B12 reaction

[Rronnie]

Hi!  I've had thyroid problems a number of years with thinning eyebrows, weight gain, extreme reaction to cold, etc...  Went into the doctors and was placed on Xanax and told my symptoms were due to menopause.  Anyway my newest doctor with the VA took much bloodwork and has finally placed me on Synthroid and is still investigating why I have low thyroid.  My lymph nodes in my arm from elbow up (auxillary) are swollen on my right side so have mammo/sonogram scheduled in two weeks.  I was so excited this week when the mail came from the VA with my thyroid drugs and B12 supplement, 1000mcg of cyanocobalamin.

I received them Wed afternoon so thought I'd take my thyroid meds Thursday morning but take the B12 immediately.  Within 30 minutes I could not keep my eyes open and was sound asleep until the next morning...very deep sleep like I'd taken many sleeping pills.  The last few days I take the thyroid med in morning and the B12 right before I go to bed since it will put me out anyway.  Sometimes I travel driving to my moms straight through 23 hours and do not feel as tired as the B12 affects my body right after taking it.

I take no other drugs, over or under the counter at this time..fyi. I've looked on the web and see no such side effect for oral B12.  Why is it doing it and should I keep taking them or alert my doctor there is a problem?  Thanks in advance!

[Rronnie]

My TSH is 7.35....range is .46 to 4.7.  My Free T4 is .98....range is .89 to 1.76.  My Free T3 is 2.9....range is 2.3 to 4.2.  I get tested again in February (8 weeks) to see how the Synthroid is doing for me.  I have an appt for mammo/sonogram on 13 Jan and also a dietian appt to help me understand how to get healthy again through my diet.

No, my sister does not have Celiac Disease.  She has had Pernicius anemia for about 30 years.  Right now they have given her Nexium to help rebuild cells in her stomach lining since it is almost all gone.  The doctor can see the organs behind it when viewing her Cat Scan.  Not Good!

Anyway, the dietician has been working with her on her Heme and Non Heme foods.  She loves tea but it blocks iron so she should not have it at a meal....later in the day is ok so that her body can get the needed iron from the food.  She has learned alot and she is seeing better numbers on her Ferriden, B12, etc...  Surprised you don't need to watch your diet?

Well, have to run.  I will try to get tested for both Graves and Hashimoto from my doctor in February.  Thanks again for responding and hope you have a great week!

[Barb135]

Please post the actual levels of your Free T3 and Free T4, when you get them.  If they are "low normal", that could be a lot of your problem.  With your TSH at 7.35 and low normal thyroid levels, that's enough to make you feel crappy.

I don't watch what I eat, with the pernicious anemia - that's a lack of intrinsic factor in the stomach, which prevents absorption of vitamin B12.  Does your sister by any chance have celiac disease?  

If you have 2 sisters with Graves Disease, then by all means, you need to be tested for both Graves and Hashimoto's; some people get both, and autoimmune diseases do tend to run in families.

[Rronnie]

Hi again!  Thanks for your reply.  Was hoping someone would tell me don't worry that my body would be able to handle the B12 better in a few weeks (smile) but guess not.  I will get with my doctor on my strange reaction to the B12 supplement.

No time today but I will read up on Hashimoto Autoimmune disease then.  My TSH is only 7.35 and my Free T3 and Free T4 are low normal.  Thanks for the info.  Will try to stop by my doctors office to get copies of my last couple of blood works.

Sorry to hear you have Pernacious Anemia.  I have two sisters with Graves Disease and as young women they had their thyroid out.  Now they take thyroid meds for life.  Also I have one sister that has Pernacious Anemia.  Her stomach lining is very thin right now and is taking meds to regenerate cells in this area.  It is such a frustrating disease whereby you must watch everything you eat so carefully.  So many things you can ingest that end up blocking the iron from iron enrich foods...I feel for you!  Hope you have a good support system.

Thanks again for you input.  I will read much on Hashimoto in the next few days.  Have a great day!

[Barb135]

You should check your supply of B12, along with the instructions for taking - it should not make you sleep like that. B12 should actually give you energy; maybe you shoul have taken it sublingually?  ......... I have pernicious anemia and inject vitamin B12 weekly and it keeps me going.

If you could post your most current thyroid levels (TSH, Free T3 and Free T4), along with reference ranges, since these vary from lab to lab and must come from your own report.  

The easiest way to find out why you have low thyroid levels would be to test thyroid antibodies to confirm whether or not you have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. There are 2 tests for antibodies - those would be Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (TPOab) and Thyroglobulin Antibodies (TGab). Hashimoto's is an autoimmune disease, in which for some reason the body sees the thyroid as "foreign" and produces antibodies to attack it.  Hashimoto's is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the developed world.

If you are convinced that the B12 is causing your issues, you should contact your doctor for a reason.