Gray hair--checking B-12 levels

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/1/2002 5:30:20 AM Eastern Standard Time,

victoria_dragon " <victoria_dragon writes:

 

When I was on the B12 shots for the CFIDS, I also had to get my > folic acid

> level checked regularly along with my B12 level. They

> wanted to make sure that the B12 shots had not lower the folic acid

> level. The folic acid level was always good in my case. Which may

> have been because this was still in my craving leafy greens period.

 

Could you please tell me how these levels (B-12, folic acid) are checked with

tests? My allergist recently had me add B-12 shots because of my fatigue,

but did no test first and did not mention that folic acid levels could go

down as a result (when I was pregnant my folic acid levels always went down

and I had to supplement. I am supplementing some folic acid by using a

B-complex, but I am now wondering if this is enough (or too much). That is

why I would like to know more about what types of tests can be done.

 

Also have you ever had any trouble with sulfites on foods? I recently was

eating some dried fruit and had some chest tightening. I have been having

some of that previously, but attributed it to the high mold in our humid area

(very allergic to mold). Anyway, I looked it up and found out that this time

it might have been some reaction to the sulfur dioxide or sulfites on the

dried fruits. Evidently there is also a sulfur oxide molecule in sulfa drugs

(even thought they are not the same as sulfa in themselves) and there is some

problem for some people with breaking down that in the liver (some sort of

missing or low enzyme). I am very allergic to sulfa as well. Also at one

time I tried MSM and found that instead of making my allergies better they

made them worse and now I am starting to understand why. I think that in

addition to staying away from gluten foods and dairy that watching out for

added sulfites (and this seems to be pretty ubiquitous) in foods (sulfurs

also occur naturally in foods) will have to be something else I am careful

about.

 

I am noticing now that I avoid dairy and wheat that if I inadvertently eat

some I am getting diarrhea almost immediately whereas in the past I would be

constipated from ingesting it. Perhaps the real culprits in some of my ill

health are now being revealed. If only it were not so hard to just go to the

store to buy wholesome food. Honestly, what are they doing to our foods? It

is appalling when you think of it. No wonder so many of us have problems.

 

Anyway, thanks for any insight you might give me.

 

Sarah

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

> Could you please tell me how these levels (B-12, folic acid) are

checked with

> tests?

 

Blood test. I used to have to get several tests done at once, and the

doctor just checked off everything he wanted checked. B12 and folic

acid were two of the things.

 

>My allergist recently had me add B-12 shots because of my fatigue,

> but did no test first and did not mention that folic acid levels

could go

> down as a result (when I was pregnant my folic acid levels always

went down

> and I had to supplement.

 

One thing to be careful about with B12 injections is to get a brand

that does not use a mercury preservative. Also, be careful of the

dose. If one gets too much over a long time period, one can develop

elevated red blood cell counts and symptoms of polycythemia vera. I

did, but in my case it's not certain if it came from the B12 shots or

living at a high altitude. I was on 1 cc of B12 twice a week for a

very long time.

 

BTW, one can give B12 shots to oneself once the doctor's nurse shows

you how to do it, and once you get the first one in the doctor's

office to make sure you don't react negatively to it.

 

Most people know about the role of B12 deficiency in certain

neurological problems, but B12 also plays a role in circulation of

blood. Without enough B12, high percentages of nondiscocytes are

produced. These are misshapen, inflexible red blood cells that have

trouble making it through the smallest capillaries. (See work of

L.O. Simpson, MD.) Part of the reason B12 relieves fatigue is it

improves circulation. BTW, Simpson found the highest percentages of

nondiscocytes in people with CFIDS.

 

The B12 helped my fatigue a lot, but the magnesium injections helped

even more. Are you noticing any relief of the fatigue?

 

> Also have you ever had any trouble with sulfites on foods?

 

I've never had problems with sulfites.

 

> I am noticing now that I avoid dairy and wheat that if I

inadvertently eat

> some I am getting diarrhea almost immediately whereas in the past I

would be

> constipated from ingesting it.

 

This sounds like Dampness problems, and a weak Spleen.

