u/7times7

I’m wondering if anyone here has experienced something similar because I’m planning to get properly evaluated for B12 deficiency, but I’m honestly scared of what treatment would look like if I am deficient.
The reason I’m investigating B12 in the first place is because I’ve been dealing with:

• Chronic fatigue that doesn’t feel normal (normal me does jiu jitsu 4x a week and works her @$$ off)
• Chronic, widespread body aches and pain
• Significant pain in my feet, which are probably the worst
• Pain that seems to travel from my feet into my knees and hips
• Lower back pain
• General muscle aches and stiffness
• Feeling almost flu-like after exercise, with way more pain and exhaustion than I would expect from a normal workout
• Overall feeling like my body hurts and is exhausted far more than it should be

I know there are MANY possible causes for these symptoms (a bitch has all kinds of gut issues) and I’m not assuming B12 deficiency is the answer. I just want to investigate it properly and either identify it or rule it out.

The problem is that I am EXTREMELY sensitive to B12.
When I say B12 gives me “jitters,” I don’t mean that I feel a little energized or wired. It is an absolutely horrible physical sensation. I get shaky and feel like I don’t have complete control over my body. My heart feels like it’s racing. I become extremely anxious and overwhelmed. I can feel weirdly sweaty, physically agitated, and sometimes I get to the point where I want to cry because I just want the sensation to STOP. Then my sleep that night can be terrible.

Same thing happens when I take caffeine as well.

Over the years I’ve tried different vitamins/forms of B12, including:
• Nature Made prenatal containing 5.2 mcg cyanocobalamin. Interestingly, I took this prenatal for years without a problem, but eventually I started reacting to it. I recently even tried dividing it into thirds and still didn’t feel good.
• A Designs for Health multivitamin recommended by my functional medicine doctor containing 500 mcg methylcobalamin per serving. I tried only about 1/4 of a capsule and STILL got the jitters.
• Seeking Health Multivitamin One containing 26 mcg total B12 as methylcobalamin + adenosylcobalamin.
I’ve also tried various methylated multivitamins over the years. Eventually I basically stopped taking multivitamins altogether because I hate this reaction so much. I haven’t regularly taken a multivitamin in years because of it.

Now I want to get properly tested for B12 deficiency and look at the additional labs recommended in this subreddit rather than relying solely on a serum B12 result.

But this is the part that scares me:
What if I actually AM deficient?

If my levels/testing indicate that I need B12 injections, how do you approach treatment when you are this sensitive to B12?

For anyone who had this kind of severe reaction to oral B12 before discovering a deficiency:
Did injections give you the same racing-heart/shaky/anxious feeling?

What dose did you start with?

Did you start with a full injection or were you able to start extremely low and work your way up?

Did you experience a significant “start-up” reaction when you began treating your deficiency?

If you initially experienced jitters, anxiety, insomnia, etc., did those reactions eventually settle down with continued treatment? If so, after how long?

And most importantly, if you were severely B12 deficient AND extremely sensitive to B12, what did your treatment actually look like?

Also, I did genetic testing and definitely do have the MTHFR gene.

Obviously I would work with a doctor on dosing and treatment rather than deciding an injection protocol based on Reddit. I’m mostly trying to understand other people’s experiences so I know what questions to ask and what I might expect.
Part of me hopes B12 deficiency could explain some of this chronic fatigue and body pain because then at least there would be something potentially treatable. But I’m also genuinely scared of finding out I’m deficient because the thought of repeatedly injecting something that could make me feel the way oral B12 does is terrifying.
Has anyone here been in this situation?

Just a heads up for anyone waiting on Cyclospora test results through LabCorp around the Atlanta, Georgia area.

I submitted my stool sample on July 13, 2026, and LabCorp is currently estimating that my results won't be back until August 10th. Nearly a month for a stool test is absolute insanity.

At this point, my doctor is probably just going to go ahead and treat me for Cyclospora rather than wait another couple of weeks for confirmation.

For anyone wondering, I've had diarrhea on and off since June 27. It got better for a short time and then came back much worse. I've been taking Imodium and Pepto-Bismol constantly just to keep the explosive diarrhea under control.

