Could It Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses

This book saved my life & my sanity. It brought knowledge and clarity to what I thought were disparate symptoms and has begun bringing over 3+ years of suffering and constant worry to an end. Like so many of the case studies presented in this book, I was misdiagnosed or dismissed by doctors and specialists for years. Armed with the information in this book, I sought out a new GP and requested the author's recommended tests. I am so glad I was forewarned that many in the medical community may oppose testing because my requests were initially met with skepticism. Knowing this could happen, I was prepared to stand my ground & insist the tests were ordered. My B12 came back at a critically low level and my homocysteine and methylmalonic acid were elevated. These 3 results confirm a B12 deficiency. The book is extremely helpful at explaining the importance and special considerations of each of these tests. After that, my GP started taking me seriously however she had a knowledge deficit as to how to treat it or what to do next. Once again, I was so grateful for this book. I was able to show my doctor case studies and treatment plans & have been taking SC injections of B12 and am feeling so much better. B12 is essential to the formation of healthy red blood cells and necessary for DNA replication. The symptoms of a B12 deficiency can manifest in any or all bodily systems. As the author points out, it is often mistaken for other illnesses & only the tests listed above can rule it out. But you will need this book to understand what your test results mean and for advice on what to do next. There is so much misinformation out there about B12 deficiency, most doctors and many hospitals do not use the most up-to-date information or sufficient B12 test ranges so if you are looking for honest, well explained answers from medical professionals, please buy this book! It just might save you, or a loved one, too.

"Could It Be B12" by Pacholok RN,BSN and Stuart DO is a well written treatise on the complex subject of B12 insufficiency and the gross symptoms caused by the paucity of this vitamin. The authors describe the classic deficiency symptoms like pain, tingling, numbness, weakness, tremors, muscle spasms, paralysis, crippling nerve damage and vision changes. Most people don't know that levels of B12, Magnesium and COQ-10 decline with age. This decline can be due to many things like poor diet, nutrient absorption problems, conditions like leaky gut, diverticular issues, Crohns Disease and much more. Part of the problem is that physicians don't always test for these vital nutrients in standard exams. A reasonably complete exam by the gastroenterologist or family primary care physician should cover the classic blood tests for these vital nutrients. Even if the right nutrient tests are taken, patients don't always achieve mid-range or upper levels of the nutrient concentration. Some may have normal levels of the nutrients - but barely normal. Another problem is that some patients require an IV hookup with the nutrient delivered intravenously into the bloodstream in a saline solution over an hour or more period. Some patients can benefit from a sublingual liquid solution of B12 where others benefit from a vitamin pill. There will be a few patients who benefit exclusively from the intravenous IV solution taken slowly. Occasionally, patients may absorb the B12 nutrients through the daily diet. For instance, Vitamin B12 is found naturally in animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs or milk. Overall, "Could It Be Vitamin B12" is a tremendous resource for patients and their physicians. The book is written well and the coverage of this subject is considerable for a large constituency of readers.

Amazing book! Like others, I could not get a diagnosis for shortness of breath, fatigue, palpitations, weakness in my legs (like walking in mud up to my thighs), general weakness, loss of balance for years, progressively lazy tongue and a bunch of other symptoms. Doctors just blew me off and wouldn't even address my symptoms except to send me to specialists. I was researching pernicious anemia for my mom when I found out about this book. It is an incredibly easy read, extremely informative and solution oriented. Armed with the information gleaned from this book, I am contacting all types of people who are symptomatic of Alzheimer's and M.S. and recommending that they A. Get their B12 serum levels tested and B. Get this book if the levels are below 450 A B12 deficiency is serious because you lose the myelin sheath that covers the nerves. Do yourself a favor and get this book! Then buy it for your doctors. There is a chapter in the book directed to the medical profession. I am so very grateful to the authors who have given me my life back!!

Enlightening read! Would highly recommend that at least one member of each family to read the book. It is an eye opener regarding the malpractices prevalent all across the world especially in India. Doctors are not taught /trained /ignorant /greedy/casual towards B12 deficiency and varied manifestation from cardiovascular to osteoporosis to mental illness and so on. Tests to measure B12 deficiency are inappropriately prescribed and the reference range /levels are obsolete. Strongly recommend to read. Many health issues that doctors won't address, you may get an answer here. I wish all the doctors read this book and inculcate to have best practices in place.

ottimo

I purchased this book because my dog is actually B12 deficient due to a pancreatic disorder. I give my dog oral supplements that include intrinsic factor - i.e. they are much much more effective than any B12 supplements you can buy at your drug store. I started researching B12 and became fascinated with the many ways a B12 deficiency manifests itself in the human animal. I stumbled across this book on Amazon and purchased it. This is an amazing reference that allows a person to determine if they might have a B12 deficiency or possibly in a loved one. Included in the book is an extensive list of symptoms. Bearing in mind that symptoms are also results of a deficiency and many are very serious and need treating before permanent damage is done. Symptoms are ALL of those things we are too quick to attribute to "getting older". There is a list of medications that can contribute to deficiency and a list of risk factors for deficiency. The book also discusses the exact route of B12 absorption and what many things along the way can go wrong. Also discussed are the various testing methods for measuring B12. Case studies are given...examples of people with horrible diagnoses that ended up being a B12 deficiency. In some cases, these people are permanently affected because they weren't diagnosed in time. People who end up in an Alzheimer's ward that could have been cured had a B12 deficiency been diagnosed in time. People in wheelchairs with neuropathies caused by B12 deficiency. Simple medical tests can be given that can prevent this illness and possibly much of the serious medical illnesses that drain our resources, both financially, emotionally and physically. As the review states, this is a book that should be on every Doctor's reference shelf. A must read for anyone working or living with an aging population or in any sort of medical profession. Also a must read for anyone wanting to take charge of their own health care.

Encore un exemple de connaissances "perdues" au cours des dernières décennies... L'anémie pernicieuse n'est pas la seule conséquence d'une déficience en vitamine B12. Le métabolisme de cette vitamine est complexe, et un régime incluant des produits d'origine animale n'en garantit pas forcément un niveau suffisant. Pire, les effets neurologiques d'une carence effective peuvent survenir en absence de signes hématologiques, et mimer la sclérose en plaques, la maladie d'Alzheimer, l'autisme... Et quelquefois une carence avérée est pris comme l'effet d'une maladie neurologique plutôt que la cause des symptômes observés (encore une fois, l'œuf versus la poule). Bien documenté avec références vérifiables tirées de la littérature médicale. Pour ceux qui lisent l'anglais, ce livre est un "must".

Hay mas epidemias de falta de nutrientes, pero la de la B12 es de las mas comunes. Es una epidemia relativamente facil de resolver, pero los que tienen las herramientas no les interesa. El libro no solo explica muy bien los problemas asociados a su deficiencia y posibles formas de solucionarlo, también la ceguera del sistema sanitario que prefiere no ver lo obvio a costa del sufrimiento de millones de personas.