what are the synptoms of vit b12 deficiency&what is the treatment?

Question

I have had low b12 counts for the past 2 yrs; as low as 170 or going up to 250 while taking an oral supplment. My HB count is around 11.5. My GP feels the lack of red meat in my diet is to blame; but im a huge veggie eater&eat chicken&fish. My symptoms are extreme tiredness, a lack of energy, although i go to the gym twice a week, but he is maintaining me on the oral supplement because of the reasonable HB count. I have a tendency to mouth ulcers and sores on my tongue; plus pins and needles in my left arm&fingers&sometimes my right.

Answer 1

Monthly vitamin B-12 injections are the definitive treatment to correct the vitamin B-12 deficiency. This therapy corrects the anemia and may correct the neurological complications if given soon enough.
Since about 1% of vitamin B-12 is absorbed (even in the absence of intrinsic factor), some doctors recommend that elderly patients with gastric atrophy take oral vitamin B-12 supplements in addition to monthly injections.
There is also a preparation of vitamin B-12 that may be given intranasally (in the nose). A well-balanced diet is essential to provide other elements such as folic acid, iron, and vitamin C for healthy blood cell development.
Please see the webpages for more details on Pernicious anemia.

Answer 2

I have a vitamin B12 problem as well...my doctor gives me injections. some foods give B12 as well...like eggs ,meat substitutes , some cereals. Alot of foods high in iron or protein have B12 as well. Read labels and ask your doctor for injections rather then tablets.....our bodies can't absorb tablets very well. The injections don't hurt if administered quickly . Having some red meat once or twice a week will help you alot. Just eat red meat with high fiber foods and they won't stay in your body too long and it helps absorb the iron and vitamins more from the red meat. The symptoms you describe are pretty well what happens with a low B12 count.

Answer 3

Those who elect not to eat meat are at risk for pernicious anemia, caused by B12 deficiency. This is because not only are the low in ingested B12, they are not ingesting the nutrients needed to form the co-factors necessary that the B12 molecule attaches to in order to be absorbed. You do not say what your MCV is, and that information would be helpful. Regardless of what the B12 level is, what matters is how efficient it is, and whether or not your bone marrow has enough to manufacture normal sized cells.

This problem is probably over the head of a GP. You probably ought to have at least one visit with a hematologist. In the meantime, you might want to consult a nutritionist.

Answer 4

for a start assuming you are eating all right vegetables that contain iron, to increase your iron in take, with your tablets, then your iron intake will be up.
i would ask your GP to do others tests on your blood beside a full blood count just rule other things because the signs and symptoms you have given reflex other problems with the body and thier symptoms may running along your low blood count.
some people find it hard to absorb vit b12, naturally then you must go back to your doctor discuss the problems you have put down on here, because your may need vitb 12 injections

Answer 5

If the supplements are not working ....and if you are still getting the mouth ulcers and fatigue then your body may well not be absorbing B12 through your food intake. A B12 injection resolves this fast !!
Don't take your doctors word for these things....there are soo many these days that are a complete waste of space (verging on useless)
good luck !!

Answer 6

Sounds like you have some symptoms of another underlying GI disease. Such as Ulcerative Colitis.
I'd go to a GI doc and get checkd out.
In the meanwhile, you have almost all of the symptoms...
Get a shot with the B complex in it.
Make sure to get it in the hip, because it hurts alot in the arm.
This will get your B12 levels up faster.
Try doing it for 9 months.
Also take the oral every day.
Sounds like you need to see the GI doc, and make sure there isn't a constant level of bleeding in your GI system...

Answer 7

Take a look here:

http://www.vegsoc.org/info/b12.html