mum knew best

[farewellfigure]

My mum has been telling me for years that she thinks I'm vitamin B12 deficient (I've been veggie for 31 years) and I did the classic 'I'm a grown up, I'm not listening to my mum' thing. Then last week I looked up the symptoms and I had about half of them. Some quite scary ones like palpitations, shortness of breath, tingly hands, aching legs etc. Anyway, one week later after finally giving in and taking the tablets and I feel AMAZING. I reckon I feel about 10 years younger. I have more energy, all the symptoms have gone and to be honest I feel a bit stupid that I ignored her for ooooh, about 20 years! AIBU to think that one week can really make such a difference?

I think you ought to get yourself to a doctor for some bloods. Please don't rely on Dr Google - it's not safe. Those symptoms you describe are more than a little worrying especially 'palpitations, shortness of breath, tingly hands'.

Pernicious anaemia and under active thyroid spring to mind. Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or even vaguely medical.

There's a novel, can't remember the name, where the narrator reads the Medical Dictionary (the Google of the day) and finds he has every disease in the world except housemaid's knee. Take warning!

Hmm, yes. I am a bit fond of Dr Google. But since taking the vitamins, the symptoms have gone! Doesn't that suggest it was B12 deficiency and that I was just the biggest wally for 'not listening to mother'?!

I had the same but a blood test found lack of iron. An iron tablet daily and I was bouncing off the wall with more energy then I knew what to do with. I really suggest you talk to your gp for a complete mot and tests as it could just be part of the picture. Also might be a idea to look into your diet. Can you eat marmite on toast?

Glad you feeling better though. X

I too am long term veggie and blood tests found low B12 but also low ferretin and folate. I am having further tests as B12 deficiency can be serious and needs to be monitored to check. I know you feel better but worth checking out you don't have pernicious anaemia or something else.

I have marmite every day but it actually doesn't have as much B12 as I had previously thought. I might pop to the GP anyway. I just thought I was 'getting on a bit' but actually I'm only 42 so shouldn't have been feeling quite so worn out. I just felt a bit of a wally going to the doctor with such a long list of seemingly unrelated niggles. I'll see how I feel in a week, but at the moment, I feel like a new woman!

Op the gp won't think that. He just give you an mot (maybe ask for a lady one). Probably nothing but worth checking out as others have said could be linked to the thyroid.

Andrew
Three Men in a Boat.

Now free as an e-book from Amazon!

I've just ordered some b12 to see if it helps. I get tired a lot and end up sleeping far longer than anyone else to make up for it.

When I'm that tired I ache all over and feel a bit fluey. Most weeks at the end if the week if I've worked hard. I've been tested for anaemia and low thyroid but apparently I'm normal so I'm going to give these a go.

How long did it take before you noticed a difference ?

It's worth getting blood tests at the doctors.

I think its b12 that some people cannot store, so you can get injections regularly.

Worth getting it checked.

I have B12 deficiency (used to be called pernicious anaemia, because it actually killed people). I have injections x 3 monthly and feel fine but if you don't you can get a lot of problems in the long term. Go for the tests!

I have B12 deficiency and have B12 tablets from the GP (had the injections to start with but swapped to tablets).
I think you should go to the GP, they may wish to investigate why you are deficient. For me it was a gastric problem (but a very rare condition so I doubt you have that) but for others it may be a sign that you have something else going on. It is better to go and get checked out, even if the most likely cause is diet as the vegetarian diet can be low in B12.

I felt better after taking the tablets for about 5 days so that's why I'm a little sceptical. I probably will go to the docs though. I'm fairly convinced it's because I'm veggie rather than anything sinister but you're right... worth getting checked out.

Do get it checked out!

If it is just a simple deficiency, Holland&Barrett do a great specialist multivitamin for veggies and vegans.

My DM is anaemic and was told she needed to up her vitamin b12 to help her body absorb the iron she does take in. So your DM could be onto something there. Good old mum

im b12 deficient as well as folate deficient and have a underactive thyroid and take tablets but go to the docs as the symptons for b12 deficiency is silimar to lot of other conditions and can mask the symptons