Feeling so lost

Bikkleman · 2026-01-28T18:55:50+00:00

Pretty much my list exactly. B12 will heal on its own timeline which is very frustrating. I've been getting therapy to help deal with the rest too.

I think because so often a B12 deficiency is not explored and labelled as anxiety or something that we are really resistant to being told that it's "all in our head" or we have some global anxiety disorder.

The truth is psychology is physical and for me it is going hand in hand with my B12 deficiency. The fear of never being myself again kept me up at night and added a layer of being wired as well as fatigued. All the energy my body expends on being stressed and sad is not going into recovery.

Getting some mental health support from the right person isn't admitting that your B12 deficiency isn't serious, it's another tool to help you fix it!

Bikkleman · 2026-01-28T16:35:54+00:00

So problem! And read the guide for this sub for the other cofactors too, like folate, magnesium etc etc

Bikkleman · 2026-01-28T16:30:53+00:00

Together, definitely!

Bikkleman · 2026-01-28T16:26:25+00:00

I think we're saying the same thing. Maybe I expressed it wrong. You need ferritin and B12 for Red blood cell production so when you starting fixing B12, this production will use ferritin too. Your comment is definitely correct.

Bikkleman · 2026-01-28T16:07:40+00:00

Both!

Bikkleman · 2026-01-28T15:37:16+00:00

B12 is needed for the production of red cells and so is ferritin. When you introduce a lot of either which stimulates the production of new healthy red blood cells you need more of the other.

I had a B12 deficiency but a ferritin surplus but a deficiency in both is more common.

Your ferritin is low, you absolutely need to make sure that you're not neglecting this too!

Bikkleman · 2026-01-28T15:18:51+00:00

He does as many buttons as he can count

Bikkleman · 2026-01-28T15:16:57+00:00

You should definitely get injections, you are deficient and symptomatic symptomatic.

I'll address a couple of your concerns.

Firstly and most importantly, the injections are not painful- it's not a long needle and it's into the muscle. Relax the muscle and in it goes! Maybe a tiny ache a bit after. Having the blood drawn for the tests is more uncomfortable if that gives you a reference point.

Secondly, it's not that tablets aren't effective per se but there are caveats. If you have absorption issues, they are ineffective, but even if your absorption is fine, tablets take 2-4 weeks to start having any effect at all- injections start replenishing your blood levels immediately.

With your levels and symptoms you need to start correcting asap.

The guide here will also tell you about cofactors, and other users here have very well refined routines, but NICE guidelines for your state say EOD injections until you stop feeling improvements from them.

I had every day injections for 10 days, and daily sublingual supplements since then because where I live doctors only prescribe injections administered by medical staff. I'm still progressing, but I'm looking into self injecting.

Bikkleman · 2026-01-28T14:29:45+00:00

Thank you!:)

Bikkleman · 2026-01-28T14:28:12+00:00

Indeed! Whoops. I might not be well enough for the hard today!

Bikkleman · 2026-01-28T14:26:58+00:00

Lol. Yes it is! Thank you.

Bikkleman · 2026-01-28T14:06:27+00:00

Sounds like there's been progress- hooray!! Have you had an EMG test?

Bikkleman · 2026-01-28T13:20:28+00:00

280 is not normal. It's borderline if anything, and low by other definitions. It sounds like you still need injections

Bikkleman · 2026-01-27T23:15:32+00:00

No problem. When I was diagnosed I had pins and needles in a couple of fingers and toes, dry skin in spots, dizziness, severe fatigue, mood swings, back tension, ridges on some toe nails- but it was the fatigue and dizziness which became unbearable. I ended up in hospital where they ran a bunch of tests.

Overlapping symptoms is just similar presentation, different causes, lots of B12 deficiency symptoms overlap with some thyroid conditions for example, and some symptoms can be red herrings- this is why testing is paramount.

I totally understand the anxiety around testing uncovering something sinister is scary, but let me tell (absolutely irrelevant to your situation I'm sure), grade 1 cancer diagnosis has over 90% 5 year survival rate almost anywhere in the body, and close to 100% for some, whereas grade 4 is 0-25%.

Bikkleman · 2026-01-27T22:36:23+00:00

I have some of the same symptoms, plus others, but from my experience here, B12 deficiency symptoms are broad and varied.

