WHY B-12 IS A MUST!! (AND ALL THE OTHER VIT'S)

I wanted to post why VITAMINS ARE IMPORTANT!! I want to make sure that the info is out there to point out why we HAVE to take all of our vitamins.


I know it was the start of 2007. The date I just recently found out to be March 3rd. From this point forward all I know is what I have been told. I guess I colapsed at home..in front of my kids. Im not sure about time lines or specifics either. But it goes that my sister called to talk with me. She realized something was wrong. I was rambling and not coherent. She sent her son over to check on me and he found me on the floor. I was rushed to the hospital and I was dieing. Yes..Dieing. My family was told that I may not make it.

From that point on it has been a battle. I was hospitalized and bed ridden and hallucinating. I could not (and still can not) feel my legs or arms. I was seeing things and thought men on stilts were trying to kill me. There are so many stories that I could tell of what I thought was reality. I know one..and I believe it was a sign at just how close to death I was. I remember seeing my deceased mother standing at the foot of my bed and telling me "NO"! She told me that it wasnt my time and that there was too much left to do. Take it as you will but I believe that she was telling me that I couldnt die yet. I was so confused by what I was seeing that I wasnt sure who was alive and who had died. I was told that my aunt and a couple of cousins were visiting me. They were telling me that they went to a movie. I said.."yeah..so-and-so (my cousin who had died) was telling me about it". Well needless to say everyone thought I was pretty crazy. LOL After a ton of tests and consultations my family had to decide what my care would be for the future. Since my physical and mental state were so fragile they decided that it would be best to place me in a long-term care facility.

This was the start of my recovery. This part is also blurry. I couldnt figure out why my family was putting me in a basement. Yes..I thought I was in a basement. Even though I was in a large facility and my bed was next to a window. It took me a while to figure out that if I could see the sky..I was not in a basement. I entered the facility completly bed bound. I am so grateful that my family put me there..even though Im not too sure I was grateful then. Because of the type of facility it was I was started on occupational and physical therapy 2x a day. At times it was torture. We take so many things for granted when we have full use of our minds and bodies. I was started with simple things...like giving myself a sponge bath..brushing my teeth and hair. Yeah..that bad..lol..things we take for granted. Soon I was learning how to transfer from my bed to a wheelchair. How to use a transfer board..how to use a pole to lift up and move to a toilet. I was taught how to stand again and use a walker. I was in this facility for a couple of months.

I should mention that through out this time I had the support of my wonderful family. I am a single mom of 3 kids. Thankfully I have a family that was willing and able to care for them. After a couple of months I was released from this facility and went to stay with one of my brothers. I left in a wheelchair. I had a walker and numerous other things to help me physically. I am able to now..almost 2 years later walk on my own although I am still in a lot of pain and still have no feeling in my legs or arms. I am on a lot of medications and still battle with defeciencies. Mainly B1 and B12..although now Im struggling with my iron too.

I have not yet touched on the mental side effects of the lack of vitamins. I mentioned the hallucinating but what I was left with is memory loss. This may be the hardest part of all. I pretty much lose my memory day to day. If I knew it before I became ill I still know it. Anything new I do not retain. So that means I dont remember christmas or birthdays. I know they happened I know what days they are but I retain no specifics of the ones since my illness. So--if I do not get any of it back, and the doctors do not know if I ever will, that means I may not remeber my kids graduating..thier weddings..birth of thier children.

So as you read my profile..think about what and who you hold dear. When you think about how daunting it is to take your vitamins..or just how important are they..I want you to think about me. Not for pity..but for a reminder of all that you want to achieve with your weight loss and the life that you want to lead for yourself and your family.

God bless you and continue to bless you and your family!! 

Did you have any symptoms before your colapse that someone could look for who may be Vit B-12 deficient?

Praying for your continued health.

Ms Shell

Yeah I did have a lot of symptoms. I was exhausted for one. I had trouble shopping and climbing the stairs in my house. I also had a lot of what I though was heartburn. Everything I ate hurt and I started to throw up a lot.

I can not stress enough that if anyone thinks they are having issues that could be vitamin/wls related to see a doctor that knows about our bodies and special needs. One of my biggest mistakes was to just go to a Dr. that I basically pulled out of a hat.

Thanks for the prayer.

Wow, thanks a lot for sharing that with us. I'm sorry you had to go through that and I will be sending positive vibes throughout the rest of your recovery. I was just asking in two posts here about b12 deficiency. My levels at the moment are 220 and I wanted to know if that was too low(I know it's low but my PCP didn't emphasize on it so I moved on). I've been on point with my vitamins but apparently I am doing something wrong as I am anemic and my b12 turned out like that. I guess I should do something I just don't know what. That's why I finally made an appointment with my surgeon in three weeks.

I honestly do not know what the levels are supposed to be and what is low or high. There are a lot of others here who know what the numbers should be. Maybe you can start a new post asking.

How are you getting your B12 in now? It has to be either with shots or sublingual. I personally do both but that is overkill for most people. Seeing your surgeon is probably the best thing. Keep up with the vitamins and use sublingual B12 until you see the Dr.

I know now what levels should be. I had done some previous research and then I was adviced by some lovely people on my other posts what the normal range levels should be so I have an idea on what I'm working towards.

I was taking my b12 in pill form along with my other Bs. For some reason or another I turned to that form after having them given to me in shot form right after surgery. I think my old PCP had told me that I didn't need to do the b12 shots anymore the last time I went to his office, he's also the one that told me that I didn't need calcium either. I have a new PCP now...he has different views...I'm listening to this one now, lol.

I'm seeing my surgeon in three weeks so hopefully things will get back on track for me.

Once again, I hope everything keeps on turning out for the better on your end. Keep us updated on your condition :)

You need to start taking the B12 right away. 900's is the high of "normal" range, but getting into the 1200 to 1500 range isn't going to hurt. You are TOO low and need to get started. It is cheap and readily available.

I went to the pharmacy and bought some sublingual b12's this morning, I was taking them in pill form so I guess that's why my body didn't bother to absorb it. Thank you so much for the reminder. I figured I was low but didn't know how low and how serious it could've been. Hopefully my levels will start getting better I just hope it doesn't take too long...

I have already told you that the B12 range is 160-950 and you need to be closer to 950 than 160. 

I know you ALREADY told me what the levels are according to your source. I believe I ALREADY thanked you for that just how I thanked every one  else that replied to my previous posts. Maybe you misunderstood my reply to this original poster or maybe I didn't word it right. I told her that I had made other posts relating to B12 deficiency because I believe my levels are low and thanked her for sharing her story with us because that was a big eye opener to me on what the consequences can be with having a low vitb12 level or any other vitamin for that matter. That is all. No need for hostility. Thank you once again for your very useful input on my previous post(s). Have a nice day.