Re: B12 -- was Too skinny--not gaining weight

[Guest guest]

Testing B12 levels is a separate test, and isn't part of the routine blood work

we generally get at our primary care physician once or twice a year. It is a

blood test, though.

My neurologist tested me for the first two years, then my new primary care

physician took over. He orders it along with the other general blood work so it

appears in the lab results I'm given. But it is a separate test, so I give a

separate vial of blood for it (I asked the nurse who was taking my blood

samples.)

Originally my neurologist discovered it as he was doing a work-up following my

initial visit. From what he told me, many people are low in B12 and since it

affects the nervous system he checks the B12 level along with all of the other

things that can show up in the blood.

With a primary care physician you'll have to request the test of B12 levels, it

won't be routine.

Kim M.

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> > Annie

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> > My B12 level when I was first tested as deficient was 192. My neurologist

caught this, not my primary physician or gastroenterologist. He checks my

levels annually. Normal B12 levels are considered to be 500 to 1000, but the

range may vary slightly depending on the lab.

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> What test tests for B12 levels?

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> Is it a normal blood test with B12 checked off on the form or something else?

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> Mara

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