[mrsD]

Yes, you can back off now if you want. Either use up the 5mg twice a week, or 1000mcg daily.

[ElaineD]

Hello, I took the Jarrow formula, daily, adjusted for my weight for about a year and a half from 2011-2012. I couldn't see any difference. My B 12 level checked at over 1600 on blood tests, so it was clearly showing up in my blood.

My PN is profound (diagnosed in 2009), but the cause could never be found. I'm not diabetic and MRI/CT Scans ruled out brain/spine issues, and a spinal tap also showed no problems.

My Rheumatologist believes it may have been caused by prolonged use of an antibiotic known to cause PN. I started the antibiotic in 2007.

Should I have stayed with the therapy? Should I resume it? My Duke neurologist and rheumatologist seem to know very little about it. And the only research I've looked at from NIH is fairly old now. It seems if this therapy were successful that it would be more discussed in the public press?

But I haven't read this entire thread. It is very long.

Or am I naive? Probably Naive.

Thanks, ElaineD

[mrsD]

It is important to know which antibiotic.

If fluoroquinolones, then magnesium and glutathione support may help. Dr. Cohen has posts on his blog about this: His links are on this thread.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post661103-2.html

[Marlene]

Does anyone know if packed red cells used for transfusions have any vitamin B12 in them?

[mrsD]

I can't find an answer to this question yet....

B12 is in the body in such minute amounts...one would wonder
what it would be for in those cells (which die in a short time).
B12 is used to make red cells, but......

Iron is in there of course.
Sodium, potassium, chloride, various peptides, proteins

Here is a complex wiki on red cells:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_blood_cell

I was suspecting not, but then found this paper on PubMed:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8352241
So I guess yes, if there is a test for it, then it must be there.

I am getting tired...today, been online since about 5am or so.
This is my last search for today.

[Marlene]

Thanks....I'll check the links out. I did a search but came up with everything but B12.

[Marlene]

This issue came up on another forum for blood disorders. A doc told a patient that since they are getting packed red cell transfusions, they are also getting B12 and there's no need to supplement. No one really believed that this could correct a B12 insufficiency. I'm not sure if the body recycles B12 as efficiently as it does iron once the red cell dies.

Thanks again MrsD.

Hope you made it through yesterdays storms ok.