This is where it does get so frustrating! If Rose were here, she might just take that doctors name and educate him a bit!

Also, if the doctor is doing "other tests" related to B12 deficiency (homocysteine, methylmalonic acid)... those values normalize quickly so if you've been taking the B12 for weeks... they will likely be normal. They can also look for antibodies associated with pernicious anemia, but they are not always positive either, and many things can cause B12 deficiency. In any case, there is no harm in checking for other possibilities as often there may be a few co-existing problems... but, don't let anyone tell you that your low B12 level was insignificant. My B12 level was higher than yours, and my many problems all resolved over time by raising my B12 level and keeping it high. Doctors should try to determine what caused the low B12... but they often don't care. Neither of my doctors did. Shame on them.

All I can say is that I saw eight specialists over three years, not including countless trips to my primary care doctor... and NONE of them recognized my symptoms to be related to B12 deficiency. It was the last doctor, a neurologist, on the THIRD visit... to finally think of checking my B12... because he said he'd seem some people with B12 deficiency complain of the buzzing/vibration sensations I had. And yes, thank goodness he directed me to take 1000mcg of oral B12 daily because of my low NORMAL level of 294 (150-1100).

My primary care doctor had begun to treat me as though I was a hypocondriac with all my various complaints, and even when the B12 deficiency was found by another doctor.. and treated... and I was thrilled to be improving... she was still giving me the condescending nods... as though I had dreamt my symptoms in the first place, and now I was dreaming my recovery.

She's not my doctor anymore. I finally had to leave when I realized she didn't believe anything I said... including symptoms of a sinus infection.

I don't know how doctors get away with their ignorance when it comes to nutritional deficiency and diseases of malabsorption. If you can't fix it with a scalpel or a prescription drug... forget about it.

You won't be the first to discover and fix your own health problems! Thank goodness for the Internet and forums like these. BrainTalk saved my family .

Cara

P.S. If you could find an integrative/functional medicine doctor in your area... you may have better luck as they typically take a much different approach. One of the FIRST things they consider are nutritional deficiencies and food sensitivities... and they focus on finding and fixing the root of the problem. Often, though, these doctors aren't on the insurance lists... so you may end up paying a little more, but you may get more thorough care as well. Sometimes local health food stores can recommend such doctors.