For context, I also have SIBO and chronic digestive issues, so my gut isn't exactly normal to begin with. I don't think this came from Taco Bell because I don't eat there. My best guess is that it came from a bagged salad at a fast-food restaurant. Since then, I've completely avoided uncooked foods and have been eating a mostly carnivore diet.

If you're in or near Atlanta, Georgia, and you're waiting on LabCorp stool testing, just know that it may take close to a month to get your results. Has anyone else experienced delays this bad? Did your doctor start treatment before the results came back, or did they wait for confirmation?

I've spent most of my life in what feels like survival mode.

I grew up in a cult (JW), and my nervous system learned very early that I always needed to be "on." I overthink like a mf. Add in years of health issues, relationship stress, financial anxiety, and constantly feeling like I have to earn love or prove my worth, and I don't think my brain has ever really known what it feels like to just... relax.

Recently, I started taking low-dose naltrexone (LDN), and for the first time in a long time, I feel noticeably calmer. It's like my brain isn't constantly scanning for danger every second. I know LDN isn't technically an anti-anxiety medication, but whatever it's doing has made me realize how exhausting my normal baseline has been.

Now I want to figure out how to make this change more permanent.

If I eventually stop taking LDN, I don't want to go right back to living in survival mode. I want to actually retrain my brain and nervous system.

I looked into EMDR because so many people recommend it, but I was quoted $300 per session by a local therapist, and I just can't afford that right now.

So I'm wondering:

• What type of therapy helped you the most? EMDR? Somatic Experiencing? IFS? Trauma-focused CBT? Something else?
• Did anyone find affordable EMDR, or were there lower-cost options that were still effective?
• Are there books, online programs, or courses that genuinely helped alongside therapy?
• How did you know you were finally getting out of survival mode instead of just having a few good days?

For context, I'm actually a very high-functioning adult. I own my own business, manage my finances, and people generally think I have everything together.

But internally, it's a different story. I constantly struggle with feeling like I'm not good enough, I have a scarcity/poverty mindset even when I'm objectively doing okay, and I often feel like I'm waiting for the next bad thing to happen.

I'm looking for treatments or approaches that are actually evidence-based and that people have personally found life-changing. Not just things that made them feel a little better for a few weeks.

I'd really appreciate hearing what's worked for you.

I get my hair cut about once a year at Great Clips and I swear this happens every.single.time I get my hair cut.

It’s always a different stylist. But it’s always something like: “So… have you talked to your mom lately?” or “How’s your mom doing?”

I always put on a fake smile and say “She’s fine!” But I’m sitting there thinking…

“Well… I haven’t spoken to her or seen her in 15 years because she shunned me after I left the f*ckety f*cking cult!”

I know they’re just trying to be friendly and make conversation. They have no way of knowing my situation. But it’s one of those questions that reminds me how many people assume everyone has a normal relationship with their parents.

I’m working on *not* holding my emotions in because I think doing so for the past 39 years has led to my health issues. Guess I’ll just be honest next time. Idk how honest, though. **sits down** “Can we not talk about my parents or family please? I’ll leave you a tip, I promise.” I hope this doesn’t come off as rude. I just hate feeling, I guess, somehow responsible for the situation…

Anyone else get that twinge of pain and twisted feeling in your stomach when people ask you stuff like that?

I get extreme jitters and anxiety from B12. I am so afraid to take it these days but I think my body needs it because my body aches feel better when I take it.

I used to take this prenatal for years until about 7 years ago when my body started rejecting it and I got the jitters really bad. I tried splitting it up into thirds recently and it was not good. I used to take it because it was a multi with the lowest B12 I could find in it. It has 5.2mcg of Cyanocobalamin.

My functional medicine doctor said I should take this multivitamin from Designs for Health. I took 1/4 of it and still found myself getting the jitters from it. It has 500mcg of methylcobalamin.

I've put a lot of information into ChatGPT to try and find something that will work for me but with no luck.

My MTHFR results are here.

