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B12/folic acid defiency

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Posted 5/8/2012 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
For a long time I have been borderline with B12/folic acid deficient. I think I finally crossed the borderline because I have been extremely fatigued, tingle/painful tongue and I even developed an eye lid twitch. So I bought a B-complex vitamin with folic acid to see if it will help. I just started it today so I am hoping I see some improvement soon. For anyone that had this sort of deficiency, how long did it take while on supplements did you notice an improvement?
Posted 5/8/2012 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
I've been b-12 deficient for years - before my UC diagnosis. I had to have loading doses of injections daily for one week, then weekly for 4 weeks, now I just do monthly but a few times over the past few years my dr. has had me do weekly doses to keep my levels up. I believe I am one who cannot absorb the b-12 from food, so supplements did not work for me. I have tried the sublingual b-12, where you put a tablet under your tongue and it's absorbed. I'm not sure how much those helped.

In addition to the fatigue (which seems constant for me, sigh.....) I know my B-12 is low when my tongue feels funny. I can usually tell about a week before I'm due for my injection. I wish I could get more frequent injections again, I'd rather be on the high side of normal than low.

Good luck.
Posted 5/8/2012 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the reply :) I'm hoping the supplements will be enough. They believe my defiency is from my 6mp.
Posted 5/9/2012 2:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sherry, I'm just starting back on my injections. but I was low in DHEA and you should read on that in coralation to UC, it might help. I'm taking 15mg at night (most people says it gives them energy and take in the morning, but not me:) ) . I have terrible fatigue too! OH Also, IRON I have to supplement with that too!

 Lyme's maybe my problem cause of my fatigue, but probably a combo of that and UC. Hope the supplement works for you.

Posted 5/9/2012 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
I had blood work done and my doc said I was decient in b12 and d3. I started taking both and I am feeling more energetic. I started to feel an improvement within a few days.
Posted 5/9/2012 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
Since I have CD and it's common for CDers to not be able to absorb enough B12 via food alone, I have to supplement with it....I had tingling fingers and that was my first sign of low B vitamin absorption...my doc had me do injections for 3 months then weaned me on to B12, 1200 mcg once/day and no more issues since.
Posted 5/9/2012 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all :)

I've been borderline for a long time but not enough to warrant intervention by the docs. They have been just keeping an eye on it. But I can tell when my B12 gets low-the tingling/painful tongue is my giveaway. I've only had that happen one other time and I took B12 supps for a few months and did fine. But I didn't have the associated fatigue from the deficiency at that time. So this is new to me. This fatigue has been unreal! Just the act of folding laundry can make me feel like I ran a marathon. I can tell that the B-complex is already working. I'm still fatigued but my eye lid twitch has eased - before it was constant for the past 2 weeks, it would literally twitch so bad it would clamp my eye lid down for a split second. And my tongue is starting to feel normal'ish again.
Posted 5/9/2012 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
Key is being on the right kind of B vitamin, just because your tongue feels normalish doesn't mean you're out of the woods, I wouldn't leave it much longer...as my GP explained to me, the tingling is the first signs of permanant nerve damage, you don't want to mess with that.
Posted 5/10/2012 5:32 AM (GMT 0)
My gastro tested bloods last week & my B12 came out 400 units above the standard range. Sherry, sorry I can't donate this excess to you, LOL! I take a Centrum Silver multivitamin daily, which seems to keep all the essentials within range for me except for Vit D, where I generally test low. / Old Hat (31 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
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