[mrsD]

When was the last time you had a chest Xray?

There could be something going on there. Another member here had SOB and they finally found an infection by an uncommon bacteria in her lungs.

Difficultly breathing can be also a sign of myasthenia gravis.
So getting a doctor's evaluation is important.

Some people have too many red blood cells...polycythemia vera.
B12 in high doses is not recommended for them...but this is rare.

So there are things you should check out with a doctor if you have SOB.

B12 will fix things that need repair due to nerve damage, etc.
But it cannot fix everything.

Originally Posted by CrimeofPassion

I was taking Jarrow 5000mcg Methyl B12 daily, and after about maybe a month of doing so developed shortness of breath (that was occasionally severe) and tachycardia.

I'd like to continue taking B12, though, and I've been told I should try Hydroxocobalamin or Adenosylcobalamin. Would anyone here recommend one form over the other?

I've been suffering from pectoralis/shoulder pain for 1.5 years now that the doctors couldn't seem to diagnose, and I discovered by accident that megadosing on the Jarrow B12 took my pain away COMPLETELY. It's very confusing - I don't know if that means the pain is being CAUSED by a B12 deficiency or what's going on. But because it made me feel basically 100% better, I'm desperate to continue with it! Alas, I have to breathe, and Jarrow's B12 made me feel like I was honestly suffocating at times.

[CrimeofPassion]

Originally Posted by mrsD

When was the last time you had a chest Xray?

There could be something going on there. Another member here had SOB and they finally found an infection by an uncommon bacteria in her lungs.

Difficultly breathing can be also a sign of myasthenia gravis.
So getting a doctor's evaluation is important.

Some people have too many red blood cells...polycythemia vera.
B12 in high doses is not recommended for them...but this is rare.

So there are things you should check out with a doctor if you have SOB.

B12 will fix things that need repair due to nerve damage, etc.
But it cannot fix everything.

I had a chest x-ray back in late 2013 when I saw a doctor for my SOB. She diagnosed me with anxiety after about 5 minutes and gave me Zoloft. It took me a few months to realize that it was the B12.

[deb54]

Originally Posted by CrimeofPassion

I was taking Jarrow 5000mcg Methyl B12 daily, and after about maybe a month of doing so developed shortness of breath (that was occasionally severe) and tachycardia.

I'd like to continue taking B12, though, and I've been told I should try Hydroxocobalamin or Adenosylcobalamin. Would anyone here recommend one form over the other?

I've been suffering from pectoralis/shoulder pain for 1.5 years now that the doctors couldn't seem to diagnose, and I discovered by accident that megadosing on the Jarrow B12 took my pain away COMPLETELY. It's very confusing - I don't know if that means the pain is being CAUSED by a B12 deficiency or what's going on. But because it made me feel basically 100% better, I'm desperate to continue with it! Alas, I have to breathe, and Jarrow's B12 made me feel like I was honestly suffocating at times.

CrimeofPassion...I was b12 deficient, discovered about 20 10 years too late, unfortunatlely, and started the subligual liquid Pure Encapsulations 2 yrs ago. I also have Psoriatic arthritis. My neck had been in unrelenting level 10 pain for 4 yrs. With the first 2500mcg of methly-b, my neck pain went to a level 4. The next day it was gone. In that month of higher doses of b12, I accomplished a year's worth of worth. I had barely been able to move for quite sometime.

Along with the unexspected pain relief and ability to move better, I also immediately began coughing. In that month I also experienced extremely unusual side effects to the methyl-b. I saw specialists for each and was told this was thier assumption. My doseage was cut in half, then half, again. I was tested for a year to try to discover the cause other than the b12. I had to reduce my doseage to 250mcg per day, barely enough to keep me thinking straight. When I take more I experience the breathing problems, skipped heart beats and irrational rage. I try to keep as close to a small dose.

So, you're not the only one experiencing adverse side effects, but you're one of very few, I'd suspect. Welcome to the herd, zebra friend.
deb...

[CrimeofPassion]

Originally Posted by deb54

CrimeofPassion...I was b12 deficient, discovered about 20 10 years too late, unfortunatlely, and started the subligual liquid Pure Encapsulations 2 yrs ago. I also have Psoriatic arthritis. My neck had been in unrelenting level 10 pain for 4 yrs. With the first 2500mcg of methly-b, my neck pain went to a level 4. The next day it was gone. In that month of higher doses of b12, I accomplished a year's worth of worth. I had barely been able to move for quite sometime.

Along with the unexspected pain relief and ability to move better, I also immediately began coughing. In that month I also experienced extremely unusual side effects to the methyl-b. I saw specialists for each and was told this was thier assumption. My doseage was cut in half, then half, again. I was tested for a year to try to discover the cause other than the b12. I had to reduce my doseage to 250mcg per day, barely enough to keep me thinking straight. When I take more I experience the breathing problems, skipped heart beats and irrational rage. I try to keep as close to a small dose.

So, you're not the only one experiencing adverse side effects, but you're one of very few, I'd suspect. Welcome to the herd, zebra friend.
deb...

