WBC: 4.8
RBC: 3.57
Hemoglobin: 12.0
Hematocrit: 34.8
MCV: 97
MCH: 33.7
Chloride: 109

I am either borderline high or low on almost all of those. And I’ve read that a high Chloride count could also be a symptom of anemia. My doctor said everything was normal and when I asked specifically about the possibility of a B12 def. he said, no it was fine. Please let me know what your results were and what would be the best next step to take. I would really appreciate it.

Thank you.

After weeks of dizziness, wobbly gait, extreme fatigue but inability to sleep well, heart pounding and terrible back aches, depression, anxiety and apprehension/nervousness my B12 was measured at around 160. I can’t imagine feeling any worse than I do at that number. My doc who is up on the latest said that although they list norms at 200 – 400 and above he says I must increase mine to at least 400. Ordered 5 weekly injections to begin, get levels and proceed from there. I frankly think I should have begun with every other day injections for at least first week, but he’s the doctor!

After first injection yesterday I don’t see much change but I also had terrible metallic taste in mouth constantly and esp. after eating – that has seemed to subside somewhat. Hopefully the rebound won’t be slow and I can get rid of the light headedness and “out of body” feelings!!

If you feel uncomfortable with your doctor, just get the tests done asking specifically what you want assessed eg. vitamin b12 levels and folate and thyroid and iron, they all interconnect with each other. If the doctor understands some nutrition it can be useful if not take it to a nutritionist or biochemical nutritionist/live blood dry blood biochemistry nutritionist. They will be specific in what is going on and are in favour of your wellness, they also do testing themselves but also can suggest getting that blood testing done thru the dr…if all else fails let me know & I can give you my referral who would happily get to the bottom of what your results present or what you want to do…there could very well be other underlying health aspects to address.
Hope that helps.

I was born with Iron deficiency anemia and had to be given iron the first several years of my life. My mother was always concerned the anemia would return once I got older, but I didn’t develop any symptoms so it went unchecked. Since the age of 20 I’ve tried to give blood twice and was denied because they said I was “boderline” anemic. Not sure what they meant by that, but of course it was a a local Red Cross so that was as far as the testing went.

Now I’m a month shy of turning 29 and over the past several years I’ve developed a lot of strange symptoms. And being a really healthy person the symptoms definitely stood out to me as something not normal. I first would get dizzy and light headed randomly. Then over the past year or so I started getting headaches and really feeling mentally not “with it”. I couldn’t remember things that used to come really easily to me, I had a very hard time concentrating, I was irritable and I honestly thought to myself, “wow, surely I’m too young to be losing my memory or to be developing alzheimer’s”. I really felt like I was going crazy. And I also sometime can’t think of simple words when having a conversation with someone. I just feel not as smart as I was, like I’ve somehow back-tracked mentally. Also, at night I would feel like my chest was heavy, not really hurting, but just tight and heavy. Like something was standing on it. And then recently the headaches started getting worse and I would feel like passing out nearly every day. And one day last week my calves and then my thighs felt really tired like I’d been lifting heavy weights, but I hadn’t. Then the next day it was in my arms.

All of those things are still going on with me, and I went to a new Dr. today to get it checked out. I told him my past history with iron deficiency anemia and they did some blood work. I have a follow up appointment in 2 weeks. I originally was concerned about the iron deficiency coming back, but after reading all of your blogs and everyone’s experiences, I feel like maybe it is B-12 causing the problem. I haven’t been able to really accurately describe what I’ve been feeling, but I can relate completely to all the symptom descriptions on here.

Can you give me any advice toward handling my Dr. and voicing my concern about B-12 possibly being the reason for my feeling bad?

Now I’m a month shy of turning 29 and over the past several years I’ve developed a lot of strange symptoms. And being a really healthy person the symptoms definitely stood out to me as something not normal. I first would get dizzy and light headed randomly. Then over the past year or so I started getting headaches and really feeling mentally not “with it”. I couldn’t remember things that used to come really easily to me, I had a very hard time concentrating, I was irritable and I honestly thought to myself, “wow, surely I’m too young to be losing my memory or to be developing alzheimer’s”. I really felt like I was going crazy. And I also sometime can’t think of simple words when having a conversation with someone. I just feel not as smart as I was, like I’ve somehow back-tracked mentally. Also, at night I would feel like my chest was heavy, not really hurting, but just tight and heavy. Like something was standing on it. And then recently the headaches started getting worse and I would feel like passing out nearly every day. And one day last week my calves and then my thighs felt really tired like I’d been lifting heavy weights, but I hadn’t. Then the next day it was in my arms.

