Well, I got my B-12 level!!!!
 

All my blood tests came back perfectly normal.

My B-12 level is 944 (now I've read where, if one has neuropathy), one should strive for 1200. I took this blood test when I had been on the methyl b-12 for 3 to 4 days. I'm sure it had some effect right?

My thyroid was 3.9. Now considering my mother, father and my son has a thyroid problem, I'm very surprised but happy.
The guy who discussed the blood test results with me (his name is Frank and he's a male nurse, and he's wonderful) also said 'we ran the other two thyroid tests.The T3 and the T4 and they were perfectly normal because if they weren't you would have Hashimoto's Disease and I said "oh, I know what that is". And he said "well you don't have it, you're just fine'.

Then he said my cholesterol was 170, my sugar was 120 and since it was 400 when I first went to Cornell, that's good for me. I'm striving for 100 someday. Usually it's 100 to 120.

He also tested antibodies for Pernicious Anemia and he said "you're fine",
He said "your blood count is excellent".
He then said "as a matter of fact, all your results are excellent, your triglicerides are 102. Blah, blah, blah, .

So I said "Frank, I'm healthy as a horse but I have neuropathy, right".
We both laughed.

So I guess I'll shut my mouth, use the bio-freeze (if I need it, and lately don't seem to). and continue my B-12 and other supplements.

I'm one of the lucky ones. I know this!!!

Melody

Mel, that 944 must've been after you took the B12 supplement.
Betcha didn't hold off for a week or so, before the testing.....did'ja? ;)
Mine is in the high 1200's and my doc posts a note to the lab
that I take B12......or they'd flag it for too high!

Melody,

The supplementation sure did have an effect. No telling what your level would have been before. And, because you had taken it right up to the testing (apparently), it also doesn't provide any idea what your stores are now. What it does do is indicate that the methylcobalamin is getting through to your blood.

Yes, I would aim higher.

If that doc checked your antibodies to intrinsic factor, good for the doc. That much more than most would know to do. However, not detecting antibodies to intrinsic factor does not mean that you don't malabsorb, and it doesn't even rule out the possibility of "pernicious anemia."

Yes, I hope you keep right on taking that methylcobalamin.

rose

Melody I forgot but do you notice a difference on how you feel with the extra b12? Have you had diabetes all your life? By the way you have a good sense of humor.

Hi Daniella:

I've had diabetes for 20 years. And most definitely, my body is responding WELL!!! to the B-12.

Frank (the male nurse paramedic) said "we did a test for pernicious anemia and you don't have that.

So there you go. I'm healthy as a horse but I have diabetic neuropathy, (but it's getting better).

I now take 5000 a day of the methyl. I'm aiming for higher.

mel

Yeaaaaq Mel
 

Good for you and 120 is very good,i'm very happy for you stay on
that B12 our Rose knows what she's talking about..Still no Grandbaby
think the little guy is shy??? You made my pain free day even better.
:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: Sue

thyroid number
 

Melody, there are several thyroid tests. Exactly which one was 3.9?

Do you have them all. Should be a TSH, free T3, and free T4.

If you have them, please look back at old results and see what they are. I have a feeling this is your TSH, and for a lot of people, it would be high, even though it's in the normal range. The easiest way to know if it's high for you is to compare it to a TSH from last year, or the year before, or whenver.

It shouldn't be changing.

Well, Frank said my TSH was 3.9 and it should be below 5 and it was so I'm fine (that's what he said).
The T3 and the T4 were perfectly normal (that's when he said if they weren't then they would be worried about Hashimoto's. He said my T3 and T4 were perfectly fine.

Okay, I just got out my previous blood tests.

Here we go:

12/06 - 3.19
1/18/05 - 3.80
3/07/03 - 2.97

Now on the right of this it says the range is 0.40-5.50.

So I don't think my doctor will think I have a thyroid problem if I'm 3.9.

When I go back to Cornell, I'll tell my endocrinologist all the numbers.
Also when Alan has his appointment with Dr. Fred, I'll mention it to him.

Otherwise, as he put it, "Yes, you're healthy as a horse".
And I'm taking my b-12

And I just looked up the symptoms of an underactive thyroid. I'm not tired (even before the b-12) (and since I'm on the B-12, my energy level got a boost), my skin is not dry, I'm not constipated. Essentially I feel fine. I'd like to hit Alan over the head sometimes, but I FEEL FINE!!!! lol

Melody

Congrats Mel your tests results are great.

