Suggest Treatment For Lightheadedness And Weight Loss While Having Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Posted on Mon, 13 Jun 2016

Question: Hi , I am a vegetarian and have been feeling light headedness,weakness,weightloss and exhaustion.I visited a physician who asked me to get blood tests done which came back vitamin d and vitamin b12 deficiency (vit d - 6,vit b12- 168).

She has given me following prescription -
1 shelcal HD(daily),1 folic acid(daily) medicine,1 liv 52(daily),1 nuerobin forte(daily) ,1 tayo 60k(1 in week).

Have taken 1 arichotal vitamin d (6 lakh units) injection and 5 rejunuron injections in total 2.5 weeks.

Its been 3 weeks but I still feel little weakness and light headedness now and then.I am taking 1 revital daily to support daily energy for office work else I can't feel energy in body.

I am worried about weight loss factor wherein I was 76 and now is 72.5 in total 2 months and is fluctuating...some times it increases and then it goes down in next 2-3 days.

Is weight loss due to vitamin deficiency,also how can I rule out pancreatic cancer ( I read that this also has weight loss and light headedness as a symptom).

Also how long do you think it will take my vitamin d and b12 levels to reach normal levels.

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It can take two months for vitamin D and vitaminB12 levels to become normal

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing in to us.

I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.

1. If your doctor has examined you in detail and your blood tests show only vitamin D and vitamin B12 deficiency then it is likely to be the cause for your weakness.

2. Your weight loss is probably from nutritional deficiency and you should take a 2000 kcal daily diet with recommended protein, carbohydrates and fat. To imncrease muscle mass, you should take a high protein diet including soyabean and green vegetables.

3. The fluctuation in weight can be because of fluids and sweating during the summer. Please drink adequate amount of water and fluids . Taking less water can cause weakness.

4. Your vitamin D level is low and you should go out in the sun daily in the morning from 8.30 to 9.30 am and will help in maintaing vitamin D level.

5. Your medicines will take 2 to 3 months to treat the vitamin D and vitamin B12 deficiency. You might feel weakness for some time and after two months please do the vitamin D and vitamin B12 blood test again.

Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Naveen Kumar

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (29 minutes later)

Hi,

I have uploaded by reports...1 report is of 1 April 2015 and rest of 2reports are after 7-8 days post initial report (only for thyroid,urine analysis and liver) as earlier report showed few skewed parameters(recommended by GP to be done).

Can you check the reports and give your analysis.

Thanks, XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Your doctor is treating you properly, please follow up if tiredness persist

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.

1. The earlier reports show abnormal values for folic acid, vitamin D, Vitamin B12, blirubin and TSH and urine leukocytes. Other values are nearly normal.

2. There might have been some temporary increase in bilirubin which is normal in later test. This is not a significant problem. The urine leukocytes are normal.

3. Therefore your doctor is treating you properly and treatment for your problems requries 2 to 3 months.

4. If you are feeling too tired and there is fever with weight loss then you can discuss the requrirement for a chest x ray and ultrasound scan abdomen with your doctor. If there is sudden high fever then a peripheral blood smear test is recommended. However, investigations are to be done only if your doctor feels the need after doing clinical examination.

Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Naveen Kumar

Follow up: Dr. Vivek Chail (10 hours later)

Thanks for your analysis.Its very reassuring.

I get health anxiety very easily and since my family has cancer history so I am always worried about cancer on minutest of health issues.For self assurance and symptom diagnosis to avoid anxiety can you help me with most common body symptoms which shows up incase of probable cancer and secondly what parameters indicate a possible cancer in blood report.

I know that final diagnosis will always be done by doctor but my anxiety always kicks in with minutest of health issues and I need a corner stone of medical assurance I.e blood report etc.

Answered by Dr. Vivek Chail (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
It is recommended that you get cancer screening done in cancer hospital

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for writing back with an update.

1. Your anxiety is understandable. It is important to know what cancer runs in your family and you can take preventive measures and attend cancer screening clinic at a hospital near you.

2. The cancer screening clinic will do basic tests and dtetailed tests if required to look for any signs of cancer. This is done in many cancer hospitals.

3. Please locate any well known cancer hospital in your area and get cancer screening test done. Cancer screening includes basic blood tests, chest x ray, ultrasound scan abdomen and detailed tests like CT scan, endoscopy and colonoscopy if there are indications.

Hope your query is answered.
Please do write back if you have any doubts.

Regards,

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Deepak