Anyone else have low B12?

[gopher7895]

I had blood drawn earlier this week and just heard that my B12 is low at 300. The doctor said normal is 200-900. He said it's not low enough to get a shot but I need to take a vitamin with B12. I'm extremely diet sensitive and wonder if others are able to tolerate a B12 vitamin pill. I learned even before being diagnosed with IC that multi vitamins gave me awful bladder pain so I'm a bit nervous and am hoping that B12 alone will be OK.

[Trixie50]

I have the same problem. My B12 was 232. My doctor said that was fine and dandy, the lab range was 180-914. Some doctors are so clueless that they don't recognize that a level that is not OPTIMAL may also cause problems, like fatigue, which I had in spades.

On my own, I started sublingual B12 pills, and brought my levels up to 300. But I had to quit. It was causing my bladder too much aggravation. So I'm in limbo right now. I'd like to get more B12 in me, but am not willing to irritate my bladder anymore. I'm just trying to eats lots of animal foods that are high in B12, not sure if that will do it.

So I'll be very interested in any responses you get. I need help, too.

I'm also low in ferritin, and had to quit the iron because it caused such constipation, which also aggravated my bladder.

It feels like a no-win situation.

I wonder if shots would aggravate the bladder - I think they wouldn't. Maybe you can talk your doctor into shots. My doctor thinks my level is fine, so no help there.

[lisabar36]

I also have a B12 of 300, I cannot take any b12 complex vitamins because of my IC, and I did explain that to the doctor and he is starting me in b12 shots, because he said 300 is on the very low side and I will feel better if they get that B12 higher, I also am always very tired and he said it will help with that. I spoke to my uro and she said to get the shots because the b12 vitamins can be very irritating to the bladder. I hope this helps. I was told the shots will not aggravate the bladder because they are injections and are absorbed differently then a vitamin. Hope this helps.

[Trixie50]

I don't understand - you two had higher B12 than mine, yet your doctors are willing to try shots. My doctor thinks that as long as the level is above the lowest baseline, it's fine. It is so frustrating.

[Birdlady]

My levels were 240 and my doctor told me to get a shot. He told me that is severely low for a person my age (I am 23).

Now my family has a history of B12 deficiency so he thinks I might have the genetic disorder where your gut cannot absorb B12. If any of you eat regular amounts of meat there is no reason you should be deficient in B12 unless something is very wrong.

I would get a few shots and then get your blood levels checked again to see if they go up. :) I have fired about 3 doctors in the past year and have finally found one who will listen to me.

[ICNDonna]

If you do a web search you can find foods that are rich in B12 --- hopefully you can increase your intake and help that way.

Good luck!
Donna

[Birdlady]

If you do a web search you can find foods that are rich in B12 --- hopefully you can increase your intake and help that way.

Good luck!
Donna

This will work only for those who are able to absorb b12. I suspect others in this thread might have the genetic disorder called pernicious anemia where you cannot absorb b12 no matter how much you ingest. Your gut lacks the protein called intrinsic factor. A shot is the only way to get it if this found to be true.

Now if someone is on a strict vegetarian or vegan diet then yes food intake will help.