Hi All!
I'm still on my long road to healing. I'm following the Autoimmune Protocol with some tweaks so that I am also following a low lectin diet. I feel like I've made some real progress the last two weeks. Happy about that. I recently had some blood work done that showed my serum B12 levels are high(1243 where ref. range is 213-816) and also RBC is slightly high. I'm wondering if anybody else had this show up in blood work and/or if anyone knows if these blood count results are related to my Collagenous Colitis.
High Serum B12 Levels
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Hi,
As far as I can tell (based on the shared experiences of members here), high B-12 test results are usually due to one of three possibilities:
1. Methylation issues
2. Taking a B-12 supplement and not stopping it about a week before having a blood draw for tests
3. Both the above
That seems to be a rather common result for MC patients. Many of us have methylation issues, and we usually don't think about stopping B-12 supplements before having a blood draw. I had similar results on my last B-12 test. When I asked my doctor about it, he simply said, "I wouldn't worry about it".
If you're taking an ordinary B-12 supplement (cyanocobalamin), stop taking it and switch to a methylated version (methylcobalamin). If we have methylation issues, our body has trouble converting cyanocobalamin into the active form (methylcobalamin) so that our body can use it. Consequently, our B-12 levels get too high (because our body can't use it, so the level builds up.)
IOW, the problem is not due to CC or LC. It's caused by a common methylation issue (due to a defective MTHFR gene).
At least, those are my thoughts on the issue.
Tex
As far as I can tell (based on the shared experiences of members here), high B-12 test results are usually due to one of three possibilities:
1. Methylation issues
2. Taking a B-12 supplement and not stopping it about a week before having a blood draw for tests
3. Both the above
That seems to be a rather common result for MC patients. Many of us have methylation issues, and we usually don't think about stopping B-12 supplements before having a blood draw. I had similar results on my last B-12 test. When I asked my doctor about it, he simply said, "I wouldn't worry about it".
If you're taking an ordinary B-12 supplement (cyanocobalamin), stop taking it and switch to a methylated version (methylcobalamin). If we have methylation issues, our body has trouble converting cyanocobalamin into the active form (methylcobalamin) so that our body can use it. Consequently, our B-12 levels get too high (because our body can't use it, so the level builds up.)
IOW, the problem is not due to CC or LC. It's caused by a common methylation issue (due to a defective MTHFR gene).
At least, those are my thoughts on the issue.
Tex
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.
Ah! Thank you Tex!! This explains it very well. Good news is that I recently switched to a different vitamin supplement, just checked the label and the B12 is Methylcobalamin.
Now, I'm reading up on methylation issues.
I have an initial consultation appointment with a functional med doc coming up at the end of the week, which I'm looking forward to and hoping to get some help with supplements and keeping healing progress in check, etc.
Thanks again Tex!!
Cathy
Now, I'm reading up on methylation issues.
I have an initial consultation appointment with a functional med doc coming up at the end of the week, which I'm looking forward to and hoping to get some help with supplements and keeping healing progress in check, etc.
Thanks again Tex!!
Cathy
