Could I have a B12 deficiency?

[amegriff]

Hello! I'm a 19 year old female, 5'9 and about 155lbs. Lately I have been experiencing very mild wooziness (kind of that feeling you get when you need more food, although I'm eating pretty regularly), very mild cognitive lapses and confusion (simple things like forgetting what I went into a room for or stumbling over my words - however, I think that I also might be hyperaware of regular, normal human things since I am so concerned), a faster heart rate (usually my BPM is right around 65 but lately I've been noticing 75 or 80), moderate anxiety, random but very mild and short pains in various parts of my body, and a shortness of breath. I have not noticed swelling in my tongue or changes in my skin tone.

I have freaked myself out 34 ways since Sunday about all the things this could be (cancer, brain aneurysm, etc.) but I am fairly active (college student who walks EVERYWHERE) and have no history of serious medical issues in my family, so lately I've been more rational about this. The one thing that seems most probable to me is a B12 deficiency. I am not vegan or vegetarian, but I have realized, especially now that I am experiencing these symptoms, that I just don't eat a lot of animal products. I usually eat about two or three eggs a day in the form of scrambled or boiled, but I'm learning there's actually not a ton of B12 (only 0.6mcg and recommended daily intake is 2.8mcg or something). And when I do eat animal products, it's usually cheese or chicken, both of which don't have much either, and both of which I only eat about 1x a week or so. Other than that I have a fairly grain and plant-based diet. I have not taken multivitamins very consistently and when I do/did they were children's gummies with not a lot of B12 in them.

I am seeing my GP in a little under two weeks (11 days, not that I'm counting) when I am home for the weekend, but I am reluctant to take a B12 supplement until then because I want to get tested for it. I will try to up my B12 intake until then just so I feel a little better, but I know nothing about the dosaging of this stuff and don't want to grab the first thing off the shelf that's labeled B12. Has anyone else experienced this kind of stuff? Does it seem probable that these are warning signs of a deficiency that could lead to more problematic conditions? When I had a CBC done in September 2016 for an unrelated condition, my MCV (something about the size of your RBCs) was 91 - I've read that the standard range is 78-98 and that mine is considered a "high normal." Could my condition have worsened since then? The diet I have described above has been pretty steady since I've been in school (~1.5 years).

[Lativ]

You sound like a very well-informed young lady with a little anxiety running 'round in your head! :)  It is possible that you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, because many people do these days and do not have a clue about it.  You can ask your doctor for the B12 test, but you will likely be told that you should take a multivitamin daily & increase the variety of your diet.  As with most nutrients, getting them through your food is the most healthy way, if possible.