Deb, this is FASCINATING. Thank you so much for sharing. Did your specialists ever tell you straight out that your neck pain was probably caused by a lack of B12? Do you know if your pain comes right back if you stop taking the B12? And lastly, did you ever try another form of B12 to see if you were just sensitive to the methyl-b?

[Sundae70]

Originally Posted by mrsD

I am starting this thread to include some of the most useful information on B12.

This subject is very popular now, and especially on these forums.

Having a spot to refer people to answer questions, saves time and effort, since repeating over and over the same information becomes difficult.

I am going to have this thread stickied at the top of the pages here so it can be found easily.

First off, here is a link to Rose's webpage. She has been the anchor for all of us here on this subject. I haven't seen her here lately, but I suspect she reads at least.


Rose put together a wonderful collection of information and has personal reasons for wanting others to learn about the TRUTH about B12 in the body. She herself suffered for a long time with very low levels and the terrible consquences of that.

I am going to add to this thread, some of the information I've used to answer questions here about how to test for B12 problems, and how to use it correctly.

I encourage all posters who come here to learn and ask questions to participate in this thread. We all learn from each other.

I think that B-12 is most crucial and most beneficial to patients who have rsd. However, I found that taking B-12 in tablet form does not absorb as we would want it to. I stopped with the B-12 injections and started on the B-12 liquid concentrate. Easy to take, does not taste bad. Much better than tablets....

[specilfrend]

Hi,
Is that recommended for neuropathy?
Thank you

[Hanshan]

Could one cup of coffee, imbibed several hours after taking my b12 supplement, significantly inhibit my body's absorption of this vitamin?

[mrsD]

Originally Posted by Hanshan

Could one cup of coffee, imbibed several hours after taking my b12 supplement, significantly inhibit my body's absorption of this vitamin?

I don't think so. It is the food fiber and volume that dilutes out the micrograms of B12 and reduces chances for passive absorption. (this happens with drugs too that are given in microgram doses--they are lost or adsorbed by food/fiber in the intestine.

[marty75]

I have tried to do a lot of reading here, but there's a LOT to cover. My apologies if this has been discussed before and I didn't see it.

My doctor tested my B12 as soon as I began experiencing pain in my feet 13 years ago. (I have PN). He kept telling me it was normal. However, in May 2013 I saw a specialist when I could not sleep (literally, did not sleep for days/weeks), got confused easily, lost my up-close hearing & had my distance hearing go massively hyper-sensitive, had difficulty breathing, my heart started hurting and I began falling down. He found my B12 to be 130 and ordered my doctor to immediately begin B12 injections. I got weekly 1000mcg (I believe) injections for 2 months, then bi-weekly for 2 months, and I now get them monthly. It took 9 months for my hearing to come back. I am sleeping better but still have issues. My last blood test was 325-ish. My doctor says this is in the normal range, but I don't think so. My specialist said he thinks my PN could easily be from prolonged B12 deficiency.

I am 38, and have totally normal stomach acid levels. I take an oral B12 but my doc says I am unable to absorb it. I only feel better for a few days after each injection. What SHOULD my minimum level be? Should I be striving to get it up to 600? 700?

[MelodyL]

Originally Posted by marty75

I have tried to do a lot of reading here, but there's a LOT to cover. My apologies if this has been discussed before and I didn't see it.

My doctor tested my B12 as soon as I began experiencing pain in my feet 13 years ago. (I have PN). He kept telling me it was normal. However, in May 2013 I saw a specialist when I could not sleep (literally, did not sleep for days/weeks), got confused easily, lost my up-close hearing & had my distance hearing go massively hyper-sensitive, had difficulty breathing, my heart started hurting and I began falling down. He found my B12 to be 130 and ordered my doctor to immediately begin B12 injections. I got weekly 1000mcg (I believe) injections for 2 months, then bi-weekly for 2 months, and I now get them monthly. It took 9 months for my hearing to come back. I am sleeping better but still have issues. My last blood test was 325-ish. My doctor says this is in the normal range, but I don't think so. My specialist said he thinks my PN could easily be from prolonged B12 deficiency.

I am 38, and have totally normal stomach acid levels. I take an oral B12 but my doc says I am unable to absorb it. I only feel better for a few days after each injection. What SHOULD my minimum level be? Should I be striving to get it up to 600? 700?

My last B-12 level was 2000 and I'm doing JUST FINE.

Doctors do NOT know anything about B-12 levels. Read all of Mrs. D. posts on B-12.

I take Puritan Pride's Methyl B-12 (that's the important kind of B-12 you should be on).

I take 5000 EVERY morning. Been doing this for YEARS now.

No more peripheral neuropathy and I can do things at 66 that I didn't do when I was 30. Of course I grow my own food and don't smoke and all that stuff but I know that the Methyl B-12 that I have been taking for almost 7 years has literally changed my life.

Read up on this. It's all over the internet and especially on this thread.

Best of luck to you.

Melody