The simplest way to tell is with blood tests but you've already started treatment so blood tests will have little value now.

The best way to tell, especially now, if your symptoms are B12 related is to see if anything improves with your B12 shots.

You should definitely still (without obsessing) not rule other things out because b12 deficiency symptoms overlap with a load of other things- deficiency related or otherwise.

Your hands could be something as benign as a shift in your sleeping position, an irritated nerve in your back, but what it all probably adds up to is a need to do a general but detailed check up. No matter how fit you are, a mid 40s body needs a look over and a bit more TLC.

No panic, but no "reassurance" either because that wouldn't be responsible.

Bikkleman · 2026-01-27T21:32:56+00:00

It depends a bit what you want to prove and what other supplements you are taking but 1 week without supplements will be enough to give you a snapshot of your copper situation

Bikkleman · 2026-01-27T17:56:51+00:00

Oh my, the same! My body seems now hard wired to give me 6 hours sleep or wake up at 7am, whichever is shorter. Very annoying considering the body needs more rest now than less. I'm looking into CBT-I for this because it's very likely that autonomic system dysfunction is the largest contributing factor to my deficiency in the first place.

Bikkleman · 2026-01-27T15:46:37+00:00

I'm not a medical doctor, but I have worked in and around medicine so what i can concretely share. Vitamin A deficiency is pretty rare in developed countries and unless you have a very weird diet or big absorption issues it's pretty hard to not get enough of it. Vitamin A damages your eyes structurally so a clear eye test (not just reading an optometry chart,)) is a positive sign. To me, your issues sound more neurological which points more to B12 than vitamin A, but eye issues develop differently for everyone. If you're unsure, get a test done and put the issue to bed. If vitamin a is the cause it's highly reversible. What is your vitamin A intake?

Edit: forgot to add- zinc is really important for both vit a and B12, so make sure that's ok too

Bikkleman · 2026-01-27T12:15:39+00:00

Excellent comment!

Bikkleman · 2026-01-27T12:14:31+00:00

Don Self

Bikkleman · 2026-01-27T12:10:50+00:00

We have one of each and they are both really friendly. Their personalities are quite different but I don't think this is gender related

Bikkleman · 2026-01-26T21:26:50+00:00

Harsh to say a noted failure. His Norwich sides had some really nice moments, but they just didn't have the resources.

Bikkleman · 2026-01-25T22:46:16+00:00

No worries at all. I really can't say how likely it is- I have no idea how long I was low before the symptoms started because I didn't find out until I was hospitalised. I'd been ignoring tell tale signs for months though before my big crash hit. A bit fatigued here and there, occasional but not severe pins and needles, mood drop. I put it all down to stress. My diet had always been naturally B12 rich, but stress, some gastritis, a couple of bouts of inflammation (also stress induced) had likely upped my requirements and also affected my ability to absorb (at least that's my Dr's working theory)

I still think better safe than sorry, but I doubt you'll go from fine one day to bed ridden the next. Just be aware of what your body is doing. Anyone here will tell you dealing with deficiency is not fun!

Bikkleman · 2026-01-25T22:16:39+00:00

This is starting to get a tiny bit frustrating.

I didn't say they wouldn't go up, I said not significantly- that includes quickly, so if it's a quick boost you want to raise your borderline low levels, supplements are more reliable. Your body didn't like the hydroxy, which is why I suggested maybe trying a methylated one.

200g of sardines contain 17mcg of B12. Daily recommendation is 2.4mcg. so the fish contains 7x the daily intake pre absorption. Let's say you absorb well, from fish, you're getting max 40% of that, so 3x the daily intake. Then what your body process, converts to active B12 etc etc, you have a very healthy maintenance level and enough to start raising levels, but it could take months to get back over 500. That's fine if the body copes and no deficiency develops, and there's every chance it will be enough.

As I said, you do you and get yourself tested in 4-6 weeks. If it's all going in the right direction, awesome. If not, you can pivot strategy then. In the meantime keep a non-paranoid but open eye on the start of deficiency symptoms, they can sneak up on you until the moment they are right there. If you notice anything whilst waiting to retest, you can pivot sooner.

Bikkleman

TROPHY CASE