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Can B12 Therapy Aggravate Thyroid Nodules In An Elderly Person?
Question: YYYY@YYYY
My 90 year old father began having health problems in 2007 (heart attack, cardiac stent, ulcer from Plavix, Omeprazole treatment). In Feb this year my 90 year old father's primary doctor said he has dementia. A referral to a neurologist discovered an increased homocysteine and he prescribed Metanx (which has B12 and Folate), which has produced improvement in his symptoms. I started reading a lot about B12. We have seen a number of specialists on our own because I had not been happy with his primary physician. Endocrinology found small "insignificant" thyroid nodules, Hematology found myelodysplastic syndrome in the blood smear. In his primary says he has atrophic gastritis. In Oct he started B12 shots, which also showed improvement. I have seen geriatric doctors who all point to dementia, and they don't seem to want to do anything because of his age. None of the doctors seem to respond to my comments about B12 therapy. Lately he has been having episodes of "hyper" behavior. My question before I go to any more doctors is can B12 therapy aggravate the thyroid nodules and should I pursue with endocrinology?
My 90 year old father began having health problems in 2007 (heart attack, cardiac stent, ulcer from Plavix, Omeprazole treatment). In Feb this year my 90 year old father's primary doctor said he has dementia. A referral to a neurologist discovered an increased homocysteine and he prescribed Metanx (which has B12 and Folate), which has produced improvement in his symptoms. I started reading a lot about B12. We have seen a number of specialists on our own because I had not been happy with his primary physician. Endocrinology found small "insignificant" thyroid nodules, Hematology found myelodysplastic syndrome in the blood smear. In his primary says he has atrophic gastritis. In Oct he started B12 shots, which also showed improvement. I have seen geriatric doctors who all point to dementia, and they don't seem to want to do anything because of his age. None of the doctors seem to respond to my comments about B12 therapy. Lately he has been having episodes of "hyper" behavior. My question before I go to any more doctors is can B12 therapy aggravate the thyroid nodules and should I pursue with endocrinology?
Brief Answer:
Seek endocrinology opinion
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM with your health care concerns.
Despite your father being 90 years old I do not think we should immediately wave off any diseases because of his age. The thyroid nodules are probably benign but you and your doctor don't really know that for sure. I think having the nodules at least investigated with labs and with possible fine needle aspiration, where they get a small sample of the nodule, maybe in order.
The Vitamin B12 injections will not interfere with the nodules so you can proceed with the injections.
I hope this answers your question. Please contact HCM again with you health care concerns and questions.
Seek endocrinology opinion
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM with your health care concerns.
Despite your father being 90 years old I do not think we should immediately wave off any diseases because of his age. The thyroid nodules are probably benign but you and your doctor don't really know that for sure. I think having the nodules at least investigated with labs and with possible fine needle aspiration, where they get a small sample of the nodule, maybe in order.
The Vitamin B12 injections will not interfere with the nodules so you can proceed with the injections.
I hope this answers your question. Please contact HCM again with you health care concerns and questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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