Vitamin Deficiencies

I went to my GI doc today for the final results of my liver biopsy.  I do have Primary Biliary Cirrhosis and he has given me a med to help hopefully halt the disease in its tracks or at least slow the progression of the disease in my liver.  He is not sure if this is a primary altogether separate disease or lupus caused disease.  I am also in the middle of a bad flare and am hurting pretty bad.  Have given up on my rheumy for any help and have an appt next Tuesday with a new PCP whom I've heard is very thorough as far as diagnoses are concerned so hoping she can put me on the Plaquenil and painkillers I have been trying to get for almost a year now.

I have been depending on my family for a lot of help the past couple weeks and they seem to be accepting the news of the new illness much easier than they did the diagnosis last year of lupus.  I guess they can now see that it is not all in my head and that there truly is something attacking my body.  I've gone from caregiver to taker of care and am a little more comfortable with asking for help when I need it.  Never thought I would get to that point but as I live alone and still have to eat and stuff am relying on family to help with groceries and carrying stuff up the steps for me, etc.

I am wondering if anyone here has vitamin deficiencies.  The GI doc had me get a bunch of blood work done today checking for vitamin B12, D and A deficiencies.  They can happen with the liver disease and am wondering if it is a lupus thing as well.  He said it could be contributing to some of the intense pain I am having; evidently vitamin D deficiency can also cause muscle weakness and pain, etc.  If you do have a vitamin deficiency, are you taking supplements or are there dietary changes that can be made?

I have been on reading posts and hopefully soon will feel up to responding more often and getting more active again.

Thanks Barb.  I hope you are feeling better.  It is sooooo good to see that you are up to posting again.  You have in my thoughts and prayers.  How are you doing?

Thank you so much for replying so quickly.  I don't feel so alone now that I have you all to turn to with questions and for support.  I love you all.

Yeh the doc isn't sure if the vitamin deficiencies would be lupus related or just another thing to add to our everygrowing list of diagnoses.  Vitamin B12 shots?????  Oooooh I hate shots.  You'd think after all the blood work I've had to have I'd be used to needles but NOT.  I cringe and almost faint at the site of a needle.  I always have to be a big baby about getting my blood drawn and the girls that do it are very familiar with me and my skinny little veins and exactly what procedure to use to get the most amount of blood with the least amount of discomfort to me.  I think me fainting on them a couple weeks ago did it.  They had me lay down on a hospital bed before they did anything today.  Is there any other way to get the vitamin B12 besides injections?