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Old 08-06-2013, 08:04 PM
corporateoar corporateoar is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 4
10 yr Member
corporateoar corporateoar is offline
New Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 4
10 yr Member
Arrow B12 Deficient. How long for improvement?

Hello. So glad for this thread, have read through half of it. Looking for some answers, opinions please.

I'm a 41 yo guy who has been dealing with shaky/weak legs for 4 years or so. Just thought it was because I was overweight. Starting in Feb, my condition has been getting worse, difficulty standing or walking for long, lots of anxiety, shaky stomach muscles. In the last 4 weeks, I've developed morning numbness along the outer sides of my quads and feet. I can now only stand for 15 or so minutes before I shake and have to sit. It's awful. I can barely go outside. Sunlight overwhelms me and I have to sit down and go inside. I am not a vegetarian, although I have eaten no red meat and tuna in the last 2 months. Have resumed this week.

Last week I was diagnosed with low B12. 'Less than 150' on a scale of 200 to 1000 blood test. My MCV is actually 85.9 on a scale of 86 to 110. I did a urinary uMMA test 2 weeks ago which resulted in a 'normal' result of 1.4. I think less than 3.4 is normal.

My doctor advised 2000mg/day for 2 weeks, then 1000mg per day, oral B12, which I am taking in the morning on an empty stomach. I have been taking the oral B12 for 9 days with zero improvement so far. In fact, I'd say I've been getting worse.

My questions:
1. How long will it take for me to see improvement while taking oral B12? I have a very important family function to attend over Labor Day and in my current state, I couldn't do it.
2. I just received Jarrow 5000mg methylB12. Is it better to take this in 2 doses during the day?
3. Any harm in bumping up to 7500mg orally?
4. I'm going to ask my doc for daily injections tomorrow at my appt. I know that the common mantra is that oral is just as effective as injections, however I suspect the injections will help me feel better faster. Is that true?
5. Any insight into my inconsistent MCV and uMMA values. With B12 deficiency, I expected both of these to be out of line, but they aren't. The uMMA lab suspects that my blood B12 test is incorrect. Is that possible? With my symptoms, it seems unlikely. Could I be iron deficient too with that MCV value?

Many thanks for any replies to these questions. My good thoughts are with everyone working through this issue.
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