Yesterday i was diagnosed with B12 deficiency.

result of B12 were <74 (normal range is >131)

I'm not to sure if that is slightly deficent or what. He gave me a shot i go back in two weeks for another and then every month thereafter.

My question is does this have any conection with Graves disease, or radioactive iodine(was treated with this)?

My GP didn't go into detail as to why i have a deficiency. Just gave me the shot and to come back. Should i be exploring what is causing this?/

Thanks..

Hi!

Funny - I had mine checked last month and it was at 74 - my doctor freaked out - its the lowest mine has ever been, and I have had low b12 for years now. 74 is extremely low from what the doctors tell me. Have you recently changed your diet or anything? Your doctor should send you for a Schillings Test to see if you lack the Intrinsic Factor... If you are missing it, you will probably have to continue with shots... I personally am not missing the Intrinsic Factor, so we are going on three years now of trying to figure out why my b12 is so low... I'm not sure about the Iodine or anything - never heard of that before. Has your B12 been tested in the past? (ie what is your level usually?) Are you a vegetarian?

I am getting mine tested again on Thursday - here's hoping its not 74 still! I have been taking sublingual B12 - 1000 mcg a day... you could try taking those (not necessarily that high a dose).

Good luck! Sorry i wasn't much help.

No change in diet. I'm 26 years old, been going to the doctors for 3 years with very weird debilitating symptoms. He finally did a thyroid panel one year after. Came positive for Graves disease (severely thyrotoxic). So we assume it was due to that. Got Radiation to ablate my thyroid. Now I am very Hypothryroid. Still going to the docs cause some symtoms just didn't fit with the thyroid disorder. So by fluke he gave me the B12 test. Never been tested before so i can't compare labs.

thanks for the quick reply,
Nicole

Hmm... they tested me for thyroids - but found nothing. They always find nothing with me... Well i am only 27 too... but i would definitely make sure your doctor checks your b12 regularly as a deficiency can lead to serious nerve damage... Not to mention some weird autoimmunes - for example, last year when my b12 was really low i developed 'harold spots' all over my body, not to mention several other really annoying 'problems'.

Talk to your doctor.

Good luck! i feel for you...

what are harold spots?

Harold spots are just these weird spots that you can get all over your body... they range in size from a little *** to ones as large as a nickel... i was covered in them for about a week... My doctor said it was caused by my poor immune system at the time - she just gave me some cream to put on the spots. They didn't hurt and they weren't itchy - just ugly really. I started with one spot on the back of my neck, within days my entire torso was covered in them... (i shouldn't have said all over my body since i didn't get them on my face nor my limbs)...

Your Dr should be checking for the reason behind the low B12. I have pernicious anemia and was diagnosed back in 97 after being low for several years and now I have irreversible nerve damage for not getting treatment soon enough(thanks to a uncaring female Dr)and I've been giving myself injections every 2 weeks and this is for life unless they come up with a new treatment. Some people can raise their levels by eating high b12 foods and taking supplements but if you are one of the people who lack intrinsic factor you can not absorb this vitamin through your stomach, it has to bypass it and that is why we need to take injections along with sublingual tabs. It would benefit you to seek a neurologist as it is his specialty, a pcp doesn t look at this level any different than he looks at a wart, no biggy really.