thank you so much
bobby

I ordered 5000 mg from vitacost. thank you again
bobby

My Jarrow Formulas methyl B12 arrived yesterday (yay!) and I've started taking it. I suck on it but I find it makes my tongue a little sore. Any suggestions, mrsD?

Also, what's the difference between methyl B12 and the dibencozide formula? I remember you writing about it somewhere; I'm a little lazy to look for it. :D

You can chew it up and swallow... it will be absorbed about 10% in the small intestine.

Just make sure there is no food around...so take it first thing in the morning, and wait an hour or so for best results.

I don't believe much is absorbed from under the tongue. That is an old prep, and still hangs around.

Mcv
 

This is an important point. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is a measurement of the average size of your red blood cells (RBCs). The MCV is elevated when your RBCs are larger than normal (macrocytic), for example in people with vitamin B12 deficiency. My MCV has been on the high side during my last three physicals and only the doctor during my last physical noticed this, retrospectively after seeing my very low B12 count. I'm not anaemic but I do have neurological issues - my consistently elevated MCV should have been a red flag given my neurological issues.

MCV is a test which is routinely done as part of your CBC (complete blood count) and if the number is too high or too low, it is an indication that further testing might be required. When the MCV is decreased, your RBCs are smaller than normal (microcytic) as is seen in iron deficiency anemia or thalassemias.

I found this post through searching the internet and have a couple of questions:

Can someone with a b 12 serum level of 550 experience symptoms?
I am a vegetarian and over the last year or two year I have been tired (kind of zoned out like my body is disconnected from my brain), muscle twitches, stiff neck and shoulders, vibrating/tingling in my hands, nervous easily)

In the beginning of November after a very stressful time in October I began to have stomach problems (nausea, burning stomach, burping, throat tightness). The doctor diagnosed me with gerd. I tried to explain that I had never had stomach problems in my life. He prescribed prilosec, but it did not do me any good. I was then tested for h. pylori but that came back negative. Additional blood work showed that I was not anemic or diabetic. My MCV is at 94 (I looked back at old blood work and it looks like my MCV is something that continues to go up). During this same time, I also began to have bad nightmares where I sit straight up and/or, breathing heavy, heart racing absolutely in a state of panic.

Out of desperation after coming across an article that mentioned GI problems with b12 def. I asked to be tested this month. I was told the 550 was normal. Now for my second question in regard to the test. Because my stomach has been so bad, my diet has changed drastically (starting in Nov). I began drinking more milk, eating chicken noodle soup 3 to 4 times a week (trying to avoid the chicken, but I know I am eating some of it), eating 3 or so slices of multi-grain bread fortified with b12 during the day because my stomach worse when it is empty.) Could this change in diet, have affected the blood test results since it does not reflect my state at the time when all of these symptoms developed?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, My name is Melody. your B-12 level is TOO low. Mine is 2000. Doctors do not know anything about nutrition. They practice medicine.

I can only advise you on the one way of eating that benefited my life. I turned to sprouting. Go on the internet and google "benefit of sprouting".

You're a vegetarian so you are perfect for this food. It is GREAT for people with sensitive stomachs. I sprout broccoli (no gas by the way), alfalfa, fenugreek and radish sprouts).

I have zero gerd, stomach problems. I go to the bathroom every day. It's the best thing I ever did.

Stop with the chicken noodle soup. Stop with anything processed.

You want to put live, good stuff in your body.

That is however if you are SERIOUS about your health.

I was and I am.

Melody

Yes it is possible but not common to have neuro symptoms with a 550 reading. In this thread is a copy of Dr. Snow's comments on neurological symptoms with B12 levels that appear normal.

So look back a few pages to that entry.

Vegetarians can be low in other things too. Zinc is one, and so is the amino acid methionine.

However, eating beans and other veggies can give good levels of magnesium.

Potassium however, could be low, and you can be tested for this.
Meat is a main form of potassium in most diets and vegetarians miss that.

I'd get tested for Vit D3. Low levels of this can create problems, and is quite common.

An elevated MCV is often one sign that B12 may be low. But that is not cast in stone either.

You may also want to look at gluten intolerance. This can cause neuro symptoms too. And you may be eating alot of it on your diet.

Ok. Thanks. My main problem is the tiredness and now the stomach problems that have basically just appeared over night after that stressful experience. I was hoping they would go away, but they just seem to continue to hang around.

My potassium was tested and it is 3.7 with a range of 3.3 to 5.0.

Some others:
Calcium is 9.3 with a range of 8.6 to 10.5. Protein is 6.9 with a range of 6.3 to 8.3.

Hi, me again.

If you take Methyl B-12 it just might perk you up a bit. I have two friends who were always tired and their B-12 levels were in your range. I told them what I take. I told them where I got it and they began taking it also. You should see the change in them. One of them was slightly anemic also. Even taking iron didn't help her.

She's a new person now that she is taking Methyl B-12.

It gets confusing I know with all these vitamins and supplements, etc. Mrs. D. knows her stuff.

That's how I learned what I learned. By coming on these forums and reading.

Changed my life BIG TIME.

I wish you well.

Melody