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Another B12 Question

anna34

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anna34 Enthusiast
anna34
Posted

My husband is B12 deficient and has been getting injections of B12 for about 5 years. His B12 numbers are still quite low. He was tested for celiac (blood test) and the result was negative.

If the B12 is being injected, then it's not going through the intestine - right? Or does it? Could this still be possibly celiac? What else could cause low B12? (He refuses to stop eating gluten until he gets a positive celiac test.)

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Chiana Apprentice
Chiana
Posted

How often does he get the injections? The current guideline is once a month, but for a lot of people (including me,) it sometimes takes twice a month. Also, did he get the first several in very close succession when he started getting the injections?

anna34 Enthusiast
anna34
Posted
  • Author

How often does he get the injections? The current guideline is once a month, but for a lot of people (including me,) it sometimes takes twice a month. Also, did he get the first several in very close succession when he started getting the injections?

He gets them once a month and when he first started, they were closer together. He was very sick/weak/tingly all over by the time we found out about the low B12.

Chiana Apprentice
Chiana
Posted

He should get his injections really close together until his numbers get back to where they need to be, then get them twice a month or so. If you are getting the shots, you are completely bypassing the digestive system, which means that his low levels are from too few injections. Have they ever tested to see if it is truly pernicious anemia?

anna34 Enthusiast
anna34
Posted
  • Author

We've never been given any explanation for why his B12 is low. His plan is to stop getting the shots altogether to "see what happens". I don't like this plan. He's going to get sick again! I am going to read about pernicious anemia.

Korwyn Explorer
Korwyn
Posted

Does he drink any alcohol in any form? If you are having a B12 deficiency issue, alcohol is one of the worst things you can drink. Even a small amount of alcohol can cause your body to consume your B12 reserves overnight as it is used during the metabolism/conversion of the alcohol.

Chiana Apprentice
Chiana
Posted

Does he drink any alcohol in any form? If you are having a B12 deficiency issue, alcohol is one of the worst things you can drink. Even a small amount of alcohol can cause your body to consume your B12 reserves overnight as it is used during the metabolism/conversion of the alcohol.

Certain antibiotics and medications do crazy things to your b12 stores as well. Does he take any medications daily?

I would let your husband know that unless he is a vegan or an alcoholic, he has a health problem that is causing the deficiency and should continue to get the shots. Nerve damage, vertigo and peeing yourself is no fun. If he wants to know what is causing the problem, go to a doctor who is willing to test for pernicious anemia and/or celiac disease.

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Korwyn Explorer
Korwyn
Posted

Certain antibiotics and medications do crazy things to your b12 stores as well. Does he take any medications daily?

Really good point +1 :) Statin's (cholesterol meds) are some of the worst too! And anti-biotics kill off good and bad bacterials which means the good ones that produce/extract vitamins from carbs.

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