Vitamin B12
 

I justed signed up to this group. I haven't even been tested yet for my PN (next week), but my doctor has started me on gabapentin and I can already feel the difference in my feet. The pain isn't nearly so intense. I have been reading some of the threads and taking B12 keeps popping up. How much is recommended? Any specific type? It is great to find this group. No one really understands the pain I am going thru.

Welcome to our forum.

There is a special thread at the top of the page all about
B12.

Welcome to NeuroTalk! :Wave-Hello: This is an awesome place and I'm glad you're here to join us. There's lots of info here about PN and vitamin B12. MrsD is one of our resident gurus. :)

I do hope your doc asks...
 

for a Full Metabolic Blood Panel! Be sure to ask for a copy before the blood is drawn SO they KNOW YOU WANT IT! Just look for the #'s results and then the ranges... Some will have '*'s and these say if the #'s are flagged as too high or too low. A lot of those #'s too low you can help along w/supplements? But do please keep in mind that improvements don't happen overnight. It often takes months + to show better numbers. Especially if you have other issues 'percolating'. I say this last part, because that is what happened to me, tho it's uncommon? It is not something to be dismissed litely.
Do read Mrs. D's info on B-12! It mite seem overwhelming at first? But if you take it in smaller bits at a time - it will eventually sink in. AND, will be very useful in the long run.
It sounds as if your neuro isn't asleep behind the wheel. He's testing and looking at [or trying to?] your whole picture. Keep at it tho, if the med causes bad side effects or if things seem to get worse. Do NOT be put off!
Keep good heart and have hope! - j

Yes, I did notice this thread after the fact
 

I started looking at all your info and picked up on the relationship between B12 and acid reducers. I have been on omeprazole and ranitidine for years for heartburn. I think I will be adding B12 to my daily routine. Do you think I should take it at the same time as the other med. or separate?

much to do
 

I can see that any recovery I have from this is not going to be quick. I am feeling overwhelmed by all of this. The reason I am being sent to having this nerve test done is because I have been seeing a podiatrist and not getting any relief from his plantar fasciitis "fixes". He finally admitted that my feet pain was beyond his scope. I hope that the nerve test will tell me something.

Hi there:

I started taking B-12 (Methyl B-12), not CYANO, about 2 years ago when I was initially diagnosed with Neuropathy. Stopped my symptoms IN THEIR TRACKS. Been doing it daily every since. I am what you would call a success story.

I take 5000 sublingually every morning. I get mine from iherb.com and I get the Jarrows 5000 .

Best thing I ever did.

Just wanted to share.

Melody

Thank God that the b12 worked so well for you, that you knew about it and that you stuck with it and you dodged the full PN bullet!

Hi.

You got that right? But I wouldn't have KNOWN ANYTHING, if I hadn't come to these message boards. Saved my life.

Melody

Not cyano?
 

So are you saying that b12 made from cyanocobalamin is bad?

I'm not saying that at all. Sorry to not be clear.

I learned this from Rose and Mrs. D.

Our bodies convert Cyanocobalimin to Methyl and that's what we absorb...THE METHYL

So why take cyano (that has to be converted), and since B-12 is a large molecule so we realy don't get the amount that we take....

I learned that it's just better (obviously in my case IT WAS MUCH BETTER), to go straight to the Methyl B-12.

Do a google search on Methylcobalimin and you'll see what I mean.

I don't know where I would be today if I didn't take this supplement.

I just turned 62 and hopefully I'll be around for years to come.

I also watch what I put in my mouth and I eat no red meat AT ALL.

For me, it works. Not for everybody, this I know. But for me, (and because I am diabetic), I don't want to take anything for granted.

We only get one body in this life. I want mine to still work.

I can't believe it took me to be in m 50's to learn this, but I learned.

Anyway, if you take the cyano (which is the form used in basically every B-12 pill), you won't actually be getting any benefits.

This is what I learned from Rose and from Mrs. D.

Hope this clears this up.

And don't ever expect a doctor to chime in and say "Oh yeah, B-12, it's the way to go". Doctors practice medicine. THEY DON'T PRACTICE NUTRITION AND SUPPLEMENTS.

I truly believe our bodies can heal (with the proper nutrition).