I'm really stumped as to what to do and am dealing with chronic fatigue and body aches so it's difficult for me to do research. Is there a multivitamin that you recommend with very low amounts of methylcobalamin in it? I was thinking this one. It only has 26 mcg of methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin in it.

I feel like everyone talks about the emotional stuff, which is valid, don't get me wrong, but the practical part of it is what I struggled with initially with the emotions.

Things I had Wished I had Known:

Credit doesn't exist until you build it and you need to start immediately.

You probably have no credit history. That's not a problem, it's just a starting point. Get a secured credit card (you deposit $200–500, that becomes your limit). Use it for one small recurring thing like a streaming service or gas. Pay it off in full every single month AFTER they send you a statement that says it's due (not before) and pay it BEFORE or on the due date. Never miss. In 12–18 months you'll have a real credit score and real options. Don't wait on this. The day you leave, this is step one.

Your credit score affects everything you don't expect.

Landlords check it. Employers check it (yes, really). Car loan rates are determined by it. Insurance rates in some states are affected by it. Building credit isn't about debt. It's about proving to the world that you exist and can be trusted. Start the clock now.

Car dealerships are predators if you walk in unprepared.

Know your number before you walk in. Get pre-approved for a loan from a credit union or bank before you set foot on the lot. That gives you leverage and a real rate to compare. Never tell them your monthly payment target because that's how they hide the real cost of the car. Always, always, always negotiate the price first. Be ready to walk out. I absolutely love negotiating.

The first apartment is the hardest, and landlords know it.

No rental history means some landlords won't touch you. Go for smaller, private landlords rather than big management companies because they have more flexibility. Offer a larger deposit. Get a letter from an employer. If you can get a co-signer (a trusted friend or mentor), use one temporarily. Once you have one year of on-time payments documented, the next place is infinitely easier. I got super lucky with my first apartment because the apartment manager was the one who showed me the apartment and I mentioned some intelligent things like keeping all appliances and lamps on surge protectors because they can consume as much as 30% of their normal running electricity even when they're off so she pushed my application through and approved me. I never missed a payment.

Facebook Marketplace and thrifting is your best friend for furnishing from nothing.

I furnished my entire first apartment for under $300. People sell good furniture cheap because they're moving and don't want to haul it. Buy used. Sell when you upgrade. I still sell things on Marketplace it's basically free money sitting in your house. Be wary of roaches and bedbugs in furniture you buy. Inspect it carefully.

Bills don't manage themselves and nobody is coming to remind you.

Set everything to autopay. Every single bill. Missed payments destroy credit and cost you fees you can't afford right now. Put it on autopay and forget it. Check your accounts once a day until you're comfortable, then once a week. Budget apps are helpful for keeping track of this as well.

Learn to negotiate everything and know that most prices are not fixed.

Car price, rent on renewal, medical bills, phone plans, interest rates on credit cards after 12 months of good history. Most people never ask. You have nothing to lose by asking, and often more to gain than you'd expect. The worst they say is no.

You don't need anyone's permission to exist legally.

You can open a bank account, sign a lease, apply for a job, get a state ID, apply for a credit card all without anyone's knowledge or approval. If you were told you couldn't do these things, or that you needed someone's permission, that was the control talking. It wasn't true.

The harder stuff nobody says out loud

Leaving a controlled environment means you probably don't trust your own judgment yet. That's normal. It takes time to stop second-guessing every decision because you spent years being told your judgment was wrong or sinful or dangerous.

Here's what I learned: your judgment isn't broken. It was suppressed. It comes back with practice.

Make small decisions constantly. What do you want to eat? What do you actually enjoy? What do you genuinely think about something and not what you were told to think? These feel like stupid questions until you realize you've never been allowed to answer them.

The practical independence and the internal independence grow at the same pace. Every time you negotiate a bill, buy a car on your terms, get a job, or tell a landlord no, you're not just saving money. You're proving to yourself that you can navigate the world without someone controlling you.

That proof accumulates. It becomes who you are.

I'm thinking about putting together more of this like learning how to value yourself in relationships when the cult teaches you that you're not worth anything, how to invest your money, how to feel safe when leaving a doomsday cult, and the long term impacts that the stress of the cult can have on your health and how to prevent that (Currently going through hell with that myself).

