I think I might kill you, b12 deficiency..

[MurphysColeslaw]

Recently told I had a b12 deficiency, (126 level) had loading injections over the last 2 weeks.
Feel like crap, explosion of zits, which I never even had as a teenager, sickness but more importantly, terrible mood swings with extreme anger/irritability.
Is this normal?
I presume this level isn't generally low enough for psychiatric symptoms?

Anyone?

Ask your dr, I didn’t have psychiatric symptoms but I did have neurological symptoms. I felt crap during loading doses but better once they were done and I went onto the 8 weekly cycle

Are you asking if the deficiency caused the symptoms you're experiencing or the injections? I'm not clear

Hydroxocobalamin which is one of the injectable forms can cause acne as well as gastro upset and headaches. Do you know if you had that or was it cyanocobalamin?

I have mentioned this to the hcp every time I have been for an injection and been met with indifference or 'its just a vitamin'

I had been having mood swings before the injection.
Everything seems to have magnified in the last couple of weeks however.

You need to speak to a doctor. How were your ferritin levels before you started?

Its hydroxocolbalamin.
When should I start feeling better?
I know figure wise 126 appears low but is it really?

Don't know about ferritin levels, but had elevated serum folate?

I would suggest you ask for another full blood count and ferritin test.

It's definitely not 'just a vitamin'. The symptoms of B12 deficiency become progressively permanent if not treated.

The UK threshold for it is pitiful. In Japan scores of 500 or less are considered deficient.

The loading doses the NHS give you are inadequate, it's a water soluble vitamin and you really need daily injections.

I taught myself to inject via youtube and bought my own Hydroxo from Germany because my GP wouldn't help me.
You'd be better speaking to someone at the Pernicious Anaemia society page on Healthunlocked.

Sorry for the one-sentence responses; I needed to pee.

B12 injections can mess with your iron levels, and that could make you feel irritable and unwell. What made you get your B12 tested?

It was tested some time ago as a bit of a routine thing, I can't remember what ?.
Told it was low and to take some supplements.
Started to feel unwell and asked to be tested again and it came back as 126 so was told I needed loading injections.
I am really concerned about my mood swings though, I've been having periods of feeling invincible followed by crashes and unbelievable rage.
I'm quite frightened by it. My behaviour is not normal.

I have been getting B12 injections every 3 months for 2 years and have never experienced anything like that.

Please ring your GP first thing in the morning. Don't let them fob you off.

Oh god
I'm vegan 10 years .. and I'm like this
I thought I had bipolar.im under the doctor currently trying to find out what's wrong

Oh fuck me, this is exactly how I have been feeling.
I'm terrified though, I had pnd 20+ years ago and the thought of being mentally unwell is too much for me.
However , every time I have mentioned my moods it has been completely dismissed.

I shouted and swore at someone in Sainsbury's this week as they were standing too close to me. wtf?

I would seek urgent assessment from the GP about the severity of the mood swings and angry outbursts in their own right. A feeling of invincibility and a high followed by an extreme low could be a warning sign for Bipolar disorder but as you have a complex history with mental health this needs proper assessment so you can access tangible support quickly for a quicker return to health for you.

I experienced some of the symptoms you mention when having my loading doses. I have pernicious anaemia so continue to have them every couple of months and found that they returned each time for quite a while before eventually evening out. I used to get quite bad acne after an injection, a headache and often felt hot, restless and struggled to sleep well after them. Some years on though I seem to have adjusted. I was advised this was within the realm of normal for some people and acne in particular is a documented side effect.

I didn't have any of those symptoms when I had low vit B12 last year either during the loading doses or afterwards.

I’m no expert but I do know that not all people can tolerate all b vitamins when supplemented like this (depending on your particular genetic makeup up/vulnerabilities).

For example, those with a slow COMT gene don’t tolerate methylated b vitamins well. In your case it could be the type of b12 or just the sheer volume of it, that your system can’t handle. About 50% of the population have an MTHFR gene mutation which can affect methylation/detox pathways, and often these types are more sensitive to things like this.

If it were me I would most definitely stop the injections and I would take a more bioavailable food form of b12 supplement (eg desiccated beef liver tablets).

How did you feel in yourself when the deficiency was picked up?

I wouldn’t trust the hcp to have any idea what they are talking about personally. We have to become experts in our own health I find. Trust your body which is telling you this is not right for you.

I take Hydroxocabamide tablets. It's a type of chemo. I have Essential Thrombocythemia, type of cancer blood disorder. Too many red blood cells!
Could this be what you have?

Due to the body's biochemical pathways, you can't make use of that B12 you're receiving if your B2 (riboflavin) is deficient, and it probably is. If your B2 is low, your B12 is useless. Your thyroid needs to be working properly as well, so I hope yours is OK OP!

I'd suggest getting a riboflavin supplement and take a small amount and see how that goes. This is one of those things you just can't rush. Of course you may have other things going on as well, but you can try this and B2 is water soluble so can't accumulate.

Well, I managed to get a GP appointment, it took some doing as they were going to make me wait 3 weeks but I've got one for tomorrow.
I don't feel any better for having finished my loading injections and my mood/temper is just awful.