Wow, that is awesome! Once I did some research, it amazed how many Dr either miss B12 or just ignore it. Unfortunately, I think I have more long term damage because B12 shots didn't give me instance relief. In fact, some new symptoms appeared after I started treatment. My numbers are going up slowly. I'm glad you have experience relief right away! I am going for yet another MRI tomorrow to make sure there's nothing in the spine actually causing the pain.

This is an interesting thread...

Why my B12 numbers are not currently as low as 'Westgrl' I suffer from similar symptoms.

Unlike so many others on this board, I had a negative skin punch biopsy for small fiber neuropathy and in addition to PN-like symptoms in extremities, I also have extremely bizarre neuro symptoms in my spine (buzzing, vibrating, burning/tingling immediately to the left of spine from about C7 to T9) - and with all of this, I have 'normal' MRIs.

I am 42 years old and have been living with this for abour 5.5 years. Symptoms often escalate when taking the common 'cocktail' for PN (Alpha Lipoic/B12/Benfotiamine) yet I do NOT have escalation when just B12 shots - yet no improvement either - perhaps long-term adherence to the supplement will lead to improvement ?

Not sure if I've been of any help, just wanted to share notes.

By the way Westgrl, what is your age? Are you vegetarian and/or consume very little red meat or eggs? Have you had Vitamin D3 tested?

JB

When a person is very low in B12 for a period of time and then
starts to supplement it, there are adjustment issues. We had a poster here Rose who has a webpage devoted to B12, and she was in bad physical shape from years of low B12. She used to post here, and often said that her recovery was marked with ups and downs and strange sensations.

This is her website:
http://sites.google.com/site/roseannster/home
this is a quote from Rose's site under treatment:
Doctors not only miss B12, or ignore it, they also under treat it too!

Your best therapeutic way can be controlled by you. Daily use of 5mg orally, on an empty stomach, matches the way our bodies have metabolic systems for processing B12. Injections dump 1000mcg into your system and that lasts ---drumroll-- 72 hours at best. This this the pharmacological facts of B12 injections. We did not evolve to absorb or utilize B12 in huge bolus amounts. It is a microgram nutrient. When you take it daily orally, a few micrograms will be absorbed even if you no longer have intrinsic factor. This is why you MUST use it on an empty stomach--so passive absorption is aided.

Studies have proven results with oral forms taken in at least 1000mcg DAILY doses. For people really low, or who have been low for a LONG time, I think 5mg daily (5,000 mcg) is more effective. Levels of 400 are barely normal, and in a person previously very low, should still be raised to about 1000 or more, to try to catch up all metabolic systems including the brain and spinal cord. After 3 months on 5mg oral daily, get tested again, to see what your new level is, and maintain that.

It took a period of time to get where you are now (low)...it will take time to correct.

Here is a link to Dr. Snow's expert article that explains neurological effects of low B12 and how he found some patients in the 400 range who improved with further therapy.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post698522-70.html

This is my B12 thread with studies on success with oral, and why methylcobalamin is preferred:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...highlight=Snow

Mrs D
I take 2 of theses mega B complex pills a day. Below are the ingredients. My B12 is in the normal range.
Do you think the ingredients are okay? and should I modify my dosage?

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine hydrochloride) 50 mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 30 mg
Nicotinamide 100 mg
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid from calcium pantothenate 50 mg) 45.8 mg
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine hydrochloride) 50 mg
Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) 50 µg
Choline bitartrate 50 mg
Vitamin H (Biotin) 50 µg
Inositol 50 mg
Folic Acid 300 µg


I have also started to take Nueromet 500 x2/day . Its produced here in Thailand.

"B03BA05 - mecobalamin ; Belongs to the class of vitamin B12 (cynaocobalamin and analogues). Used in the treatment of anemia."

Zorrro, does the label say "2 capsules contain"?

If so that seems okay to me. With the added mecobalamin separate, you should be okay. If not, and ONE capsule contains those doses, I think 1 a day is enough.

Most people feel best taking the complex in the morning, and some people get heartburn from them. In that case take with a light meal etc.

But take the mecobalamin on an empty stomach, separately.

Thanks its just 1 capsule per day as the recommended dosage. I will scale back to one.

Well I got the results of the cervical & thoracic spine MRI. Essentially, I have lesions in my spine. Where I am getting most of the pain, there is a lesion 5mm in length with slight thinning of the cord. This is at the T4/5. The bones & disc are all fine. So the lesion & thinning of the cord has to be the cause of my pain.

Now the problem is the neuro is fixated on dxing me with MS and I believe this may be a result from my extremely low B12 for a long period of time. However, he won't even entertain the thought. So, I either continue with spinal taps, etc for this or I seek a 2nd opinion. But I have no idea how to find a Dr who really knows anything about B12 deficiency. My main concern now is getting my levels up and wanting to know if this is something that will get better or not, assuming it is caused by the B12 deficiency. The family Dr admitted the results of my MRI are beyond his expertise. It's so frustrating.

I am continuing taking 5000 B12 methyl orally and also 250 mg of Benfotiamine. I get my number tested again in a month.