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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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26 Year Old With Fatigue, Muscle Weakness, Irritability, Shortness Of Breath. Diagnosed With Depression. Taking B12 Injections. Why?

I am a 26 y/o female. I had been experiencing fatigue , muscle weakness , irrability, and shortness of breath for over a year before finally going to a Dr. My CBC came back normal so the Dr diagnosed me with depression and said the results of my other tests would be back in a few days.the next day I got a call saying my b12 level came back low and I needed to come in for injections . Although its very uncommon for this to be caused by diet she automatically assumed that was the cause until I told her I had problems with diarrhea so she then did an esr which came back elevated (29). What could be causing the b12 defiency and e,evaded esr?
Mon, 8 Apr 2013
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Dietitian & Nutritionist 's  Response
Hi
Thanks to contact through Healthcare Magic.

Please observe that your Menstrual cycle does not create any problem. In concern to B12- Vitamin, please note as follows :

Vitamin B12 has many important functions in the body. It works with the B vitamin folate to make our body's genetic material. It helps keep levels of the amino acid homocysteine in check, which may help decrease heart disease risk, and it is essential to the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen through the blood to the body's tissues. But many people are deficient in this important vitamin.

Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency :

Vitamin B12 deficiency can have a number of possible causes. Typically it occurs in people whose digestive systems do not adequately absorb the vitamin from the foods they eat.
This can be caused by:

•     Pernicious anemia, a condition in which there is a lack of a protein called intrinsic factor.
•     Atrophic gastritis, a thinning of the stomach lining that affects up to 30% of people at old
age.
•     Conditions affecting the small intestine, such as Crohn's disease, bacterial growth, or a
parasite.
•     Excessive alcohol consumption.
•     Autoimmune disorders, such as Graves' disease
•     Long-term use of acid-reducing drugs.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can also occur in vegetarians, because the best food sources of the vitamin are animal products. Strict vegans (people who don't eat any animal products, including meat, eggs, or milk) are at greatest risk. Vegetarians who eat eggs and milk products are also at risk, because, on average, they consume less than half the adult Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin B12.

Women - 2.4 mcg
In case of Pregnancy - 2.6 mcg
In case of Lactation - 2.8 mcg

Babies born to mothers who are vegetarians may also be deficient in vitamin B12.
Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
A deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. A mild deficiency may cause only mild, if any, symptoms. But as the anemia worsens it may causes symptoms such as:
•     weakness, tiredness or light-headedness
•     rapid heartbeat and breathing
•     pale skin
•     sore tongue
•     easy bruising or bleeding, including bleeding gums
•     stomach upset and weight loss
•     diarrhea or constipation

Source of Vitamin B-12

Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products.

Symptoms of Elevated ESR level :

-Fever
- Infection
- Joint pain
-Headach
-Rash

Hope your query has been resolved
God Bless you
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26 Year Old With Fatigue, Muscle Weakness, Irritability, Shortness Of Breath. Diagnosed With Depression. Taking B12 Injections. Why?

Hi Thanks to contact through Healthcare Magic. Please observe that your Menstrual cycle does not create any problem. In concern to B12- Vitamin, please note as follows : Vitamin B12 has many important functions in the body. It works with the B vitamin folate to make our body s genetic material. It helps keep levels of the amino acid homocysteine in check, which may help decrease heart disease risk, and it is essential to the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen through the blood to the body s tissues. But many people are deficient in this important vitamin. Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency : Vitamin B12 deficiency can have a number of possible causes. Typically it occurs in people whose digestive systems do not adequately absorb the vitamin from the foods they eat. This can be caused by: • Pernicious anemia, a condition in which there is a lack of a protein called intrinsic factor. • Atrophic gastritis, a thinning of the stomach lining that affects up to 30% of people at old age. • Conditions affecting the small intestine, such as Crohn s disease, bacterial growth, or a parasite. • Excessive alcohol consumption. • Autoimmune disorders, such as Graves disease • Long-term use of acid-reducing drugs. Vitamin B12 deficiency can also occur in vegetarians, because the best food sources of the vitamin are animal products. Strict vegans (people who don t eat any animal products, including meat, eggs, or milk) are at greatest risk. Vegetarians who eat eggs and milk products are also at risk, because, on average, they consume less than half the adult Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin B12. Women - 2.4 mcg In case of Pregnancy - 2.6 mcg In case of Lactation - 2.8 mcg Babies born to mothers who are vegetarians may also be deficient in vitamin B12. Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency A deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. A mild deficiency may cause only mild, if any, symptoms. But as the anemia worsens it may causes symptoms such as: • weakness, tiredness or light-headedness • rapid heartbeat and breathing • pale skin • sore tongue • easy bruising or bleeding, including bleeding gums • stomach upset and weight loss • diarrhea or constipation Source of Vitamin B-12 Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products. Symptoms of Elevated ESR level : -Fever - Infection - Joint pain -Headach -Rash Hope your query has been resolved God Bless you