me last summer. They said there was not much more they could do for me. No one every bothered to give me any of the tests you have all mentioned. I’ve always been tired my whole life, had anemia always, had bad memory…on my own I found out I was deficient in Vit D. I’ve been slowly recovering. I am going to try to get my B12 levels up to 800+ after reading your comments. When I think too much about how badly I’ve been treated by my Drs its makes me want to cry. They even sent me to mental health in Oct 2010 as I couldn’t take the throat pain anymore. I looked at all the men laying in the ER room hooked up to monitors laughing with their families and I laid on a gurney in writhing throat pain and the Dr sent me to mental health. They later said they were sorry that they believed me. My throat was seared from the spinchters not closing off the stomach and acid hitting my throat and burning through the nerves that go up into the head. It was a horrible thing to go through. To know your real sick and Drs think its mental. I am totally digusted with my health care and I’m stuck as I’m in a HMO. If they pharmacuetals don’t work then they blame it on mental illness. I think its worse for women.One Dr told me to “…you have an allergy, keep taking the Flonase, if the pain is not gone in two months then there is nothing more we can do for you.” That is an exact quote. I will never forget it. If you all have time check out Dr. Gomainak’s opinions. She has indexes at the top of her page and its so interesting. She mentions B12 and Vit D and sleep.

]]> By: Chris http://www.b12anemia.org/b12-deficiency-what-the-numbers-mean.html/comment-page-3#comment-12303 Chris Mon, 23 Jan 2012 04:52:08 +0000 http://www.b12anemia.org/?p=50#comment-12303 There are other blood tests they did for me that showed I have no Intrinsic Factor...my Grandma had this really bad. She used to get the shots and blood transfusions also. Found out my cousin also has it. Doctor feels mine was inherited. The point is, mine will never go away and I will need to take the B12 injections for the rest of my life because I am not able to absorb the B12 in my stomach/intestines. My level was 39, doctor was afraid I would suffer organ failure. After 9 months of treatment my count is up to 400 but she would like it even higher. I still have all the symptoms, better than at first but still really bad. Have been told my symptoms are probably going to be permanent because they think I had it for a long time, especially with the severly low count. My point is, YES, find a doctor who knows what this is and how critical it is to treat it properly. I can't go back and change the fact that I complained of symptoms for years only to be told they could not figure it out. No one bothered to do a simple B12 test until this past year and only because I went in telling her I really thought I was dying...Little did I know I was. Stay on top of your care and if you don't get the help you feel is correct, go to another doctor! There are other blood tests they did for me that showed I have no Intrinsic Factor…my Grandma had this really bad. She used to get the shots and blood transfusions also. Found out my cousin also has it. Doctor feels mine was inherited. The point is, mine will never go away and I will need to take the B12 injections for the rest of my life because I am not able to absorb the B12 in my stomach/intestines. My level was 39, doctor was afraid I would suffer organ failure. After 9 months of treatment my count is up to 400 but she would like it even higher. I still have all the symptoms, better than at first but still really bad. Have been told my symptoms are probably going to be permanent because they think I had it for a long time, especially with the severly low count. My point is, YES, find a doctor who knows what this is and how critical it is to treat it properly. I can’t go back and change the fact that I complained of symptoms for years only to be told they could not figure it out. No one bothered to do a simple B12 test until this past year and only because I went in telling her I really thought I was dying…Little did I know I was. Stay on top of your care and if you don’t get the help you feel is correct, go to another doctor!

]]> By: Cassandra http://www.b12anemia.org/b12-deficiency-what-the-numbers-mean.html/comment-page-3#comment-12298 Cassandra Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:27:29 +0000 http://www.b12anemia.org/?p=50#comment-12298 I had my levels checked they r at 101 I've been on shots eveyday for two weeks my body hurts bad somedays I can't even move my Vit D level is 15 can't they admit me and stop the pain and get me levels up to where I can at least function I had my levels checked they r at 101 I’ve been on shots eveyday for two weeks my body hurts bad somedays I can’t even move my Vit D level is 15 can’t they admit me and stop the pain and get me levels up to where I can at least function

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