So I walked into the hemotologist office full of hope that a dr may actually know about my b12 condition, since my GP seems to be clueless.

I walked out... completely frustrated. He says that a b12 count of 185 is close to normal and that he doesn't think I have a defiency. When I asked "then why do I have all these symptoms?" he strugged his shoulders and said "I don't know". GREAT!!! Although he IS taking other tests to make sure and he said I should still take the b12 and see how I feel in a month.

I have to say, I walked out, called my mom and cried at how I don't understand why no one can tell me whats wrong with me. But as I drove home feeling hopeless I started thinking about this wonderful website and how so many of you are suffering from the same thing as I am and are taking care of it yourselves and getting better.

it has only been about a month since I started my b12 supliments, and I have already seen an improvement. I am going to take MrsD's advice and increase the amount I am taking and stop worrying about what a dr says. I guess I am coming to terms with the fact that drs don't know everything and I don't need their consent to heal myself.

I should have remembered that from when I had my daughter and she was gasy and constipated and I took the advice of a friend and changed her formula instead of listening to the dr who said not to... my daughter felt 100% better on the soy formula and was a wonderful infant. See drs don't know everything. Also a reminder, the best baby book I ever read was written by a mother, NOT a dr... and it was right on the money!

thank you everyone for your wonderful support

I think you should trust your instincts. Drs. seem hesitant to accept that supplements can and do help patients. That doesn't mean that medications are not also needed. One thing that I think is difficult for patients to understand is that they have rights. They have a right to respectfully make their own choices. You can chose to seek a second opinion. You can read information about your symptoms. I know its hard, but I think it is probably wise not to be angry with the doctor (s). Many are coming to understand that integrating the different modalities can and often is best for their patients. Try to find a doc who is so anxious to get you better that he or she is open to hearing what is out in the world for your good health. Look to prevention, as oppose to stopping symptoms. And see your symptoms as simply signs as to what is going on. I think it is so nice that a lesson (or two or three) was/were learned here. One, is that we have choices. Choices about how we will treat our bodies. Choices about who we will listen to. Choices about following our instinct. How fortunate we are that Mrs. D has chosen to spend much of her reitrement blessing us by sharing the information she has learned over the years and continues to learn. We are a fortunate group! Thank you Magneta for sharing your story. Surely, you know from Mrs. D's posts that its the Methyl B-12 that is said to absorb the best. When my B12 was on the low side, I would take 5 mg daily, plus a B50 tablet. I did that for many years. Now, I take a lower dosage of the Methyl B12, but I continue to take the B50 (sort of like a multi B tablet). I noticed in another thread that you were having concerns about anxiety/stress...possibly depression. You might want to consider checking out D3 supplementation. Wishing you continued improved health.

I can relate there are many times I have cried and felt worse after a doc apt. I often get the I don't know or the tests don't indicate. You have to remain hopeful. It just takes 1 doc to look out of the box. Have you been to a rheumatolgist?Give yourself time a month though seems long is a short time to repair and heal and you already see progress so that is a good sign.

This is where it does get so frustrating! If Rose were here, she might just take that doctors name and educate him a bit!

Also, if the doctor is doing "other tests" related to B12 deficiency (homocysteine, methylmalonic acid)... those values normalize quickly so if you've been taking the B12 for weeks... they will likely be normal. They can also look for antibodies associated with pernicious anemia, but they are not always positive either, and many things can cause B12 deficiency. In any case, there is no harm in checking for other possibilities as often there may be a few co-existing problems... but, don't let anyone tell you that your low B12 level was insignificant. My B12 level was higher than yours, and my many problems all resolved over time by raising my B12 level and keeping it high. Doctors should try to determine what caused the low B12... but they often don't care. Neither of my doctors did. Shame on them.

All I can say is that I saw eight specialists over three years, not including countless trips to my primary care doctor... and NONE of them recognized my symptoms to be related to B12 deficiency. It was the last doctor, a neurologist, on the THIRD visit... to finally think of checking my B12... because he said he'd seem some people with B12 deficiency complain of the buzzing/vibration sensations I had. And yes, thank goodness he directed me to take 1000mcg of oral B12 daily because of my low NORMAL level of 294 (150-1100).

My primary care doctor had begun to treat me as though I was a hypocondriac with all my various complaints, and even when the B12 deficiency was found by another doctor.. and treated... and I was thrilled to be improving... she was still giving me the condescending nods... as though I had dreamt my symptoms in the first place, and now I was dreaming my recovery.

She's not my doctor anymore. I finally had to leave when I realized she didn't believe anything I said... including symptoms of a sinus infection.

I don't know how doctors get away with their ignorance when it comes to nutritional deficiency and diseases of malabsorption. If you can't fix it with a scalpel or a prescription drug... forget about it.

You won't be the first to discover and fix your own health problems! Thank goodness for the Internet and forums like these. BrainTalk saved my family .

Cara

P.S. If you could find an integrative/functional medicine doctor in your area... you may have better luck as they typically take a much different approach. One of the FIRST things they consider are nutritional deficiencies and food sensitivities... and they focus on finding and fixing the root of the problem. Often, though, these doctors aren't on the insurance lists... so you may end up paying a little more, but you may get more thorough care as well. Sometimes local health food stores can recommend such doctors.

thank you guys so much for your words of wisedom!

and OMG... I never thought of a wellness dr! If that is what the last post was refering to... I was seeing a wellness dr for cronic yeast infections before I got pregnant. I can't beleive I didn't think of calling him. I'll call him and hope he knows more!

thanks again everyone!

Through my every specialist and reg doctor I saw a holistic doctor but he was also a gp. He did regular testing like bloodwork but was not big on meds but was on supplements. He was not on the same page as the other docs I saw and we are talking many. I did though do some of the supplements but more because Mrs D suggested it. I have nothing against holistic type meds but think a combo approach is the best. Good luck

I'm not sure what a 'wellness' doctor is, exactly. There are many terms associated with the type of doctor I'm thinking of. Perhaps "wellness" is one of them. I hear the terms integrative medicine / functional medicine doctors the most. Also termed holistic, orthomolecular, environmental medicine. DAN! doctors are associated most with autism, but they often treat children and adults with health problems that include autoimmune disease, chronic fatige/FMS, etc, and they emphasize nutrition and lifestyle, food sensitivity... and also do testing, mainsteam and alternative, to get to the root of the problem.

Here are some lists I've seen. I would always look for a doctor with an MD as well, for good measure. The best of both worlds, so to speak. Many of the doctors on these lists are MDs, but not all of them. There is no guarantee with ANY doctor, so always keep your feelers out, and personal recommendations are always best if you can find someone whose been to the doctor. Sometimes we need to go out on a limb... and just try a new doctor.

http://www.savvypatients.com/links.htm
http://orthomolecular.org/resources/pract.shtml
http://www.aaemonline.org/
http://www.acamnet.org/site/c.ltJWJ4...M_Homepage.htm
http://www.autismwebsite.com/practitioners/us_lc.htm

P.S. and although I would seek a MD if looking from scratch, I'd take a nurse practioner on a good personal recommendation . There are naturopaths and osteopaths who might be excellent without an MD.... so ask around locally. I know..most people are LOOKING for a good doctor, not as many actually have them.