I have had a few neuropathy twinges since I started on Symbicort for my COPD but nothing notable (I am on 1/4 recommended dose). It began giving me horrid GERD so I had to take Zantac and I got attacked by neuro symptoms. Every little bit of activity set it off. I woke up at 3 AM with weird shooting pains in my knuckles going down into my fingers and up my forearms from computer keyboarding.

Someone mentioned inability to absorb B12 because of Zantac so I took some and symptoms were gone after the first dose and have stayed gone so far. How could that happen so fast? I don't think it was a placebo effect because I took B12 once before and it didn't seem to do much so I was not expecting it to work. ICS may deplete B12 too and I have been having some other stomach issues as well so am going to the doctor. I was just wondering if anyone knew how it worked like that, I thought deficiency took a long time to resolve.

thanks
judi

It is possible you were on the edge of deficiency. No one really knows what the priorities of B12 really are in the body.

Something is going to get first dibs on the B12 in the bloodstream. If before in the past you were slightly anemic, then the bone marrow may have gotten priority. If that is more or less
fixed or less problematic, the B12 can go elsewhere. Remember B12 is really a minute amount, as well. So there has to be some biological control for it we just don't understand yet.

Long term deficiency is very damaging and repair in those cases can be slow.

Some people show immediate responses though, I've read posts from them on various internet sites. Others take longer to see results. You may find your hands start to hurt again even though you take B12 regularly now.

Thanks, I was just wondering. I REALLY love that cat picture...the essence of cat "And why am I not getting any turkey?"

Yes, Tima puts on a great "poor me" show. But she got hers, and some other treats as well. (all 3 of them in fact--he has 3 cats total) She knows me, as I bring cat grass and
all sorts of stuff/toys for them!

When my son took her in...she smelled of dryer sheets. She would hunker down under the vents to stay warm. Then that November day when he went out to "her" dumpster, she saw her chance and ran in thru his door. She was really very thin... but the Vet said she was in good shape otherwise. All that junk food in the dumpster kept her going.

Thanks for noticing and the comments!

edit to add another photo of Tima... from Xmas 2011:
She turned out to be a beautiful cat. She has lots of "airs"...and
loves being photographed too.