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Original poster

B12 and anxiety

69 replies

PippyRose · 05/02/2018 20:23

I had a blood test for B12 deficiency last week. My Mum and Dad have it and have regular b12 injections. Apart from feeling tired a lot, I always seem to be cold so I thought I'd better get mine checked and I got the results today and it's low. I have to have another test on Friday just to confirm it's consistently low, not just a one off before the Dr will consider treatment.
I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks and I was wondering if anyone else saw their anxiety levels improve after vitamin B12 injections? Maybe I'm just clutching at straws but I've read that there are links between deficiency and anxiety.

OP posts:
DustyMaiden · 07/02/2018 11:07

you can buy B12 tablets from any health food shop but if you have trouble absorbing them then they wont help.

The sublingual tablets are left under the tongue and are absorbed into the system but not through the digestive system I have pernicious anaemia and they work for me.

JollyGiraffe · 07/02/2018 11:12

My panic attacks and anxiety stopped after the second injection of the induction course- it was a miraculous recovery!

alwaysthepessimist · 07/02/2018 12:08

Can I ask what your low levels were? I have just had a full blood count done and my MHC count is abnormal - I have looked back at all my previous blood tests and they are all the same - every single one shows this as abnormal but because it is always abnormal the gp has marked the results as acceptable?! I only know all this because I requested online access to my medical records - my dads female side of the family have a history of pernicious anaemia too. My last result was this - Mean corpusc. haemoglobin(MCH) 32.1 pg Abnormal result 27 - 32pg - when I look back each one is abnormal - all are above 32

Evizza · 07/02/2018 12:40

I was diagnosed with Pernicious Anaemia 13 years ago when I was pregnant with my youngest. It took a while to feel 'normal' again and I currently have 10 weekly injections at my doctors. The B12 support group on Facebook has been a lifesaver for me as I began self injecting between my 10 weekly jabs. Tablets, including sub-lingual, did nothing for me. The Facebook group also tells you about co-factors you need if you're taking extra b12 (iron, folate, etc). I am never bursting with energy, but feel relatively normal these days. I found when waiting for my injections at the doctors, I was very tired, had terrible mouth ulcers, and very bad anxiety. Taking b12 and the co-factors certainly helps x

Original poster
PippyRose · 07/02/2018 13:23

Sorry pessimist, I have no idea about your results. I wouldn't know where to start trying to fathom what they mean. Could your gp interpret them for you?
I'm going to read more into the other aspects (extra supplementation etc). From everyone's posts I am feeling optimistic about the jabs though. Just hoping my 2nd blood test comes back low now so I can get the jabs (much as I hate needles!)

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TheNecroscope · 07/02/2018 14:09

pessimist I always have low lymphocyte levels too and no one has ever been interested in that. I had high mchc on one blood test but as it was slightly out of range they didn’t do anything about it. It’s a calculated number rather than a direct measure of anything. I do wonder why they bother with ranges if they then ignore them though.

alwaysthepessimist · 07/02/2018 14:25

I have an appointment for next week as I also had to have other tests and some of them are off the mark too - I do have 90% of the B12 deficiency symptoms and have had for years, I am also severely Vitamin D3 deficient which apparently can run hand in hand with the B12 one too

  • I shall see what is said next week - I do take a daily B12 supplement along with the D3 so I would have thought my levels should have been normal based on that but I am not a gp so I don't toyally understand it all
Original poster
PippyRose · 09/02/2018 12:58

Can I ask what your levels were? When I went in for the 2nd blood test, I asked for the b12 count from my last one (last week) and it was 110. Is this really low?

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TheNecroscope · 09/02/2018 17:58

Yes, it’s really really low. I started injections with a level of 106.

Shedmicehugh · 09/02/2018 18:07

www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/betteryou-pure-energy-b12-boost-oral-spray-60099160?&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_adid=177421635762&utm_adgID=58700002155182418&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5arCnLWZ2QIVUpkbCh1LYQJQEAAYASAAEgLHj_D_BwE

My son takes this, he has autism and severe anxiety, it’s common to have difficulties absorbing b12 with autism (not suggesting you have autism). Apparently the spray is more easily absorbed than tablets.

Original poster
PippyRose · 09/02/2018 18:15

Okay now I feel vindicated for all those afternoon naps! Not just lazy after all. Makes me think my levels have been low for years.

Shedmicehugh I'll look into that as a back up :)

Neroscope, did you see a massive improvement with the jabs? Was your anxiety bad before them?

VimFeugo, I have mild trichotillomania, always have had. Glad the b12 helped.

