Hi Carla,
I noticed that your B-12 levels are only running 350's. Even though the reference ranges on the lab sheets will say the bottom limit of normal is 200, it is a well established fact that some people have clinical symptoms ABOVE 200 and up to the 400 level, including neuro symptoms. Hopefully, the new lower limit will become at least 400, and soon.
I just got my results back and even though mine was a little above 400 this time (due to better absorption with my gut healing on my diet), my endochrine doc still suggested I try to get the level even higher. It probably would've been had I not gotten sloppy with taking the medication, but at least my absorption is getting adequate now to maintain a symptom-free status.
Hopefully, you are on a good allergen-free
dissolvable methyl-B-12 for better absorption now. I gave my father B-12 injections, and they DID make his RBC's appear normal.
Haven't done a good job keeping up with all the posts, so you're probably already doing something like this and I just didn't know it.
Anyway, please consider doing something to get that B-12 above 400 minimal. Remember that B-12 is water soluble, so take it consistently if you can.
Yours, Luce
Carla re: B12 levels
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Hi Lucy,
Do you mean more b-12 in addition to the injection I get once a month ? I also take a daily multi-vitamin that has 100% rda of b-12, however, since I have true pernicious anemia, I don't think I absorb that, right ?
Are you talking about the sub-lingual b-12 ? Do you think that would be better absorbed, or since I don't have the intrinsic factor, would that be useless too ?
I have read about the 200 level being too low as well, but my doc hasn't commented on it, I see him in Oct for follow up, so I will probably bring it up with him then.
I really appreciate any thoughts you might have on this ! Also, what is your take on the liquid iron ? Is it any better absorbed than the tablet form ?
Love,
Carla
Are you talking about the sub-lingual b-12 ? Do you think that would be better absorbed, or since I don't have the intrinsic factor, would that be useless too ?
I have read about the 200 level being too low as well, but my doc hasn't commented on it, I see him in Oct for follow up, so I will probably bring it up with him then.
I really appreciate any thoughts you might have on this ! Also, what is your take on the liquid iron ? Is it any better absorbed than the tablet form ?
Love,
Carla
LC - dx'd 2004 - Celiac -biopsy dx'd 2004 - pernicious anemia... ;)
Hi Carla,
To answer your question about sublingual cobalamin--yes, the sublingual type is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, so it completely avoids the problems normally encountered in the stomach and small intestine.
The discussion at this site contains a lot of very good information about the mysteries of B-12. If you read the whole thing, you will find the answer to your question in the next-to-last paragraph.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/ ... ai_8540075
The article also mentions that health food stores carry another kind of B-12 supplement that includes the intrinsic factor. That's the first time I've seen that mentioned. The article suggests that the injections are an old-fashioned method, and that either the sublingual cobalamine, or the kind which includes the intrinsic factor, can be used just as effectively, in lieu of the shots.
Love,
Wayne
To answer your question about sublingual cobalamin--yes, the sublingual type is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, so it completely avoids the problems normally encountered in the stomach and small intestine.
The discussion at this site contains a lot of very good information about the mysteries of B-12. If you read the whole thing, you will find the answer to your question in the next-to-last paragraph.
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/ ... ai_8540075
The article also mentions that health food stores carry another kind of B-12 supplement that includes the intrinsic factor. That's the first time I've seen that mentioned. The article suggests that the injections are an old-fashioned method, and that either the sublingual cobalamine, or the kind which includes the intrinsic factor, can be used just as effectively, in lieu of the shots.
Love,
Wayne
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Carla,
I've gotten way behind in reading posts these days due to the situation here, so didn't know you were on the injectable form.
Would imagine that your doc is monitoring your red blood cells (RBC's) and that he's having you do more follow-up visits for blood work, right? If the RBC's are where he wants them, I think that's the MAJOR concern as far as the pernicious anemia goes.
I have heard of people getting both the shots and the methyl form of the cobolamine together, but my dad got better with only the 1000mcg injections of the cyanocobolamine each month. Why don't you ask your doc if it would hurt anything to take a bigger oral supplement of methylcobolamine with your injections -- might speed you along to feeling better and get rid of some of the symptoms. Just a thought!
Don't really have any thoughts about the liquid iron supplement, but perhaps someone else can respond to that.
Interestingly, I did hear something just today about scientists discovering something about how the body utilizes iron from meat. I'm anxious to learn more about this. Perhaps it will be helpful to those with iron absorption problems or iron-deficiency anemias.
Yours, Luce
I've gotten way behind in reading posts these days due to the situation here, so didn't know you were on the injectable form.
Would imagine that your doc is monitoring your red blood cells (RBC's) and that he's having you do more follow-up visits for blood work, right? If the RBC's are where he wants them, I think that's the MAJOR concern as far as the pernicious anemia goes.
I have heard of people getting both the shots and the methyl form of the cobolamine together, but my dad got better with only the 1000mcg injections of the cyanocobolamine each month. Why don't you ask your doc if it would hurt anything to take a bigger oral supplement of methylcobolamine with your injections -- might speed you along to feeling better and get rid of some of the symptoms. Just a thought!
Don't really have any thoughts about the liquid iron supplement, but perhaps someone else can respond to that.
Interestingly, I did hear something just today about scientists discovering something about how the body utilizes iron from meat. I'm anxious to learn more about this. Perhaps it will be helpful to those with iron absorption problems or iron-deficiency anemias.
Yours, Luce