Just and FYI they revised the thyroid range so Liza jane is right your TSH would be on th high side. Although over the years it seams pretty consistent

According to the AACE, doctors have typically been basing their diagnoses on the "normal" range for the TSH test. The typical normal levels at most laboratories has fallen in the 0.5 to 5.0 range.

The new guidelines narrow the range for acceptable thyroid function, and the AACE is now encouraging doctors to consider thyroid treatment for patients who test the target TSH level of 0.3 to 3.04, a far narrower range.

But kudos to you for your diligence. I am jealous of your results. :D

P.S. I love reading any of your posts, they brighten my day

They actually prescribe thyroid meds for someone who has my thyroid numbers, really???

Wow, I bet I would lose tons of weight then.

The nurse at Cornell told me she had a friend who dropped 20 lbs in one week and no one could figure out why. Then they checked her thyroid meds and it was double the dose she was supposed to get.

I then asked her "well, if thyroid meds make you lose weight, why don't they prescribe them for obese people". (It's not a stupid question, if you think about it!!!). She just laughed out loud and said "Melody, it doesn't work that way".

I'm glad I brighten your day.

IF you want to have a laugh, go and look a the thread titled "off topic" and click on the link to the wedding thriller video. You'll love it.

Mel

Ok Mel
 

Your healthy,now have you made up your mind about the Den----???
I'm waiting on you. Well my te---- need help soon. Did you check laser
d----istry. Please let me know soon,uhh very soon Thanks Sue

Sue:

Sue::What on earth are you talking about??. I went to the dentist last month. I have a darling phobia guy in NYC.

I posted all about it. I didn't wait until I had a problem. I made the appointment. I went. They cleaned my teeth.

I am just fine, thank you very much. Now this might not be a big deal for REGULAR people!!! But for a phobic, believe me it was a big step.

My inlaws met me there and everything.

So I went!!!!!!!

How about you??
"
Melody

:hug: We *both* are! B-vitamins sure are something aren't they? I'm glad to hear you're getting a bit of relief from the PN pain.

You've got your blood sugar under real good control too! :You-Rock:

I have a question. I purchased the 100 pill 1000 mcg of methyl from Iherb.
I now know that since b-12 methyl helps me, I want to get some more.

I just went back to iherb and they have a 5000 pill (60 losenges)
So I'd take one pill a day as opposed to 5 of the others. Do you think it works out to be cheaper????

Here's the link:
http://www.iherb.com/store/ProductDe...&pid=JRW-18004

Is it okay to take one pill that contains 5000 mcg???

Thanks, Melody

I take a 3000 one every day.

I'm taking about 2500 mcg's a day but I split it up in two doses, morning and evening. Not sure if it makes a difference really but I just felt it was better to do it that way. I'll be interested in hearing what others think....

Melody, from all
 

I've read here and elsewhere it SEEMS it's best to do whatever mega dosing you are planning over the course of any day...NOT ALL AT ONCE.. IF you have any asorbtion problem if you just spread out those 1000 doses if you even GET 10% into your system, that's good! If it were B-6 I'd balk, being a victim of 'value addeds' that mean nothing... But, excess B-12 just simply leaves you with no harm done...Soo like Vitamin C, it doesn't hurt anything but can't hurt just to have it there IF it can be taken in...
I surely hope this all helps!

Wel hell Mel i know you have a big time problem with the Dentist,so
Didn't want to say words that would shake you up. Iremeber something
about in-laws. All they had to do was clean them,that even freaks me out.
Well ok i'll do it,did you ever read dalek's posts.

Yes about the B12 you just pee it out. ;) ;) ;) Sue

Sue:

If a person has a dental phobia, it doesn't matter if you are just going in to the office to make an appointment. Some people can't even do that. I go on the Dental Fear forums and you would be amazed at what people go through.
They haven't been to the dentist in 30 years because when they were younger, a dentist held them down bodily and scared them to death. Or a dentist did not use novocaine on them and their pain went through the roof.

In some cases, people do their OWN dental work. My friend's mother had to pull her husband's teeth because he would never go to the dentist or the doctor. And he was a chain smoker. Guess what happened to him?

The most original dental story I heard was from this guy in England who was so afraid of the dentist and his teeth were so bad he could not eat. So at dinner time, he would make a wax impression over his top teeth and his bottom teeth, keep the wax on, and then he would eat. Because he couldn't press down with the food. He only ate soft food anyway.

I hear such heart breaking stories. That's why I go there sometimes and I find phobia dentists for people who can't even make a phone call. I've even called up phobia dentists (In the United States because I have free long distance). I would speak to the staff, then I would post a message on the Dental Fear message board and let the phobia person know that it was safe for them to call. And sometimes, they couldn't even make the call.