Wow, I've learnt so much. Really looking forward to these injections....I'm gonna be a new woman.....anxiety free, warm and full of energy!! (fingers crossed) Thanks again x

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MintTeaLady · 09/02/2018 18:21

Getting the injections has changed my life. I'm lucky in that my GP agreed that I could have an injection every 8 weeks rather than 12 weeks. That's because I had numbness in my toes caused by the deficiency. I notice a big change my exhaustion and anxiety levels in the two weeks before I'm due the injection again. I wish I could have it every 4 weeks, but I know I'm lucky compared to others at the minute. Thankfully my GP doesn't care that my bloods always show elevated levels of B12 now. I have taking lots of other supplements too to help since I started the injections 1.5 years ago (mainly vitamin D and iron).

I'd second visiting the Facebook group. Everyone is very helpful there. I hope you get to try the treatment.

Original poster
PippyRose · 09/02/2018 18:39

I will join the group MinTeaLady. Will it show on my profile though? I don't really want people on my friendslist knowing my business. So glad to hear things have improved for you and it gives me hope that I'm going to feel better. Hopefully my GP will be as understanding as yours.

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Original poster
PippyRose · 09/02/2018 18:40

I already take high strength vit D but I will start on an iron supplement too to see if that helps.

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MintTeaLady · 09/02/2018 18:43

I would add that I had high expectations of feeling "normal" again soon after starting the injections. I had 12 over three weeks and was assured I would feel better afterwards. I did feel better, but was still far more normal. It's only now after getting the injections and taking other supplements for over a year that I can say I feel normal for weeks at a time. I still daren't push myself too hard or stand for too long, but life is so much better now! Try not to put too pressure on yourself to feel normal quickly if you do get the injections. It really does take time.

MintTeaLady · 09/02/2018 18:50

I'm not a Facebook expert, but I know that when I joined the "pernicious anaemia/b12 deficiency group" it didn't show up on my DH's Facebook feed. I've just gone on his to view my profile and there's nothing on there that shows I am a member. It is a closed group which I think means that if you search for the group, you can see who is in it, but you can't see the posts unless you join the group. Hope that's helpful!

Original poster
PippyRose · 09/02/2018 18:57

That's great thank you. I will join now. Is it the 'B12 Deficiency UK group'?

I will have to try and be patient with the jabs. Still feeling optimistic though :)

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Original poster
PippyRose · 09/02/2018 18:58

Ah sorry, just seen you already gave the name of the group.

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Original poster
PippyRose · 09/02/2018 19:04

Just requested membership so should hear back soon :)

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MintTeaLady · 09/02/2018 19:18

I'm sure all the groups will be helpful!

TheNecroscope · 09/02/2018 21:01

I had high expectations of feeling normal too! Not quite the case for me. After loading doses I couldn’t make it to the first twelve weekly one, I felt like a zombie crawling through treacle and saw a sympathetic doctor who agreed I could go to monthly jabs. After about 9 months of doing well on this, I had a letter from a gp I’d never even seen saying I had to go to 12 weekly and there was no benefit of more frequent jabs. So I started self-injecting. I think I also have a thyroid problem but the gp refuses to treat it as although my levels are out of range, they are not out of range enough. So I have rare days when I feel ok but have learned to cope by strictly limiting what I do. It’s a crappy way to live but until my tsh results deteriorate further, that’s all I can do.

olddogsnewtricks · 09/02/2018 21:16

Hello. Clutching at straws here but wondered whether anyone knew if a level of 450 of B12 can still cause symptoms? My doctor says no but doesn't really have any suggestions for what the symptoms could be caused by (anxiety, loss of feeling in fingers, hair loss, aches, tiredness in the afternoons). Thanks!

Original poster
PippyRose · 09/02/2018 21:40

Neroscope that's awful. Could you change GP? You should at least be entitled to a thyroid check!

Olddognewtricks, certainly sounds like you have the symptoms, maybe that could be a thyroid issue too although I've read that older people can have symptoms of B12 deficiency at higher levels.

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MaxineQuordlepleen · 09/02/2018 22:05

Old dogs
I was at 120 when my symptoms were bad and went up to 500 after the loading jabs but I didn’t feel really well until I got up to 900. Luckily my doctor went by symptoms rather than levels. Missed the last jab as an experiment and went back down to 400 and felt rubbish again. Back to the jab again next week.

TheNecroscope · 09/02/2018 22:50

I’ve had a full thyroid check (paid to have it done privately as gp will only test tsh levels) and have high levels of antibodies (can’t remember the specifics) as well as tsh. But all they will do is recheck levels annually. I’m almost due the recheck so am hoping things have got worse - crazy, isn’t it?