THAT'S THE TRUTH. DRS. SUE

Thanks to Rose and others here I'm taking B-vitamins and having good results. I'm taking about 3 mcg per day of B-12 and two different B-Complexes including a sublingual liguid, and I've been taking two 400mcg of Folic Acid. I also take two 1000 mg fish oil caps per day, 1 garlic cap @ 1000 mg/day. I got some Slow-Mag today and just started taking that tonight. Hoping for some relief from the RLS type symptoms I experience from time to time.

I space the B-vitamins out so that I'm taking two pretty much equally divided doses a day. The fish caps are taken twice a day with a meal, the garlic is taken with the first fish oil cap of the day.

I've been taking the B-vitamins for about 3 months now and I've gone from pain that kept me awake *every* night because of the intensity level to now being at an only annoying level that may attempt to interfere with my sleep one or two nights a week. I'm *so* grateful for this improvement. If I hadn't found this board I'd still be up the creek without a paddle.

It's a slow process and I started at a much lower level and have been gradually increasing my amount of B-12. I think I may even go a bit higher. The nature of B-12 and how it's absorbed makes it one of the safest ways to treat PN. It doesn't work for *everyone* but there are apparently many of us that it does work for to varying degrees.

Look at it this way: Compared to many of the drugs doctors want to throw at us to treat this condition and their accompanying sides B-vitamins are a walk in the park and you have nothing to lose and much to gain by trying it.

I have a ? why the slow increase in b12 supplments? If there is no harm? I have been taking the 1000 b12 and a b complex for awhile. My b12 is 1500 which is down from 2000. Anyhow can I still increase to another b12 so 2000? I'm not seeing any benefit but not sure if this will do anything for my issue.

Jarrett:

This is what you wrote: "I'm taking about 3 mcg per day of B-12"

If you are taking 3 mcgs of b-12, you'll have a b-12 deficiency like you would not imagine.


lol

Melody

There is no reason to increase B12 slowly, unless one is so near death (fragile) that any change (even improvement) can tip the balance. And that would be rare even in a fragile person.

Under almost all circumstances, the idea is to get stores refilled as quickly as possible.

Jarrett,

I'm so glad you have improved. I assume you meant 3 mg B12.

Regarding Melody's comment : Three mcg per day would prevent deficiency in those who have not begun to malabsorb severely, but for many of us they would be useless.

rose

Rose:

Really? 3 mcgs a day would be enough for some people? Jarrett knows I'm kidding, because I knew he didn't mean to type 3 mcgs. But in any B-12 bottle (you know, the ones in the stores), the minimum amount I've ever seen is 50 mcgs.

I thought 3 mcgs would amount to taking nothing at all.

Wow, I just learned something.

Anyway, I'm taking the 5000 in the morning AND NOW SO IS ALAN!!!

He wanted to start taking them and he started two days ago.

I see so much improvement in my burning, I can't begin to tell you.

Thank God. Now maybe it's the weather, my weight loss, who the hell knows, and who on earth cares. I will take my B-12 for the rest of my life (or as long as I can afford it

If a person does not malabsorb, more than 3 mcg will be absorbed from the usual (not vegan) diet. And if that person has become low because of years of vegan diet, overgrowth of bacteria, or a parasite of another type, the 3mcg per day would help them rebuild stores after the cause of malabsorption has been removed. It would be helpful, but I would prefer to see them rebuild faster with a higher dose.

If a person malabsorbs from food due to too little stomach acid, B12 can still be absorbed just fine from a supplement. That person too could prevent deficiency or rebuild stores with small daily doses of B12 (even 3 mcg). However, that would not be a good idea, because many of those will progress to severe malabsorption, and then they would need much larger doses. [B]So, that is why 1000 mcg is recommended for anyone who has been shown to or might malabsorb. A person who malabsorbs severely may get only about 10 mcg out of 1000 mcg dose.

There are many other scenarios. But, for a person without any symptoms, a regular multi-vitamin containing 3 mcg B12 can be a good insurance policy. If they develop any symptoms or get to be about 50, I would hope they would take a lot more.

Under most circumstances, I think 50 mcg is a pretty silly dose. People who don't malabsorb shouldn't need it, and people who malabsorb severely won't get anything out of it.

rose

I think I will give you a new title.

Queen of the B-12.

You most certainly know your stuff.

I learn from you every day.

Thanks so much.

Melody

For me, it caused stomach issues...constipation and diarrhea. Back and forth. Once I had been taking a specific dose for a few days I was fine. So for me I've learned to increase a dose of B-12 slowly.

Oops! I mistyped. I'm glad you caught that! That should have been mgs not mcg. *snerk*

I hope Alan sees some good results too. Wouldn't that be something? I think for most of us the goal is to decrease or eliminate the pain. There doesn't seem to be a cure according to doctors in most cases unless the PN is a direct result of a lack of B-12 but there are cases where nerve damage is actually being reversed and healed. That's the #1 goal if it's possible. We've all been told we have permanent damage. I no longer believe that the damage *is* permanent in all cases.