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B-12 deficiency?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Tallgirl on
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No, but I have heard this before. When I look at the B vitamin foods, I know I am low in eating those...
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Permalink Reply by Wynter GS on
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no but i would like to know about this.. should i start taking B 12?
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Permalink Reply by Karen Smith on
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It has to be given through injections to do any good. You need to have a blood test to see if you are deficient.
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Permalink Reply by Patricia Hutchings on
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Yes Iv heard of this, its a form of Anaemia called Pernicious Anaemia. I thought I had this but have shown OK in this years blood tests, so Dr wont do another test for a while.
Heres a webpage on it:
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/anaemiab12.htm
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Permalink Reply by Preciouz on
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I was diagnosed with pernicious anaemia over 10 years ago, and have had alopecia for over 25 years. It was very severe - spasticity of the limbs, tiredness, memory loss, unsteady gait, tingling in the spine amongst other symptoms. My legs would go in the opposite direction to where they would normally go when walking, I would end up falling over in the street and not be able to get up without assistance, it was awful. I eventually was seen by a specialist and had to have several blood tests and a bone marrow examination before it was confirmed as pernicious anaemia.
Whenever I eat foods with B12 in it, it leaves my body as waste because my bowel doesnt produce intrinsic factor which helps facilitate the vitamin being absorbed into my blood system. It also strips away iron from the blood which also doesnt help. It appears that I have had this condition from birth and was so deficient, I was not aware until my central nervous system started to break down and I was close to losing my life.
After doing some personal research, I then found out that pernicious anaemia is an auto-immune condition. I cant help but think that if this condition was found sooner, maybe I wouldn't have developed alopecia from the age of 8. I do remember as a youngster, whilst they were trying to treat my alopecia, they did mention that I was lacking in B12 and I was taking the vitamin orally which clearly didnt work and now I know why.
After being diagnosed with the anaemia, I had to have B12 injections every other day for several weeks to build up my stores and then the doses was reduced to once per week and now one every 3 months. I also had to take iron tablets and folic acid tablets. Whilst all the other symptoms have gone, I hoped that my hair would grow back but it didnt. I guess the damage has been done now. I may be wrong but I do believe that there is a connection between alopecia and pernicious anaemia.
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