At least that's my goal in THIS lifetime.

So do a search and learn all about B-12.

Oh, one doctor I spoke to who absolutely didn't believe in any vitamins or minerals grudgingly admitted "Well, if I had to recommend a vitamin, I'd go with Vitamin D".

And see what they are saying about Vitamin D on the internet now??

Thank goodness I take my D every single day.

lol

Melody

Cyano is just not effective for everyone. Historically it is the
first B12 that can be given to correct pernicious anemia.

But since then, much more has been learned.
People can fail to convert it in the body to its active form, methylcobalamin. This is called methylation failure and can be tested for it you want. MTHFR mutation. This also affects the methylation of folic acid to methylfolate. People with this genetic error end up with high homocysteine levels and early cardiovascular disease.

Why take an outdated synthetic version of a vitamin when its active form is available in very inexpensive form?

When people end up with low B12 activity/levels, it is due to 2 basic things.
1)Failure to absorb the minute amounts in food (called malabsorption, or pernicious anemia).

2) Failure to methylate the vitamin so the tissues can use it.

People end up on internet health boards because some is going wrong in their bodies. Today, you can get tested for
the MTHFR DNA mutation without a doctor's order. It is OTC and costs about $125-150. You can choose to do that, and if you don't have this problem, then cyano may be okay for you.
Its not like the methyl version is soooo expensive...to preclude using it. It is only pennies a day and does not require injection.

Mrs. D.

See how nice you explained everything?. I wish I could write as clearly and as informatively as you do.

I said "it's a large molecule and we can't get benefits'.

And you explained the whole kit and kaboodle in a few sentences.

MUCH BETTER THAN I EVER COULD

See, I can talk about sprouts, but MRS. D knows her stuff about B-12

lol

Melody

Hi! Pernicious Anemia guy here .... lovely little disorder to deal with isn't it.

The Cyanocobalamin works fine for me and it works for me using the sublingual type which I assume you know what that is already. I did not even know about the methyl version until I read about it in these forums .... so read lots of stuff around here I have learned so much in just 2 days.

I have control of my disorder for now at least which is comforting, I relapsed and was dealing with numbness, vibrating etc in my limbs almost 2 weeks ago. That was my fault as I was taking less B12 than I needed and it slowly crept up on me until it hit me with nerve weirdness.

I have some nerve damage which I feel mainly in my left arm but it is tolerable from a year and a half ago when I first became aware of my illness.

Good luck to you and I wish the best.:hug:

B12 does work very slowly, but is very much worth the effort. I take the same B12 as Melody, Jarrow 5000mcg. I started out with 1000mcg (cyanocobalamin) and then switched to Country Life 3000mcg (methylcobalamin), then increased it to the 5000mcg. After 4 yrs, I could sew again, which was something I had to give up completely. I hemmed the sleeves in my labcoat last night, and yeah, my fingers still want to go numb, and my hand aches when I do it, but, hey, I can do it!:D

My ataxia has improved, the balance issues are fairly calm as long as I do not get glutened. It's amazing how fast a symptom can return when your body is out of balance.

By the way, my neuro does believe in B12, and told me to continue with this dose to encourage more improvement.

thanks for everyones' imput
 

I did buy the wrong kind of B12. Oh well I will see how it goes and look for the right kind for my next bottle. ummmm.....I wonder if Vitamin Shoppe sells the right kind so I don't have to order it online?

You will probably pay less for it online...iherb runs about 40% of retail in stores.
vitacost.com is also good, but I think iherb has lower shipping rates.

Cyano does work for some people. But it really costs about the same as methyl these days.

Vitamin Shoppe: methylcobalamin 1000mcg/120:
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/e...jsp?id=VS-1730

iherb.com for 100 Jarrow 1000mcg;
http://www.iherb.com/Jarrow-Formulas...enges/129?at=0

It is unclear to me from just looking online if local stores of Vitamin Shoppe carry everything that appears online. Many other types of stores do not, as a rule.

Mrs. D just beat me to it. I went online to the vitamin shoppe and found the exact same Jarrows thing that I am taking and it cost $26 and change.

I am extremely happy that I purchase mine at iherb.com

I wish they would have a buy one get one free.

Melody

thanks for the info
 

Thanks for the info on the websites.