Low B12

[XenoBitch]

I recently had a full works blood test, and it flagged up really low B12.
Voicemail from surgery today mentioned that that I needed to get treatment ASAP, and they were keen to know my symptoms.

Well, I have none! The only thing that might be attributed to low B12 is hair loss, but I had Covid in the summer and that is linked too. My hair loss has also slowed down a lot too.
I don't have fatigue, I never need naps... my friends would describe me as bouncy and full of energy. It does not line up with lack of B12 at all. I don't have pins and needles anywhere, or yellow skin, swollen tongue etc.

I don't get it. I eat a lot of B12 rich food, I take a multi vitamin with B12 in, and I also am a fan of nutritional yeast on everything.

I am starting to think that I got given someone else's results.

The main reason I am freaking out is I have really severe needle phobia, and there is no way I could have regular jabs. I have ordered B12 patches anyway.

Low B12 and folate showed up on a blood test for me earlier this year. I take 1100 ,ugm of B12 and 400,ugm folic acid every day, no injections. I am better for it.

If you seriously think the results are wrong, query it. Mistakes do happen. Another test will show what's what. However if you are B12 deficient, even with no symptoms at the moment, you could be really ill in the future so it is worth nipping in the bud.

I have low b12 and have the injections every 3 months. My symptom was pins and needles - but no other symptoms, good energy etc. my low b12 started before children - but something I've learned recently is that Gas and air in labour can significantly deplete b12 and cause people to be deficient after. I would advise getting advice on long term impact if you decline the injections (and if the results are definitely yours), when I was diagnosed I was told injections were the only way to get levels high enough but there might be other ways around it.

Hi folks. Glad I’ve found this thread. Become really worried this week about what might be imaginary B12 deficiency. For 9 months:

• much more sensitive to the cold
• weak muscles (can’t get lids off jars anymore etc)
• fatigued & end up sitting down all the time so nothing is getting done / house a mess / doing bare minimum at work
• heart racing and funny rythm at times
• poor circulation to the extent I’m now ravaged by painful chilblains on my toes
• depression & brain fog

The thing is, I DO have a diagnosed long-term MH condition which I’ve attributed lots of this stuff to (lethargy, depression etc could be my MH rather than B12).

Getting an GP appt is impossible. Tried all week. And as it’s non-urgent the first pre-bookable one is the end of Jan.

I’ve got a separate basic annual health check with an HCA (due to my long term MH) in 10 days… it’s usually just weight etc I think (I’m a healthy weight and previously a marathon runner/swimmer etc)… I’m going to mention it to her, but I assume it’d need an actual GP to prescribe a specific blood test, so she’d need to know in advance? How is B12 usually tested? Would it show up in a general blood test or do I need to somehow request it before my HCA appt?

Sorry for the lengthy gate-crashing post, I’m just worried sick 😔.

@MuckyPlucky
My B12 deficiency was picked up on a blood test. I had a funny spell so rang 111, which triggered seeing my GP and getting a blood test that tests for everything. They took 3 vials of blood.

The Googling I have done has shown that people ask to be tested because of symptoms, rather than getting a test and it being a surprise (like it was for me)

If you are worried, keep pushing for a full blood test. The HCA you see for your MH should be able to book it in for you.

I have pernicious anaemia. Showed up unexpectedly- I didn’t think I had symptoms until I had emergency injections and felt amazing.

I have pernicious anaemia, was only picked up because I had an annoying eye twitch that wouldn't go away and the gp did a full blood test. My levels were REALLY low. I feel a lot better now after the injections, I didn't realise how much I'd been putting down to just getting older (I'd started to really struggle with names for example!).

If you eat plenty of b12 rich foods, then the chances are you're not able to absorp it through your stomach, so injections will be the best way,though I think there are other methods if needs are absolutely out for you. Lack of b12 can be very serious, even fatal so it does need sorting though.

@XenoBitch just come across your post and I have found cases of people that have been on b12 that had alopecia and their hair has fully grown back. Alot of people will just use the list the NHS give as the only symptoms but b12 is in every cell of the body. It can take around 7 years for someone that can't absorb it to fully start having symptoms because the livers stores can last that long.

How have you been doing..? What was the outcome with your low b12 result?