Art of Life/Donna Parker

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A Vitamin Deficiency Can’t Be That Bad, Right?

Last August, I found myself not knowing how to get home sitting on the ground crying, while I waited for my daughter to come and pick me up.

My car was not working, I had an errand to run and I thought I will just take the bus. I got to my destination fine, finished what I needed to do and walked to the bus stop. It was then that I realized that I did not know which corner to stand on to get home and the busses only came by every hour. There was not a soul around, nor a nearby business to go to and so I called my daughter. I felt totally defeated.  Yes, I called my doctor the same day for an appointment, which was going to be in a couple of weeks away and yes my symptoms got worse, by the time I got there I thought I had Alzheimer’s.  After a few medical tests, it I was relieved. It was great to learn that I had a vitamin B12 deficiency and not the awful things I had imagined.

What harm can having too little of vitamin B12 do? Consider this: Over the course of two months, a 62-year-old man developed numbness and a "pins and needles" sensation in his hands, had trouble walking, experienced severe joint pain, began turning yellow, and became progressively short of breath. The cause was lack of vitamin B12 in his bloodstream, according to a case report from Harvard published in The New England Journal of Medicine. It could have been worse — a severe vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to deep depression, paranoia and delusions, memory loss, incontinence, loss of taste and smell, and more. A vitamin B12 deficiency affects approximately six percent of American adults under the age of 60 and almost 20 percent of people who are older than that.

A B12 deficiency usually develops over an extended period of time, usually months to years. The symptoms may start out mild or barely noticeable at first and worsen overtime. B12 plays a role in so many different functions in your body and it can manifest in many different ways and cause a wide array of symptoms that can sometimes make it difficult to diagnose. The following symptoms are particularly common:

• Fatigue and tiredness,

• Difficulty concentrating

• Weakness

• Constipation or diarrhea

• Loss of appetite

• Weight loss

• Anemia

• Numbness or tingling and/or pain in the hands and feet

• Muscle weakness

• Difficulty balancing

• Depression

• Confusion

• Memory loss

Soreness of the mouth and/or tongue

Vitamin B12 is a powerhouse. It helps make DNA, nerve and blood cells, and is crucial for a healthy brain and immune system. Your metabolism would not run smoothly without it. But B12 is not like other vitamins. It is only found in animal products like eggs, meat, shellfish, and dairy. Up to 15 percent of people do not get enough B12, and they more likely to be vegetarians, or other digestive issues, or be an adult over 50.

Diagnosis

While an experienced physician may notice the symptoms and be able to detect a vitamin B12 deficiency however; you will need a good interview and physical exam, and a blood test to confirm the condition.

Treatment and Recovery

Treatment usually consists of supplementation, but the type of supplement you need depends on the severity of your deficiency and what the underlying cause is. According to Harvard Health, a severe vitamin B12 deficiency can usually be corrected with either regular vitamin B12 shots or high-dose B12 pills or capsules. If your deficiency is on the milder side, an over-the-counter multivitamin or B complex supplement is usually enough to do the trick.

When is the best time to take vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12 are water-soluble vitamins, which means you need water to absorb them. It is recommended to take water-soluble vitamins on an empty stomach with a glass of water. And since B12 can be energizing, the best time to take vitamin B12 is in the morning, so it will not affect your sleep

How long will it take to recover from B12 deficiency?

Once you begin treating your vitamin B12 deficiency, depending on the severity, it can take up to six to 12 months to fully recover. It is also common to not experience any improvement during the first few months of treatment.

I am blessed. I feel like myself again.

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