u/Open_Literature_1794

I have previously had low b12 (142ng), and was getting injections for 2-3 years back in 2021. My GP at the time however didn't record any result from the intrinsic factor antibody test they did. My current doctor said she can see that they did test for it, but she had to do it again so we know what the result is.

I didn't get an injection for around a year in 2023 (I have depression and was finding life hard to cope with, so not really taking good care of myself) but I suddenly lost strength in my hands/wrists and legs. For 2 weeks I was unable to walk at a pace any faster than a snail. I couldn't walk up and down steps or stairs. I was crying on the phone to the doctors about it and they didn't really seem to understand or care how badly I couldn't move/use my hands and legs. I asked if there was a possibility it could be related to the fact I didn't have the b12 injections for a year. I had an MRI to check I didn't have multiple sclerosis and my MRI was fine. They gave me a b12 injection and I started gaining back the ability to walk normally and strength in my hands/wrists. After this, they did a blood test, said I was fine and no longer needed injections.

Fast forward to 3 months ago - I started getting all the same symptoms back again. First was my eye twitching (I knew it as soon as this happened), palpitations, muscle twitches, muscle aches, feeling weak, even more exhausted than usual (i am always fatigued), brain fog, clumsy when walking, can't walk straight, memory problems, racing heart when relaxing/going to bed, trouble sleeping, trouble concentrating at work.

I requested a blood test and told them why i suspected it was low b12. Waited 2 weeks for appointment, 1 week for blood test results, b12 came back at 174. Made a telephone appointment as the results said to. Waited for 4 weeks for a telephone appointment to discuss blood test results. Explained my history over the phone as I knew I couldn't see any of it in my record, apart from under medications the injections were recorded, but nothing about intrinsic factor. Got prescribed high dose b12 supplements. Have been taking them for the past month. B12 level has gone to 496ng. I still feel fatigued, brain foggy, everything is still the same.

I'm still waiting to hear about the intrinsic factor result, but I am so convinced I have a deficiency and am not absorbing it correctly. I also am exhausted from waiting for so long without anyone trying to help get the levels up until 3 months after I first asked for help. The system is so frustrating

I'm almost praying that I need the injections, simply because I am so tired I want to give up with everything. I just don't know what to do if it isn't a b12 deficiency when I'm having all of the symptoms, and the injections really helped before