I was a 5th generation JW and I lost everyone I knew when I left. I went through hell emotionally as an emotionally sensitive person and used fighting (muay thai and jiu jitsu) as ways of dealing with my feelings and telling myself that even as woman (JWs have zero respect for women) that I could do anything while also putting myself into survival mode to get through all the challenges of life. There are so many topics I would love to write about if this is helpful. So, if this is useful to you, please let me know in the comments.

This community helped me when I had no one and the least I can do is give some knowledge back to it.

My functional medicine doctor told me to get my primary care doctor to prescribe LDN for me. I am currently on 1.5mg of it.

I was told to take it for my SIBO/Possible autoimmune disease/Possible mold toxicity/Possible Lyme disease.

My primary care doctor wants to know how long I'm going to be on it so I asked my functional medicine doctor 3 times and haven't gotten a response.

Symptoms I would love to see subside are: lower body aches and pains. My feet hurt the absolute worst. I wake up every day and they feel like I've run a marathon the day before. My knees, hips, and thighs also ache. It's been like this every day for the past 6 months. I started with the functional medicine doctor in March and haven't felt any improvement in the pain.

Questions:

How long do people typically take it? Is it a lifetime thing or is it a period of time and you feel better and then stop taking it? I am worried that my functional medicine doctor is getting me to take it so my pain goes away and I feel better and they can say "I healed you!" and justify their astronomically high prices but not actually cure me.

I was reading about it impairing driving. What things do you notice while taking it that inform you you're driving is impaired? I also ride motorcycles. Should I avoid that while I am taking it?

I've had brain fog for months now and I read this could cause brain fog as well. How soon would you be able to tell you have brain fog? How can you tell it's causing it?

How do you know when to switch from taking it at night to taking it in the morning? I'm currently taking it at night and it's been 3 days (I stopped for 5 days because my functional doctor didn't respond to my questions for 5 days about whether or not I should be taking it). I don't seem to have any issues with nighttime dosage yet but I was curious as to how long people take it before they notice issues.

I can't find anything similar to it at all online. It's a 2026 V4R exhaust with headers off a brand new Ducati and I don't know where to find the price for it anywhere. I think the bike is so new that Ducati doesn't have it listed. Would anyone have any ideas on how to price it?

This isn't an ad and I'm not trying to sell it here. Just looking for insight.

For context, I have SIBO and h. Pylori we have both been treated with antibiotics and oregano oil, the H. pylori I have a negative test for. The SIBO I haven’t tested yet again.

I am suffering from extreme fatigue and body aches. I also have brain fog, dizziness, and blurry vision.

I am trying to figure out if I also have toxic levels of mold in my body. I was thinking about trying to take bentonite clay to see if it would help me feel better.

I did buy a home test kit from Amazon… the little petri dish ones. I plan on doing that sometime today. I’m just wondering if I can take a supplement just to see if that’s the problem and if so, remove myself from the mold area and then treat it.

So I’m trying to heal my SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth). I started tirzepatide 2 1/2 weeks ago. My doctor said to do a very low dose so I started with 1.67 mg. I did really well and lost all interest in food, but still ate.

The first day of injecting I got insomnia and anxiety, but it were off over three days.

After seven days, I injected the second dose, which was 1.8mg. I am 13 days away from that second dose. For the past few days, I’ve been dealing with horrible anxiety, insomnia, and depression for 4-5 days and on top of that a breakup from yesterday.

I feel like I need to get this out of my system as quickly as possible. And then if I do inject it again, I will inject an extremely low-dose like 0.3.

Does anyone have any experience detoxing quickly? I was thinking a sauna and drinking a ton of water with electrolytes. Or do I just have to wait? Also, does anyone have any experience injecting it for gut issues?

For reference, I am also injecting 0.33 mg of BPC 157 and TB 500, 0.33 mg of KPV, and 0.03 mg of Mots-C. These may also be contributing to my symptoms and therefore I’m going to stop those tomorrow as well. If I do continue, I will probably try one at a time.