B12 deficient

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in Aug., 2010 at the age of 46. I had a mastectomy (left side only) with no lymph nodes involved. I declined chemotherapy and tamoxifen. I am currently taking zoladex injections every 3 months, scheduled to end in December. I have all the symptoms of menopause that basically came on over night when I started the zoladex in February, 2010. I heard about the iodine protocol in November, 2011 and am currently taking 50 mg with all the supporting supplements. I have had a few detox symptoms but they were manageable with the salt loading.

I saw my oncologist last week and was telling her about my short term memory loss and difficulty concentrating which she said would be from the zoladex. She did some blood tests and wanted to check my B12 and vitamin D levels. The B12 level came back showing I am deficient in B12. She suggested I take 1000mcg which I have started. I am clueless as to why I am deficient, as my diet is pretty much healthy. Just wanted to get someone's thoughts on this.

Thanks,

Deborah Long

[Guest guest]

Stress will chew up all B's in your body very quickly. So will a major illness.

Buist, ND HC

B12 deficient

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in Aug., 2010 at the age of 46. I had a mastectomy (left side only) with no lymph nodes involved. I declined chemotherapy and tamoxifen. I am currently taking zoladex injections every 3 months, scheduled to end in December. I have all the symptoms of menopause that basically came on over night when I started the zoladex in February, 2010. I heard about the iodine protocol in November, 2011 and am currently taking 50 mg with all the supporting supplements. I have had a few detox symptoms but they were manageable with the salt loading.

I saw my oncologist last week and was telling her about my short term memory loss and difficulty concentrating which she said would be from the zoladex. She did some blood tests and wanted to check my B12 and vitamin D levels. The B12 level came back showing I am deficient in B12. She suggested I take 1000mcg which I have started. I am clueless as to why I am deficient, as my diet is pretty much healthy. Just wanted to get someone's thoughts on this.

Thanks,

Deborah Long

[Guest guest]

My stress level is good. Are you saying that I may have an underlying illness not detected, or this is still effects from the breast cancer?

Thanks for replying!

Deborah

B12 deficient

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in Aug., 2010 at the age of 46. I had a mastectomy (left side only) with no lymph nodes involved. I declined chemotherapy and tamoxifen. I am currently taking zoladex injections every 3 months, scheduled to end in December. I have all the symptoms of menopause that basically came on over night when I started the zoladex in February, 2010. I heard about the iodine protocol in November, 2011 and am currently taking 50 mg with all the supporting supplements. I have had a few detox symptoms but they were manageable with the salt loading.

I saw my oncologist last week and was telling her about my short term memory loss and difficulty concentrating which she said would be from the zoladex. She did some blood tests and wanted to check my B12 and vitamin D levels. The B12 level came back showing I am deficient in B12. She suggested I take 1000mcg which I have started. I am clueless as to why I am deficient, as my diet is pretty much healthy. Just wanted to get someone's thoughts on this.

Thanks,

Deborah Long

[Guest guest]

It could be from your BC or it could be from an underlying issue. You could have poor gut health. The body has something called and intrinsic factor that helps to absorb B12. But if your gut is missing this then you will have issues with absorption. They make an intrinsic factor B12. I do B12 Injections as oral products never helped much.

Buist, ND HC

B12 deficient

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in Aug., 2010 at the age of 46. I had a mastectomy (left side only) with no lymph nodes involved. I declined chemotherapy and tamoxifen. I am currently taking zoladex injections every 3 months, scheduled to end in December. I have all the symptoms of menopause that basically came on over night when I started the zoladex in February, 2010. I heard about the iodine protocol in November, 2011 and am currently taking 50 mg with all the supporting supplements. I have had a few detox symptoms but they were manageable with the salt loading.

I saw my oncologist last week and was telling her about my short term memory loss and difficulty concentrating which she said would be from the zoladex. She did some blood tests and wanted to check my B12 and vitamin D levels. The B12 level came back showing I am deficient in B12. She suggested I take 1000mcg which I have started. I am clueless as to why I am deficient, as my diet is pretty much healthy. Just wanted to get someone's thoughts on this.

