[hiboysmom]

I put 'again' in quotes, because I realize that I should never have stopped the supplements, and that I was never really 'cured'!

I first learned of a possible B12 deficiency back in 2000 (I was 26 years old at the time), for some reason the number 187 is in my head, but I'm not sure exactly. I had previously had some strange medical issues that I am still not sure was related to B12.. (hearing loss from nerve damage, atrial tachycardia) I had a shilling test back then, but never determined what the problem was.. I took sublingual B12 for a while, and for some reason stopped taking them.

Fast forward 9 years... Now I am beginning to feel very run down again, lightheaded, that same funny feeling in my arms.. I had some bloodwork done, and the dr said my iron was low, and my Sed Rate high, but everything else was normal. I asked about the B12.. it was 302. I told her that from what I had learned in the past, that was 'low'. She then agreed that I should take B12, which I was planning on doing.

So.... I came back to the web and started doing the same searches I did 9 years ago, and as soon as I saw the names Rose and MrsDoubtfyre, wow, it all came rushing back to me. I even went into my medical file and found a print out of one of the articles you had posted back then to take to my doctor. I found a new article, printed it out and faxed it to my dr with a little note. She agreed to have my MMA and homocysteine levels checked tomorrow. I guess after that I'll see what should be done (if anything) next.

The high Sed Rate confuses me a bit. I know it could mean lots of things, but just wish I knew!

I guess I dont have any real questions, just wanted to say that it was so nice to find familiar 'faces' after so long

[mrsD]

Thanks for the update....

You got low in B12 for a reason... which may never be found.
But whatever it is, you will need the supplement for life.
People tend to stop taking supplements when they feel better. I've done this myself, my son does it all the time.

As for the sed rate, mine has always been elevated. Not sky high, but substantially out of range. Some arthritis, sinus, ears, who knows? It doesn't take much to elevate it.

On the bright side, at least the methylcobalamin works, and you can buy it for pennies a day, and that alone is a gift!

Don't hesitate to post here, we all learn from each other.

[bruegger84]

what is sed rate?

[pabb]

a lab test for inflammation "sedimentation rate"

[bruegger84]

what is sedimentation? i feel like it's the sediments at the bottom of the sea. like sodium level?? ive never even heard the term sedimentation

[mrsD]

The full name in erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

They put a blood sample in a test tube in a centrifuge which spins the blood
at a certain speed and time. The amount of red cells that pack in the bottom is calculated as the sed rate.

The slower the sedimentation rate, the higher there are factors in the serum that thicken it and prevent the separating out between the red cells and serum.

It is taken as a crude marker for inflammation in general.
It is a simple test, but very vague and non-specific, but will confirm if a patient is really giving accurate information involving "being sick" or having sore joints, etc.

An elevated sed rate usually leads to other blood work to determine what is going on.
It is a very old test, and today we have many more detailed ones. But often used because it is inexpensive and revealing.

[torey]

Originally Posted by hiboysmom

I put 'again' in quotes, because I realize that I should never have stopped the supplements, and that I was never really 'cured'!

I first learned of a possible B12 deficiency back in 2000 (I was 26 years old at the time), for some reason the number 187 is in my head, but I'm not sure exactly. I had previously had some strange medical issues that I am still not sure was related to B12.. (hearing loss from nerve damage, atrial tachycardia) I had a shilling test back then, but never determined what the problem was.. I took sublingual B12 for a while, and for some reason stopped taking them.

Fast forward 9 years... Now I am beginning to feel very run down again, lightheaded, that same funny feeling in my arms.. I had some bloodwork done, and the dr said my iron was low, and my Sed Rate high, but everything else was normal. I asked about the B12.. it was 302. I told her that from what I had learned in the past, that was 'low'. She then agreed that I should take B12, which I was planning on doing.

So.... I came back to the web and started doing the same searches I did 9 years ago, and as soon as I saw the names Rose and MrsDoubtfyre, wow, it all came rushing back to me. I even went into my medical file and found a print out of one of the articles you had posted back then to take to my doctor. I found a new article, printed it out and faxed it to my dr with a little note. She agreed to have my MMA and homocysteine levels checked tomorrow. I guess after that I'll see what should be done (if anything) next.

The high Sed Rate confuses me a bit. I know it could mean lots of things, but just wish I knew!

I guess I dont have any real questions, just wanted to say that it was so nice to find familiar 'faces' after so long

i dont know about sed rate but i had a low b12 level, below normal range for many many years, no one addressed it, so i didnt take any supplements now i have periphreal neuropathy, wondering if that was the cause