Hello friends,

I'm new around here (Hi ), and had some concerns with vitamin b12. First let me give you a brief background.

I'm a 29 yr old male, in good shape. I work out regularly, and watch what I eat. Back in Early January, I noticed a slight burning pain in my upper back. Within a week, that burning sensation was all over my back, waist line, and arms! It was horrible! Like a terrible terrible sunburn, yet no rash or anything! I went to the ER 3 times that week, because the pain was so intense, and my anxiety and fear only made it worse. The ER did absolutely nothing... They only said my vitals are fine, and I have to follow up with a neurologist.

My family physcian ordered blood tests, for autoimmune diseases, HIV, Thryroid, lyme, liver function, kidney function, cbc, and vit b12.

Everything turned out normal, except my Vitamin B12 Level was at 260. According to the Lab Values, that was borderline low, but still considered "normal". My doctor started giving me weekly b12 shots for 4 weeks, to boost the levels back up. 5 weeks later, after my first b12 test, my levels were at 850, and was I feeling soo much better. Some slight burning but nothing like how it was. The doctor stoped the injections, and asked i supplement bith 1000 IU B12 pills, and a good B Complex. Which I now take everyday.

Mean while, I've done alot of reading on B12, and asked my doctor to test me for Pernicious Anemia and Instric Factor. The tests show, I dont have the Anemia, and I do have the Instric Factor. So I am unsure WHY my B12 level dropped like it did. Though I never really took any vitamins, I was always a heavy meat eater.

Anyway, Last week I got another b12 level test (4 weeks after my 850 score) and it dropped to 540! I dont understand why?? I take so much Vitamin b12, every day! I thought my body is suppose to store YEARS worth of b12, why would it deplete again so fast?

I am so worried it will drop really low, and the burning pain will be really bad again. I have another appointment with my doctor, but that isnt until 2 weeks from now.

If anyone has any idea, I'd really, really appreciate it! Why Cant I absorb B12? The tests show I do have the instrict factor. I'm getting really concerned...

- Jason

Hi Jason & welcome to the forum, i haven't heard of b12 in iu measurements, most of us here take at least 1mg or up to 5 mg daily of B12 Methylcobalamin supplements, one of our members Rose has a very good site to read up on B12. http://roseannster.googlepages.com/home

good luck
Brian

Thanks for the fast reply Brian. I actually got my measurements messed up! I take 1000 IU's of Vitamine D (also was found low @ 24). As for B12, I currently take Nature Made which is 1000 mcgs daily.

It's best to take B12 on an empty stomache for max absorbtion, I take my B12 before bed and the multi B first thing in the morning.
Is it b12 methylcobalamin or b12 Cynocobalamin your taking ?, the Methylcobalamin is the best as its already in the active form, doesn't have to be converted like the B12 cynocobalamin.

Brian

Yeah Jay, I was looking at NAture Made B12 last week, and the only bottle I saw was cynacobalamin. A good share of us get our B12 from www.iherb.com. Country Life has a good methylcobalamin sublingual, which is 3000 mcg. I took it for a long time, but now am taking Jarrow Methylcobalamin 5000 mcg. It is best to let it dissolve under your tongue. Some think letting it dissolve doesn't matter, yet many of us do feel we benefit more from the B12 using this method. My B12 level was 1237 for some time, then it dropped to 1016, so I upped my mcg's.

I think Nature Made is not helping. Try the Country Life or Jarrow, and see how that helps.

It is made from Cynocobalamin, and sometimes i eat it on an empty stomach, i cant speak to that w/ consistency, as sometimes i skip breakfast. I only heard of iherb.com from reading this forum, and will certainly look into the methylcobalamin form.

I asked my doctor WHY my b12 levels got low, if I have the Intrisic Factor, and she says they dont know. This is sort of unacceptable! Am I wrong to feel this way? I admit I am a worrier and hypochondriac, but I am concerned!

I worry is there something wrong with my liver something? I've had a Liver Function Test and an Ultrasound of my whole abdomenal/pelvic area, and no abnorablities are found. Is this just a rough vitamin to absorb for some?

I have difficulty with setteling with "we dont know" - and want to get to the bottom of it. Thanks again for the info

Sometimes there are few or no answers.

Some drugs will lower B12 absorption.
Long term antibiotics
long term use of acid blocking drugs for the stomach
increased needs (bodybuilders)

It might be that you used up your liver stores, and they are rebuilding now. 850 is not really high for injectable responses.

Injectable will give a quick fix, and show up fast on tests.
Oral takes longer.

I'd switch to 5mg of methylcobalamin daily on an empty stomach. Get tested again in 3 to 4 months.

There are many metabolic differences that are genetically driven in people concerning use of nutrients.
You may have a methylation DNA error...so using activated forms of B12 would be better for you than synthetic ones, like cyanocobalamin.

Thanks for the info Mrs. D. I have read quite a few of your posts, and have gained a wealth of information. I was hoping you would reply, and so glad you did .

As for your other suggestions on what causes low levels... none that you listed really applies to me. I'm on no acid blockers or take any sort of daily medication. I not exactly the body builder like I used to be lol.

You may be right and never find an answer, and I think I'd be willing to accept that as long as I know nothing deadly serious could be wrong that can cause this (that's my hypochondia peakin through!).

Thank you again for the info, Ill certainly look into the supplements!

So you used to be a bodybuilder? You know low B12 does not happen overnight. It could have started back then, perhaps.
Regardless, the solution is not expensive or have side effects.
If you are going to have a "problem" this one is an easy one to fix.

well maybe not "body builder" , but I did gain considerable size lifting weights a for a couple years, but I stopped last year when I got shoulder tendinitis...

you mentioned that b12 deficency does not happen over night. I certainly agree with that, but I would think my symptoms would be gradual, as the levels dropped. but my "burning" skin sensation came on rather quickly. Sometimes I wonder if low b12 is even the culprit... but I've had so many tests, and everything is coming up normal, except my b12 was at 260.

I've read other b12 suffer stories and mine seem so different, which is only reinforcing my concern. Have you ever heard of a rapid onset of symptoms that I had (and painful) and it be because of low b12?

I mean I am feeling better , the pain has diminished greatly since my last b12 injection, which suggests it was my low b12 level... but my crazy paranoid mind thinks maybe increasing my b12 is just "masking" the symptoms and there is something else going on. (I warned I was a hypochondriac!!)

does my symptoms sound typical of a b12 problem?