Thanks,

Deborah Long

[Guest guest]

--- At 10:05 AM 19 03 2012, Deborah Long wrote:

>

>...... She did some blood tests and wanted to check my B12 and vitamin D

levels. The B12 level came back showing I am deficient in B12. She suggested I

take 1000mcg which I have started. I am clueless as to why I am deficient, as

my diet is pretty much healthy. Just wanted to get someone's thoughts on this.

>

Deborah,

B12 is absorbed from the digestive tract only when there's enough " intrinsic

factor " , which is only made by " parietal cells " within the stomach.. Healthy

parietal cells also make all of the hydrochloric acid, that is required to

digest foods, especially (in this case), the high fat, cholesterol & protein

foods (dairy, meat, eggs, etc.), that are among the foods containing the

highest levels of active B12.. ( " Vegan foods " contain " false " B12 analogues,

that can block " active B12 " .)

The problem...?

Both intrinsic factor and stomach acid can become deficient, due to a

relatively common " autoimmune condition " :

The stomach's parietal cells can be damaged by an " autoimmune attack " that's

triggered by an infection with some types of Helicobacter pylori (the ulcer

bacteria). The parietal cells often don't avoid permanent damage, unless

the H.pylori bacteria are eliminated with antibiotics relatively early in

their assault. However, most often, there is no " ulcer problem " , and no

stomach pain. No warning signs or symptoms appear until far too late. Like

when an unexpected B12 deficiency is " accidentally " detected... When this

situation is uncovered, tests for an active H.pylori infection are warranted,

to possibly prevent other unwanted developments.

In your case, with an apparent B12 deficiency while on a B12-sufficient diet,

these " possible " conditions call for further testing, done in the interest of

avoiding, limiting, or " correcting " full-blown, autoimmune Atrophic Gastritis

(that requires life-long hydrochloric acid replacement with meals) -- as well

as autoimmune Pernicious Anemia (that requires life-long B12 replacement).

( Also, this testing will establishing your " certifiable, proven conditions " ,

to avoid future malnutrition, such as in the event of an unexpected hospital

stay, or other " emergency event " , where undocumented claims of " invisible "

conditions might simply be ignored, or " nutritional supplies " confiscated.)

The following tests are used to identify the specific problems:

An at-home, " rough gauge " of your stomach acid -- the " baking soda test " :

from - http://www.drdebe.com/stomach-acid-assessment.html

" To perform this test: mix one quarter teaspoon of baking soda in eight ounces

of cold water, first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything

except water. Drink the baking soda solution. Time how long it takes to belch.

Time up to five minutes. If you have not belched within five minutes stop timing

anyway. ... If your stomach is producing adequate amounts of hydrochloric acid

you should probably belch within two to three minutes. Early and repeated

belching may be due to excessive stomach acid. Belching results from the acid

and baking soda reacting to form carbon dioxide gas. " ... (Not belching within

five minutes is a " rough " indication of hypochlorhydria, i.e. insufficient

stomach acid. This condition, if confirmed, will require that sufficient

" betaine HCl " supplements are taken with almost every meal.)

Here are some laboratory tests, to discuss with your doctors:

1. Anti-parietal cell antibodies - elevated in Atrophic Gastritis (low stomach

acid is likely).

2. Anti-intrinsic factor antibodies - elevated in Pernicious Anemia (B12

malabsorption).

3. Serum vitamin B12 level - good for a start; further testing is often needed.

4. Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) - the test for B12 functional deficiency (done after

a " B12 supplement fast " ).

5. Serum Gastrin level - if elevated and no stomach pain, indicates stomach acid

deficiency.

.... Do the first 5 tests together, to diagnose Atrophic Gastritis and/or

Pernicious Anemia.

6. The Heidelberg Capsule test - accurately measures and documents acid-making

ability in the stomach.

7. Helicobacter pylori " Urea breath test " - a good test for current, active

infection in the stomach.

8. Helicobacter pylori stool test - for current, active infection anywhere in

the stomach or intestines.

9. Helicobacter pylori antibodies - avoid non-specific tests that indicate

current--or--past infections.

10. PCR test for Helicobacter pylori - the most accurate test, but probably the

most costly.

---

Hopefully, some of this will help you find an answer to your question:

" ...why I am deficient, as my diet is pretty much healthy. "

If your doctor isn't too knowledgeable about " all this " , then you might

interview some nearby " Gastroenterology specialist " physicians...

Bill

...