Hi,
I could use some advice about this. I have been having hot/cold spells, whooshing in my ears, feeling tired and sometimes I have muscle pain in my arm.
I went to my doctor yesterday who gave me my blood test results. I have a vitB 12 level of 280. He says I am deficient and was going to start me on shots, but said I could take 1,000mcg of vitb12 supplements.
Anyway, I would like to know if these are symptoms that sound familiar, if there is a certain vitb 12 supplement that is good. My doctor said he hasn't had much luck with sublinguals.

Also, how long do you have to take the pills before feeling better??

Please let me know.

Thanks,
Jazzmynn

I have vitb12 level of 280, and the dr says I am deficient.
I am starting on 1,000 mcg supplements.

Can low vit b12 levels cause muscle aches, tiredness, hot/cold spells, anxiety and bummed out feelings?

How long to feel better after taking supplements?

Let me know.
Thanks

hi there, i had my vitb12 tested and it came back at 296 but my doctor said there is nothing wrong with that level. i have been having symptoms myself, like electric shocks going up the back and into my head and numbness in my hands and feet. im very tired as well. so yes i believe the symptoms you are describing could be the b12. im a newbie too, so hopefully someone with more experience will offer some advice too.
im taking it upon myself to take the supplements, i've just started them so i don't know how they are working yet. my doctor will not give me the shots.

best of luck to you

When you are deficient, you should start at 5mg (5000mcg) a day of oral B12. Typically only 2-3 months are needed at this dose.
Take on an empty stomach since it is not absorbed well with food present.

If you get another test and you are above 500 or higher hopefully, then you can reduce to 1000mcg a day. Some people stay at the 5mg dose since it is not really expensive or harmful, but that would be your choice.

I think everyone should be at 500 or above in testing.

I'd also get tested for Vit D levels. This vitamin is showing new usefulness in the current research. So if you go to a doctor for the B12, get the Vit D testing also.

Here is a new video about Vit D:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread92116.html

It seems from reading posts on this site anb my experience that most of these dr's don't seem to know much about the b12 def. As MrsD says, they are learning new things about it though.

I actually went to a Hemotolgist who told me that 200 was a normal level... when I ask him "then why am I feeling like crap?" he shrugged his shoulders... "I don't know!" NICE right. Anyway I found a great dr who is very educated and open minded about this condition. He said that you need to be above 500 to be close to normal. 2000 is actually normal. He recomended one 1mg shot a month for 6 months while also taking my sublingule suppliments. Thats me though, a lot of people on this site have been taking the 5000mcg a day like MrsD said and it's working for them.

For me, the suppliments alone weren't working fast enough, maybe I'm impatient or maybe my body isn't absorbing it... that I won't know until after I get my testing done on my very screwed up stomach. Either way, since I started on these shots, I have been feeling a lot better. But I am still taking 3000 mcg a day.

Good luck... if you are not getting what you need from your dr, find a new dr. You can help yourself, but why have a dr if they can't help you?