Rose, my friend called up iherb.com because she's a diabetic like me and she and I were talking about how the methyl b-12 has helped me.

Now she does not watch her sugar or her weight. It's her business. She asked about iherb.com and I told her. I also told her to go on the internet and do the research before she buys anything. She was diagnosed with a diabetic stomach but doesn't believe the doctor because "what the hell does he know anyway". (Sigh). Oh well.

So she calls the iherb.com and they gave her the number for Jarrows (the people who make the B-12), only it's not Jarrow. Starts with an M or something. She got a nutritionist/pharmacist on the phone (or someone who knows nutrition), and she told him what I was taking and he told her

"we never tell anyone to take massive doses like that and we only recommend this (if you are going to take massive doses), then only 3 times a week. So she tells me "you should not be taking 5000 every morning". I told her "it has helped my neuropathy and there are no side effects"

She countered with "well the guy on the phone says you should only be taking this three times a week". And she further said "I kept asking him if he could recommend this because I'm diabetic but he hemmed and he hawed" Why on earth would he not recommend his own product for a diabetic? I am very confused.

Now Rose, should I take this every day, or would it be okay to take this three times a week. I'm just curious. It would be more economical for me to do the 3 times a week. But I don't want to ruin my PN, if you know what I mean.

And what do I tell my friend who now thinks she knows everything there is to know about Methyl B-12 because she spoke to a guy on the phone.

When I told her to google nerve repair and Methyl B-12, her response was "but you know I don't go on the internet". I said "you always go to the food network website". she said "Oh, that's different, I'm getting recipes".

oh lord.

Melody

They people on the phone often don't know much. And, regardless of what they know they should be careful not to "advise" anyone to take more of anything that their label reads.

People on the phone generally don't know anything more than it states on the label. It's scarey that many people think they know a lot.

Every day, every three days, a handfull every day........

If I were you, and considering the budget, I would give it a try (taking them less frequently than every day). Chances are you will do just as well, now that you have probably gotten your stores up pretty strong. You should keep building stores on every two or three days.

rose

Thanks very much Rose.

I shall take them 3 times a week. If I feel any buzzing or tingling, that will signal me to go back to every day.

Again, thanks, I don't know what I would do without you and the others on these boards. Real lifesavers.

Mel

This has been an exceptional forum for years. Who'da known that a forum could have a personality.

A change in symptoms probably will not correlate with your dose, because usually the body just keeps on with using stores very slowly, but if it happens at the same time with a few tries that's an unusual and different story.

rose

Well, I must be a very unusual case because I noticed the improvement within a week of my taking the 1000 each day and I immediately bought the 5000 pill.

So tomorrow I'll skip, then I'll take another dose on Sunday.

I wonder what my b-12 level must be. Probably have another blood test done soon.

So we shall see. It really did make a difference for me. I can't imagine what I would be feeling if I never took this supplement.

Thanks for keeping me informed.

You're a sweetie.

Melody

Melody,

Thanks.

It would not be unusual at all for you to have an obvious initial response within days. In fact, I know many people who showed their initial response within days or a couple of weeks. Very common.

What would be very unusual would be for you to have a response in correlation with size of doses later on: for instance, if you took 5000 mcg one week, and 6000 or even none the next, and, in response to each change, you showed a response. Usually changes would have occurred regardless of the change in dose.

So to even suspect whether the dose is really affecting responses, a person should be able to reproduce that dose/response experience more than a couple of times. Usually it would be a coincidence.

B12 is stored, and once stores are rebuilt to a certain degree, the body operates (and repairs and changes!) on those stores, which are usually used very slowly. Most people could rebuild stores and repair for a very long time on those stores. It is not like a vitamin that one takes every day or every few days because it disappears and must be taken constantly.

Those who store B12 so badly that they respond to each daily or weekly dose are very rare.

By the way, make sure you do not take any B12 within at least a few days of the test.

rose

Ah, I believe I now understand the whole storage thing as it pertains to B-12.
My last b-12 level was in the 900's. Haven't had another test done since that one. Began taking the Methyl B-12 3 months or so ago. Noticed a big improvement in my PN symptoms. Began at 1000 each day, and went to 5000 soon after.

So I have built up (hopefully), my storage of B-12 in my body, and my system is using that B-12 to help heal my nerves that were misfiring, right?

so if I do the 3 times a week, I really should be okay (because from what I read, I have stored a nice amount of B-12 already).

I took the 5000 today. I forgot not to take it. It was there on the counter and since I do this without even thinking, I just plopped it under my tongue.

I'm writing myself a note and it will say "B-12, take Monday, Wed, Friday.

We shall see.

Soon to follow. The mystery of Melody and her B-12 intake!!!! lol

Thanks so much

How long before the test did you stop your B12?

rose

Rose, it's my recollection that I had been taking the Methylcobalimin for about a week when I went for my blood test. That was a little over 3 months ago. I didn't know you are supposed to stop taking Methyl B-12 before you have a blood test.

I have not had a blood test since.

When I have my next appointment with Dr. Fred, I'll have blood drawn a week before that appointment. I feel perfectly fine so it won't be any time soon. I go to Cornell in October. They always take blood. I'll ask them if they can include a b-12 test. I'll stop the b-12 a few days before I go to Cornell.

Melody

Melody,

Chances are your stores are quite good by now (but keep them up!), but after taking B12 for a week and not stopping at least a couple of days before the test, the test result tells nothing about your stored B12.

It takes time for the B12 to either be stored and a tiny bit used, and the rest to be eliminated with urine.

So that test measured lots of B12 that was in your bloodstream, including that which would be lost.

I'm glad you will stop prior to the next test.

rose