How low does your vitamin B12 need to be?

[Samcj02]

Hey, so I’ve been experiencing dizziness, extreme tiredness, brain fog and headaches for a while now, the doctor ordered some bloods to be done. I got a phone call this morning and after seeing my results on patient access my vitmain b12 levels were 104 pmol/L, low but not low enough for treatment. I now have to retest in a months time! How
low does it need to be to receive treatment? I was quite shocked it showed abonormal online and I’ve got symptoms but no treatment

Mine were 87 before they would do anything. I felt dreadful, had 6 weeks of b12 injections and felt 6 months feeling so much better, and was retested at 250ish. Started to go downhill again at Xmas, got retested, and told the criteria for b12 injections in my area has changed, and I'm now not eligible even though my results are in down the 90's. I'm saving to go private, as no matter how many high strength b12 tablets I take, I still feel dreadful.

I was told I needed injections as my B12 was very very low (no idea of the numbers). Hard no as I am needle phobic, plus I had no symptoms at all.

I use a B12 spray now. There are also patches too, if you want to try and boost your levels.

Oh goodness! It’s crazy isn’t it? I’ve been feeling rubbish so If when retest I can’t get any help off of the nhs I’ll too go private, I just couldn’t get my head around the results. Abnormal but not abnormal enough 😐

That’s good to know I’ll definitely try the spray x

This the one I use. It tastes really nice! Was recommended it by someone posting about B12 on here.

www.amazon.co.uk/Better-You-Boost-Oral-Spray/dp/B01MAZ0IAQ/ref=sr_1_11?crid=31KK4CG6ES1WJ&keywords=b12+spray&qid=1678482608&sprefix=b12+spary%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-11

I have Pernicious Anemia (confirmed via antibody tests); my B12 was 285 when I was diagnosed.

I never had any symptoms at all, no fatigue, in fact have always been quite athletic and healthy. PA was picked up on routine blood work as B12 was considered "low" by US lab.

If your B12 level is causing symptoms, it should be treated. There are certain instances where a person may be unable to absorb B12 and requires injections. Unless really low, I was told oral supplements. It seems to be working.

@Iguanainanigloo If your low B12 is caused by Pernicious Anemia oral supplements are unlikely to benefit you. PA is an autoimmune disease which results in your stomach being unable to absorb any B12 whatsoever.

Injections are the only recommended treatment. I do mine every two months.

There are sprays and patches too. Injections are not the only treatment.

I've been for my B12 jab today. Oral supplements don't work for me because I have pernicious anaemia. I feel human at last.

@XenoBitch Yes, there are sprays and patches but if you have PA (v/s low B12 from another cause), injections are the recommended treatment.

If I really couldn't manage the injections I guess I'd try another method to see if I could absorb enough of the B12, but personally I'm not willing to risk the consequences of inadequately treated PA.

I was told injections were my only option. Not for me. I eat a lot of B12 rich foods, and also took a multi vitamin with it in.
I use sprays and patches now. I was losing hair at an alarming rate. Could have been Covid or a host of other things. Since using the B12 spray, my hair loss has halted and I barely lose any at all now when I brush it. So hair loss may have been a symptom, and if it was, it was the only one. I know people with PA, and they can't feel their fingers, are very fatigued etc. I have never been able to relate to any PA symptoms.

@XenoBitch It's possible that your low B12 is not caused by Pernicious Anemia. Most low B12 is not PA, PA is actually a pretty rare autoimmune disease whereas low B12 from other causes isn't uncommon.

As to symptoms...I have never had any at all, absolutely nothing. I was completely blindsided by the diagnosis. Hope it stays that way!

I'm glad you found something that works for you and is easy to take and affordable as well.

@MrsHamlet May I ask how you found out you had Pernicious Anemia? I've never met anyone IRL who had it (besides me)!

It was such a shock to me as I literally have zero PA symptoms. But the antibodies don't lie and mine were unequivocal. So strange.

@GulfCoastBeachGirl it was all a bit mysterious - I ended up hysterical in the surgery because I was so exhausted all the time to the point where I would fall asleep in my classroom if kids were working in silence. "Too young" for menopause.
Lots of blood tests turned up a significant b12 deficiency. High dose oral supplements for months did nothing.
Many more blood tests.
Got a phone call asking me to "pop in" the next day, whereupon I was given my first injection by a nurse, who didn't know that I didn't know why.
To add to the fun, I started HRT at the same time.