Dear jarett:

I too could not locate methylcobalamin in any stores around here. I didn't check with health food stores and suspect they carry this form. However, there are many sites on the Internet where you can order this. Just type in methylcobalamin and many will come up.

Shirley H.

I found it here where Mel gets hers.......

http://www.iherb.com/Search.aspx?c=1&kw=Methylcobalamin

I'm just waiting to hear which type I should order..

Jarett:

I went to 10 stores to find the methyl b-12. I went to my local GNC and they only sell the cyano. I then went on iherb.com and initially bought the 1000 mcg of the methyl b-12. After one week, I knew I wanted the bigger dosage. So this is what I bought.

Here's the link:

http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails....1&pid=117&at=0

I sometimes take two a day. That brings me to 10,000 of the Methyl b-12. I read Rose's information and it literally brought me from burning, Pins and Needles, tingling, 24 hours a day (after my podiatrist used a vibrating tool on my toes and I went absolutel nuts), I went from that, to occasional burning.
But I'm a diabetic, and have been for 20 years. I keep my sugar stable, I don't eat what I'm not supposed to and I do whatever I can to hopefully keep my PN at bay. Not all of us can do this, but I most certainly do the best that I can.

And from reading all the information on these boards about the difference between cyano and Methyl, I know that the Methyl is what my body needs to repair my nerves. It will take some time, but it has absolutely no side effects. You can't take too much. It doesn't stay in the body and your body will take in as much as it needs. Actually it can't get enough and we need megadoses of Methyl b-12.

And forget about our physicians explaining the whole Methyl B-12 to us. They never learned about this in Medical School. Physicans (god bless them, we do need them), well they learn how to fix, not actually how to heal. That's a whole other planet to them. As an example, last month, Alan was sitting in his podiatrist office, and the head podiatrist was treating Alan. I mentioned Methyl B-12 and the doctor said "you do not need to take this unless you have Pernicious Anemia". I said "but what about what I have read about how it heals nerves (even though it takes a long time). The doctor replied "that is absolutely ridiculous, I never heard of this in medical school and I'm practicing medicine for over 30 years".

See??? they are not taught this in medical school so how can they tell us about it???? So we learn things on our own. They might not believe that we can repair our nerves, but I most certainly believe that we can. And I most sincerely believe that PN'rs know significantly more about neuropathy than most physicians.

I take this on an empty stomach first thing in the morning because B-12 is a large molecule and if there is food in your stomach when you take it, the food will aborb it and not your body, so take this on an empty stomach.

I use the losenges that I dissolve under my tongue. I don't chew it (then it would go in my stomach). This way, it dissolves under my tongue and my body absorbes as much as it can. I could probably take 30,000 a day but my bank account won't let me.

We have to learn how to monitor our own bodies, our stress levels and how to help ourselves deal with pain, and frustration.

It's baby steps but I'm on the road.

So Babs, get the Methyl b-12 and start taking it. You have nothing to lose.

Get those b-12 levels up to 4 digits.

Melody

......."why dont docs today know this stuff". In my very humble opinon healthcare today is a assembly line approach. Practically all ailments have a one size fits all solution....ex:...statins are prescribed like they are jelly beans, the results..just google lipitor and start reading...many hypertension meds cause depression...go to the doc and what do you get?..an anti-depressant...most docs can hardly keep up with the latest and greatest miracle drug ,let alone devote time to the vitamin and mineral needs of a patient, ( and some wouldnt know where to start). I dont blame the physician entirely , in many instances the safest route is taken to avoid the lawyers who want to sue the poor schmuck out of business. B-12 ? the doc looks at the labs sees a 550 and says "you're ok", well there are a lot of studies ( scientific) that say you're not ok at that level. Many of these meds deplete critical vitamins and minerals and docs spend precious little time studying this end of the eqaution.Tank god for the internet!!! (or was it Al Gore)?

...my b-12 was 550 and folates were 20 and I felt like s***! I am a pretty good sized ,outdoor type active guy, but shortly after this neuropathy took over I became a lump never moving from the easy chair. I am convinced that that b-12 level was way to low! I am now mowing my yard ( 2 acres) , tending our rose garden, feeding the dog and cat, and taking my lovely wife out to dinner and antique stores. Now that is a testimonial !....ps...ditto what Melodie said.

Babs:

Forgot to mention one thing that Rose had indicated on these boards. Do not take the b-12 a few days before you are taking any blood tests.

You want a clear reading of what your b-12 is on the day of your blood test.

For example, if I am getting a blood test (which will include a b-12 level), let's say, next week, I won't take any b-12 for 4 days before that blood test (am I right, Rose, anybody??).

If you take the b-12 right up until the test, the test won't give the whole story. That's what I learned from reading about b-12 on this forum.

Melody

oh.. that sounds like me!!

and I guess the doctors couldn't find anything else wrong with you?

I'm waiting on a second ANA.. the first was HIGH positive.. a second done at another lab was negative.. Heaven knows which one is wrong!!! Anyway I'm havnig a third done tomorrow.. That's the only thing that was positive in all the tests for all kinds of things ... from Lupus to MS...

OK Mel.. thanks!!

I haven't taken a single vitamin for over a week.. My husband wanted me to stop all for awhile to see how I feel.. but neither better nor worse is how I'm doing.

You're all so very kind and helpful...

Babs:

One quick question. You mention all the blood tests you have had. Have they ever suggested a lumbar puncture?

My husband was diagnosed with Idiopathic PN for 18 years. Only last year, when his neurologist said "oh, you never went for a spinal tap, let's get you one". (It didn't hurt one bit, it's all in how the guy or gal does it).

So he has one done, and lo and behold, they found protein in his spinal fluid, which led his neuro to proclaim "ah, there must be autoimmune stuff going on here, which qualifies you for IVIG'.

So I'm just curious. With all the tests you have had done, have you ever had a spinal tap?

Thanks, Melody

no..no spinal tap as yet..

but I haven't seen the neurologist yet either.. that's in two weeks..

Hey.. I am game for whatever they toss my way.. anything to find a resolution.. peace.. and some comfort here..

I know you all understand that!!