All of those things are still going on with me, and I went to a new Dr. today to get it checked out. I told him my past history with iron deficiency anemia and they did some blood work. I have a follow up appointment in 2 weeks. I originally was concerned about the iron deficiency coming back, but after reading all of your blogs and everyone’s experiences, I feel like maybe it is B-12 causing the problem. I haven’t been able to really accurately describe what I’ve been feeling, but I can relate completely to all the symptom descriptions on here.

Can you give me any advice toward handling my Dr. and voicing my concern about B-12 possibly being the reason for my feeling bad?

Hope you have improved since the last posting in Feb 2010 here.
I have started now for approx. two months my intake of b12. I take it sublingual its a spray and I have found initially an enormous difference the first 2-3 weeks, since then ups & downs. Mind you, I have a few many other health concerns post surgery (if you want to read more about my situation I have posted in the “B12 Symptoms” and “B12 deficiency -what the numbers mean” )

It’s rather a huge relief to know what is going on after results show levels that nutritionally are low. It’s not in the mind, it really is the biochemistry in our body as well as our mind and body movements that all synchronise with a integrative manner. Hydration and nutrition are so key together with a positive attitude and being proactive..its quite empowering to take control of ones health.

I’m now in my late 30’s and look forward to maintaining nutritional intakes for the rest of my life because our foods are just not enough to sustain us unfortunately. Being optimistic about it is half the fun and getting on with enjoying life knowing I have it more under control than not knowing is liberating.

All the best with your wellness!

My levels of so much are almost non-existent which explains so many of my symptoms compounding post-surgery as well.
My B12 & folate studies level was at 186 and it shows on the report the recommended levels to be between 180 – 740!!!
All my dr had to say looking at all the results was that i was fine, everything was showing average…unbelievable!…he had no explanation of my symptoms. I was shocked..I even told him that that can’t be right, I have so many symptoms etc..all he suggested was that I could take a Vit C maybe a Vit B complex and exercise…thats it!

First of all, when a person has no energy, has dizziness and fatigue, imbalances to standing or walking and struggle to do much but sit and rest..theres no way one can do exercise.
Secondly, I have a biochemistry nutritionist that I back up my results and realised how fortunate I was to not rely on the dr like many that dont know otherwise just turn to a dr.
Doctors predominately and unfortunately are not specialised for nutritional care and support, they are pharmocologically inclined to prescribe synthetic drugs or refer to a psychiatrist etc where more drugs are suggested. Its far from the nutritional medicine interest and they dont bother as it wont I reckon give them a return in their pocket to dish out more and keep having patients return unwell…they run a business to maintain sickness instead of wellness…

My chances of full recovery are uncertain post-surgery and the dr wants me to take anti-depressants for my symptoms. I consider this absurd. He has helped me in other ways for govt reports and paperwork but thats as far is it goes. He rant and raved about me wanting a full blood count panel test so I had to accept less checked to please him. He wasn’t pleased to hear that I was seeing a nutritionist and put the profession down. He even supported that drugs do the same as nutrition and they are better! Unbeleivable.

My psychologist referred me another dr with nutritional acceptance so I will I think for my next blood testing go see this other dr and see what the dr is like for me.
When you have so many symptoms that weaken you, it takes a while to get proactive and unfortunately time lags on and our nutritional deficiency worsens.

I have found that after some researching about treating B12, the sublingual spray is the best. The benefits surpass the others in my opinion. You have the spray bottle with you (its a purse/pocket size), use it when you want as much as you want. Its actually cheaper than taking shots without side effects of infections and pain and traveltime, appointments & waiting etc.. Also, sublingual is the most effective for the body to get it absorbed and fastest.

I take up to 20 sprays a day sometimes 30, you cannot overdose on it so it is safe and you are in control.

Hope that helps readers and SnowWhite.

Thanks.