 

>If only it were not so hard to just go to the

> store to buy wholesome food. Honestly, what are they doing to our

foods? It

> is appalling when you think of it. No wonder so many of us have

problems.

 

It is appalling. My older relatives who followed more natural diets

were a lot healthier than the younger generations are.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Victoria

[Guest guest]

-- In Chinese Traditional Medicine , " victoria_dragon " <victoria_dragon@h...>

wrote:

 

> One thing to be careful about with B12 injections is to get a brand

> that does not use a mercury preservative. Also, be careful of the

> dose. If one gets too much over a long time period, one can develop

> elevated red blood cell counts and symptoms of polycythemia vera. I

> did, but in my case it's not certain if it came from the B12 shots or

> living at a high altitude. I was on 1 cc of B12 twice a week for a

> very long time.

 

Thank you for this warning. My husband is very tired, so I asked if his B-12

injections could be raised to 2x per week (@1cc each). I can see this dose

may be a problem over time, but we are at sea level so perhaps it will be

less of a problem. I am wondering how long is too long? In other words how

long before I need to press this doctor to do a blood test for B-12 levels

(since he did not even do a baseline--this seems rather strange if it is so

easy to do).

 

>

> BTW, one can give B12 shots to oneself once the doctor's nurse shows

> you how to do it, and once you get the first one in the doctor's

> office to make sure you don't react negatively to it.

 

Yes, we do our B-12 shots at home as we live a three hour drive from this

doctor, allergy injections for me also. I asked if there was any mercury as

a perservativie and the office said no, so I hope they know what they are

talking about.

 

> The B12 helped my fatigue a lot, but the magnesium injections helped

> even more. Are you noticing any relief of the fatigue?

 

Well, somewhat I think. The doctor stressed that energy would improve from

using methylcobalamin injections, not the more commonly used cyabocobalamin.

The major thing I am noticing is that the incessant tingling I was

experiencing in my feet and legs is going away. I also think that avoiding

gluten is helping this sensation too--I started avoiding gluten first and the

symptoms got better, then the B-12 has helped the rest disappear. Also my

feet are staying warmer at the time of the pericardium (7-9pm) and triple

warmer (9-11 p.m.). Maybe this is a result of the blood cells improving

shape so circulation is better?

 

About the dairy and wheat and weak spleen--I am sure this is part of my

problem with these foods, but perhaps not all. Dampness has been a problem

for a long time, and yet until I eliminated wheat and milk I did not have any

diarrhea. Now if I eat them this symptom is more obvious, whereas before I

had constipation (with dampness).

 

Anyway, I am sorry it has taken me a while to get back to you. I thank you

once again for your answers to me. The information about what to watch out

for with B-12 shots is very informative. I am less than certain the doctor I

am going to is aware of the possibility that there is such a thing as too

much B-12. He is the one who suggested I take magnesium orally. He told me

to take some magnesium made by Solgar, I think it was magnesium gluconate,

but since I am never sure if tablets will digest, I got a powdered form of

magnesium citrate which dissolves in water. Probably this is not the best

idea from an allergy standpoint, but I seem to be tolerating it after working

up to bowel tolerance. I now take two teaspoons per day. So far I have not

noticed that it is giving me a lot more energy, though some of the edema in

my legs has improved. Perhaps magnesium shots would be better?? (I do not

think the doctor has a clue, really).

 

Your forum is always very interesting. East or West side, I feel it is a real

help to many to find relief of symptoms. I wish that it were always possible

to approach all symptoms from just the Eastern TCM standpoint, but I was

treated for a long time by a very old fashioned TCM practitioner who did not

like any Western medicine or supplements. Still he did not totally cure my

kidney yang deficiency (hypothyroidism/adrenal fatigue) or my spleen (too

much dampness) or my edema. Even after taking many TCM formulas some symptoms

from these areas remained. At such a crossroad I think many of us cannot

continue to feel so terrible. Therefore we resort to at least partial

Western treatments while continuing to learn more about how to eat Eastern

style to relieve symptoms (such as I am learning here and from some TCM

dietary books). I am grateful for your discussions of some of the Western

protocols you have tried for your symptoms.

 

Thanks again, Victoria.

 

Sarah