Vit B12 Deficiency

[CurryLover55]

I have really been struggling lately. My blood tests came back as possible borderline low on B12 so I have another test next week. Has anyone suffered from B12 deficiency & if so, what were the symptoms? I have been feeling generally unwell, tired, aching heavy legs, lots of other aches, forgetful, not sleeping well etc etc. I know from the past that I have to keep an eye on my iron levels too. Oh the joys!

Anyone??

Anyone out there??

Nothing to offer, but I'm the same. What are your actual levels?

Hi I had very low foliate the January before lockdown I was put on a 90 day course of folic acid,I had symptoms similar to yours i also had pins and needles sensation. I think my second test took longer to test but I can't remember why. I hope all goes well.

Hi. I was diagnosed with B12 deficiency in December with 138. I had loading injections and will be on 3 months from now on for rest of my life.

Symptoms I experience are definitely tingling hands and feet, noticeable heartbeat, muscle jumps, slight weird dizzy feeling when I moved my head too quick. Forgetfulness ofc. Diarrhoea.

I am in peri menopause too and some of these symptoms overlap. Better since jabs but looking forward to my next.

@CurryLover55, have they checked you for intrinsic factor? If not, B12 in tablet form will may only help marginally. If you have no intrinsic factor, you cannot absorb B12 through your stomach and will need injections. It's called pernicious anaemia (it's not pernicious as long as you get the right treatment).

I have this, as does my sister,but when my DD was anemic, and despite specifically asking for this to be tested, it wasnt.

My b12 is 134. I haven't been to the gp, I got a private blood test. Should I?

I have no idea if numbers or levels but I was diagnosed as having B12 deficiency about four years ago when I was early thirties - I'm now on the 12 weekly B12 injections for life. Honestly the main symptom - being bone achingly tired and just couldn't be bothered with anything! I can tell when I'm due my next injection as I feel so tired for about three weeks before. I hope you get sorted!

@Golden2021absolutely should. Can lead to long term health issues, especially neurological. I tried using b12 spray but didnt increase it enough, so got put on injections. No side effects etc as its a vitamin.

@HKW81

I have no idea if numbers or levels but I was diagnosed as having B12 deficiency about four years ago when I was early thirties - I'm now on the 12 weekly B12 injections for life. Honestly the main symptom - being bone achingly tired and just couldn't be bothered with anything! I can tell when I'm due my next injection as I feel so tired for about three weeks before. I hope you get sorted!

Guidance is now 2-3 months, so it might be worth seeing if you can have smaller gaps between

I've had b12 for years and i'm mid 40's so prob menopausal too..... i know a few people that have b12 and the symptoms vary wildly from person to person. Someone i know starts to walk like she's drunk when she needs her injection and that's her only symptom! Whereas i have a myriad symptoms which get worse the closer to my injection. My symptoms are short term: goldfish like memory which isn't frustrating and i also don't sleep properly and have the craziest dreams which are different from 'normal' dreams. My hips also hurt which wakes me up and i have to get up. Tbh i've had it for so long i'm used to it and i've got coping mechanisms. The brain fog is a particularly scary symptom. It has so many different symptoms it can be hard to diagnose correctly i went back and forth for 2 years before i was diagnosed. As soon as i started the injections i was 110% better.

They sound like possible symptoms to me. Obviously wait for the next set of results and ask about intrinsic factor before doing anything but i had borderline results and the gp said it was fine (my intrinsuc factor was fine) but i started taking a supplement after snyway its helped with some similar symptoms. I had just 5 over the cut off point and extra large blood cells. My mum and sister both have b12 deficiency and have injections. My mum sees a consultant who believes the borderline is set too low.
Its a bit complicated by the fact some people can take supplements they cant absob in the gut so need injections and others absorb it but there is something inefficient with the way its transported/used so symptoms are in important to factor not just levels.

Thanks I've been using the spray too, but maybe just half the dosage. It was about 280 before. I'm a veggie. Will make more effort. I wonder if the finger prick blood isn't as good as the proper vein blood?!!

I went for my retest today & the nurse didn’t seem to know anything about the intrinsic factor so I’m not sure I’ve been tested for it.

I get brain fog, forgetfulness, lose words and fatigue. I’m on monthly injections and need to nap in the week it’s due I get that tired. Mine is tied up with some autoimmune diseases. I can’t absorb it so oral tablets is not helpful. I did get some skin patches that I can wear daily but I don’t even know if they helped or not.