It's that debilitating a phobia. I know, because I had it ALL my life.

But thankfully I get my cleanings and checkups with my phobia guy. And he's adorable. I'm very fortunate.

So you take care,
Melody
P.S. Go for that cleaning. You'll be glad you did.

Hi. I got my number at my b12 is 2000. I had my blood taken and the only supplement before was 3 weeks of b complex. So is it still ok to take the b12?
Congrats on pushing through your fear too. I have anxiety disorder and though better at one time I feared so much so I can relate. Its a lot of self talk and though certain things I knew didn't make sense it felt like they did from the fear. A big thing I work on is facing the fear so I can get past it. Sometimes it helps to get support from people,journal,self talk. Congrats on pushing through your fear.

Your number is 2000????? Holy Moly!!!

I can't wait to hear what the experts on these boards have to say about that!!!


That's an amazing number

Melody

i think that is very good. it shows that it is getting into your blood stream. 1000mcg a day should be enough from now on. a level of 2000 isnt going to hurt you.

It shows that what you are taking is getting to your blood just fine. That means that you do not malabsorb severely. You may or may not eventually.

It also shows that the test measured a whole lot of B12 in the blood that had not been stored and would go out with the urine. Unless the test is done at least a few days after B12 is stopped, the test result is extra skewed.

I would take the methylcobalamin.

rose

Wow! I had a dental phobia for years! It was a childhood dentist that caused it. Even so I still had regular dental care. I found out I have a genetic thing, my B-mom and brother both lost their teeth before they were 30. I kept mine til I was about 35. Then I made an appt with an oral surgeon, had them put me out and had them all pulled at the same time. *shudder* I used to have nightmares about going to the dentist. I found a dentist or two over the years in different places I lived that understood my fear. I only ever went, as an adult, when I *had* to.

Well, I know exactly why I am phobic. When I was five, my mother brought me with her to the dentist when she had all her teeth pulled. She had pyorhea (sorry for spelling) and they all had to come out. She was not even 40 years old. And why on earth she took a 5 year old kid with her is beyond me.

I will never ever forget her coming out of the dentist's office and we were all in the waiting room and they had cauterized her gums. She took her arm and she started banging on the walls of the waiting room. She banged like that for a long long time. I was sitting on a brown bench looking up at her banging on the walls, she was in so much pain.

I will always be the little girl sitting on that brown bench and that was 55 years ago. I remember it like it was yesterday. When I told my phobia dentist he said "oh my god, you poor thing"."You have post traumatic stress disorder". At leas he understood. Many dentist shame you and don't have compassion.

But if you try hard, you can find a "good guy" like I did.

regards,
Melody

thyroid
 

Well, Frank said my TSH was 3.9 and it should be below 5 and it was so I'm fine (that's what he said).
The T3 and the T4 were perfectly normal (that's when he said if they weren't then they would be worried about Hashimoto's. He said my T3 and T4 were perfectly fine.

Okay, I just got out my previous blood tests.

Here we go:

4/07 3.9 (I added this)
12/06 - 3.19
1/18/05 - 3.80
3/07/03 - 2.97

Okay, Mel, I'm going to confuse you a bit. Ready?
The numbers that the labs say are normal are not quite correct. They are based upon what numbers are found in people who are seriously hypothyroid. The TSH for each person is pretty set, like we have a thermostat all our own. And we each are normally somewhere on the range where we feel good. Most people feel good, really good, healthy good, when their TSH is under 2.5. Yup, true. They might not be really really sick until the TSH is much higher. The most important thing is to compare your numbers as you age.Lots of women get hypothyroid as they age (I give myself away here---yes, I've aged!), and MANY never have a TSH out of the "normal" range. (Me here, too).

If I were you, I'd make sure the T3 that was done is the FREE T3, not the standard T3, and the same with T4.

If those numbers are well within the normal range, and not low normal, you might want to nudge your doctor to check you every 6 months or so. Because it's really really likely that at some point you will need thyroid replacement, and it's better to find that out before you're really sick, depressed, slowed down, with neuropathy, carpal tunnel, etc.

Capeche? G'night and sweet dreams.

Liza.

It was the Free T3 and the Free T4. I remember because I didn't know what Frank was saying and I asked him "Are you saying the word Free?" and he said "yes, it's called Free T3 and Free T4.

Now I have no idea what the hell Free is. but I'm FREEEEEEEE.

lol

And I will definitely bring this up with Dr. Fred.

And you can confuse me all you want. If it werent for you guys on the board, and me finding Dr. Theirl and me finding out about Methyl B-12, well where would we be???

Melody