[mymorgy]

i have been sleeping a lot. I just made an appointment to have my eyes checked. Of course I think the worse. I haven't had them checked in years. My driver's license is going to expire soon and i need new glasses.
my doctor said that the b12 shots might take some months to work for my pernicious anemia so i don't know how much the pernicious anemia is contributioning to my tiredness and depression. Everything is an effort
Bobby

[befuddled2]

Bobby, I slept a lot today also. I hope you will get some energy like I hope I do to also.

barbara

[waves]

i'm sorry things are still so rough and that the B12 doesn't kick in quicker.

but, tell you what. since you ARE anemic due to this absorption problem, you ARE bound to be fatigued... and depression often comes with it too.

from Wikipedia - Vitamin B12 deficiency

Common early symptoms are tiredness or a decreased mental work capacity, decreased concentration and decreased memory, irritability and depression.

Sleep disturbances may occur, because B12 may be involved in the regulation of the sleep wake cycle by the pineal gland (through melatonin)

sound familiar?

So, once the shots start correcting the deficiency and therefore the anemia and other issues........

I suspect you will feel a LOT better .

So, please have hope.

=======

Good for you making the eye appointment! I hate calling to make appointments like that it stresses me out when i am feeling rotten. I hope all goes smoothly with that.

do you think you will pick a new frame or just change lenses?



~ waves ~

[Mari]

Dear Bobby,
I'm sorry to hear that you are having a hard time.
'Sending you positive vibes so that you can start feeling good again soon.

Mari

[mrsD]

There is a study showing that daily oral B12 will raise your levels within a month.

Anemia takes longer because your body has to MAKE new cells.
It is important to find out from your doctor if you should have
folic acid too, and iron. Making new blood cells requires alot of potassium, so make sure you are eating foods high in this:
oranges, cantaloupe, bananas, V8 juice.

If you are low in iron, the B12 will not do much.

Clin Lab Haematol. 2003 Jun;25(3):161-6.Click here to read Links
Efficacy of short-term oral cobalamin therapy for the treatment of cobalamin deficiencies related to food-cobalamin malabsorption: a study of 30 patients.
Andrès E, Kaltenbach G, Noel E, Noblet-**** M, Perrin AE, Vogel T, Schlienger JL, Berthel M, Blicklé JF.

Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, France. emmanuel.andres@chru-strasbourg.fr

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that oral cobalamin (vitamin (B12)) therapy may be an effective therapy for treating cobalamin deficiencies related to food-cobalamin malabsorption. However, the duration of this treatment was not determined. PATIENTS AND METHOD: In an open-label, nonplacebo study, we studied 30 patients with established cobalamin deficiency related to food-cobalamin malabsorption, who received between 250 and 1000 microg of oral crystalline cyanocobalamin per day for at least 1 month. ENDPOINTS: Blood counts, serum cobalamin and homocysteine levels were determined at baseline and during the first month of treatment. RESULTS: During the first month of treatment, 87% of the patients normalized their serum cobalamin levels; 100% increased their serum cobalamin levels (mean increase, +167 pg/dl; P < 0.001 compared with baseline); 100% had evidence of medullary regeneration; 100% corrected their initial macrocytosis; and 54% corrected their anemia. All patients had increased hemoglobin levels (mean increase, +0.6 g/dl) and reticulocyte counts (mean increase, +35 x 10(6)/l) and decreased erythrocyte cell volume (mean decrease, 3 fl; all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that crystalline cyanocobalamin, 250-1000 microg/day, given orally for 1 month, may be an effective treatment for cobalamin deficiencies not related to pernicious anemia.

PMID: 12755792 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1...ystem2.PEntrez. Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.P ubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=4&log$=relatedarticles& logdbfrom=pubmed

We have two threads going at PN on page 1 right now if you'd like more information.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread80963.html
and
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread80537.html

[waves]

Bobby,

make sure you talk to your doc about all this, before adding supplements on your own, especially iron. when they diagnosed the anemia, they would have checked your iron. taking iron supplements when not needed can be detrimental - it is not discarded rapidly like some minerals and you can end up with an unhealthy level... can cause fatigue etc... similar symptoms to lack of iron.

there is also the need to check on the safety of taking additional supplements, and when to take them should you feel it is appropriate, because you are on a variety of other medications. some supplements can interfere with absorption of some medications. so it is important to check with your doctor about that aspect of things too before adding anything - even "natural" supplements.

hopefully, since you were diagnosed with pernicious anemia, you have already been informed of or better yet prescribed any other appropriate supplements needed to treat your specific condition, and in view of the meds you are taking.

hang in there young lady! things will get better.

~ waves ~

[mymorgy]

Hi
I wasn't told to take anything but the shots once a month. My doctor said taking the pills every day might help. She knows I don't have a good diet. I see her on Wednesday and I will ask. Thank you. I am still tired. I am still depressed too. I will have to get new frames etc but right now I am concerned about the condition of my eyes since i haven't had them checked for years and now i also have diabetes.
Bobby

[Mari]

Dear Bobby,
Good luck on Wednesday
Try not to worry about your eyes until you get to the eye doc's office. You will be in good hands in the office. In the meantime, any thinking you are doing is speculation and not helpful.
(I'm working on trying to think of one minute / one day at a time too.)


The shots your dr ordered and the pills you are taking should help soon.
If they don't, check in with the doc and ask more specific questions about your blood tests and about possible new blood work.


This stuff is about process. We folks with bp are superstars when in comes to patience. We know to dip into our pool of patience.
Sometimes we don't want to, but we can.

I'm hoping you feel better after seeing the doc on Wednesday.

M.

[mymorgy]

I asked the dr if i needed to take anything for the anemia besides the shots and she said no. right now everything still seems too much for me. i am feeling so lonely but not reaching out to anyone except one person. I am irritatible a lot. I haven't been watching that much economic news in the past week. It is so painful. I have been watching dumb tv movies and feel guilty for not being productive. I feel so guilty for not being productive.

[waves]

Originally Posted by mymorgy

I feel so guilty for not being productive.

Boy do i ever know how that feels. I'm so sorry. I wonder if you can somehow convince yourself that you're allowed not to be productive because you are feeling so poorly right now. You know when we are kids and sick, mom keeps us home and sends a note the next day or calls the school or whatever. And same with work, there is sick time. Just because you don't have those formalities, and because it's been a long and winding road, doesn't mean you don't deserve the break. You do. You just need to get through each day the best you can. And if that means watching stupid movies, or what have you, then so be it. Whatever floats your boat, literally whatever keeps from sinking!!!!

(but boy, i sure know how it feels, coz when i get like i can't do anything, i feel guilty too. i have a pin somewhere that says, "Reason will overcome instinct." hmph. i wish it would overcome feelings at times like this, too!)

now you hold on there, ok? things will get better.



~ waves ~ whose suspension expired this evening. and you are the lucky recipient of my first returning post. i still may not post much... i'm still kinda messy-mooded. but i thought i would pop in here just the same to let you know i understand. fwiw.