Article explaining it better than me!

The Right Kind of Vitamin B12 is Vital for Treating Deficiency

B12 Update

Forgot to mention yesterday about the B12 update. I probably forgot because in still deficient in B12!

I brought the 1000mcg  tablet from Holland and Barrett a few weeks back. A dose of 1000mcg should be plenty to top me up though considering im still middle of the range. In fact we only need 2.5mcg a day. The problem most people have is in the absorption. So the higher the dose the more likely people are going to get it into the system.

However theres a 3 different types of B12 one is methyl-cobalamin, another is hydro-cobalamin, the other is Cyano-cobalamin.

The problem is although all are B12, or its scientific name Cobalamin, the first part of the name refers to what type of compound it is. And can completely affect its absorption, and therefore effectiveness.

I think the problem Im having is that the Holland and Barrett variety is Cyanocobalamin. It's the Methylcobalamin variety that I need.

So will update you again when I order and get the new type (only available from overseas)!

One of those days?

Well today has been one of the worst days I've had in a long time. Probably since starting the t3. I hadn't realised quite how well I'd been, until how bad I've felt today.

I'm exhausted, depressed, fatigued, sleepy fog headed, drained just completely knackered to be honest. I feel like all I want to do is curl up in a ball and sleep.

There is two reasons that I can think of as to why this is. The first is that I've had an awful cold for the last 10days and it's finally catching up on me.

I perhaps did too much yesterday. Since my hours at work have been cut a few weeks back I now only do one day a week, woo! But even this news wasn't enough to override my previous anxiety free life. But today I can feel a wobble.

Anyway yesterday was my day to work, which I walked to. Added to that I had errands to run whilst I was in town, and then to the leisure where I swam a mile. This could of all been a little too much for my body to cope with. And it thrown a strop. Maybe on days like yesterday it needs an increase in the t3?

The other reason is my stomach. As you may be aware of or not. Most important bodily processes occur in the gut. Such as conversion of t4 to t3, and absorption of vital vitamins like D and B12.

Well I think it is something I ate, and my system has been a little 'off' today. About 30mins to an hour after taking my tablet I had to rush to the toilet. So I'm thinking the half tablet that should have got me through the afternoon got flushed out of my system. And that's why I'm feeling so low.

However it could all just be a coincidence, and I might be just be having one of those days! We'll see what tomorrow brings.

One month on T3

Well its been 4 weeks on the t3 and not really had any proper improvement or changes since a few weeks back.

Lots of my symptoms have got better, some have got worse. The positives I've noticed are my anxiety has disappeared! My depression almost eradicated. I have loads more energy. My mind is more focused, less stressed. I sleep very well, and through the night. Complexion and skin have improved greatly. Nails stronger. Constipation gone.  No muscle cramps.

However to couple with that, a lot of my symptoms have also got worse. I ache all over, all the time. Numbness of extremities is a lot more frequent.  Common Headaches (not migraines like I used to have). Severe fatigue and tiredness (can't stay awake later than 10pm). Increased hunger. Joint stiffness. 

Seeing as its hasn't been the miracle I had been hoping for, I am looking into possible reasons or alternative causes.

My first instinct is that my doses are wrong. However my doctor has advised against upping my dose because at my 4week check at the doctors my blood pressure had raised slightly from 90 to 95. However a home one revealed my bottom line was only 73.

My next port of call is Vitamin B12 deficiency.  Something I'd heard of, but never really knew the symptoms. Apparently I should have.

Although it may have eased my conscience being vegetarian for about 6yrs, from a health point of view it probably hasn't done me any favours.  However, I didn't know B12 was so important. I also didn't know you only found it in animal products. Obviously I have eggs, dairy and occasionally fish. But probably not enough to compensate.

Yes it might be my fault for not finding out. But its nothing you generally get told. People ask you how you get your protein and Iron, both of which I get plenty of from non animal sources. But not once has someone asked how I get my Vitamin B12!

Not even the doctor. Whom I went to 4 years ago with every single B12 deficiency symptom going. From aching joints, sore mouth, muscle weakness, depression, memory problems and fatigue. They tested my B12. It was even low, 280 in a ref  range of 179 -1164. But they did nothing. Didn't even ask if I was vegetarian.

It is only now, 4 years later, when I ask the doctor I find out how low it was. Because it was 'in range' I was considered 'normal'. The fact that was the low end of the range wasn't even thought about.

I have been retested this week. My current level is 537. So the doctor has called that 'normal'. The fact that in Japan (where they have the lowest dementia rates in the world) the low is considered 550 doesn't even seem to matter.

Added to that, like all lab tests, they are not taking into account they have no ref range for me personally. How do they know i don't need 900? The answer is they don't.

I know i feel better than i did 4 years ago. To be honest i felt like death 4 years ago. Things have improved a lot. I think mainly due to my own constant research and new trials. Like the coconut oil, like the sunshine, like the elimination of fluoride. They've all helped, but not completely cured me.  If my Vit B12 levels have nearly doubled, then maybe they need to triple to make me feel properly well.

So now it falls to me to self medicate. I am currently researching what the best tablets are to buy, and the best way to take them. I'll update  when treatment begins.