Remember just a few weeks ago I had a really bad 5k experience where I thought I was going to have an aneurism? Remember how I wondered if maybe not being able to run a mile without stopping after 3 years of training might be a red flag that something is wrong with my health? Remember how I started to wonder if my documented B12 deficiency might be responsible for my poor exercise endurance? And remember how I pledged to get my B12 levels back into normal range to see if that would make me feel stronger and healthier?
Short answer: I DID, AND I FEEL AMAZING.
And now the longer story…
Shortly after that awful race, Jeff and I started doing some research on B12 and how much it might cost for me to start a round of injections with my doctor. That led us to finding some B12 injections you could order and administer yourself at home. I was definitely a little squicked out by the thought of giving myself a shot, but it’s nearly impossible to overdose on B12, so being able to skip the cost of the doctor’s visits and still get the benefits sounded like it was worth a try.
Just before we committed to that though, we found some B12 in pill form that came in an even higher dosage than the injections. It was very well reviewed with lots of people claiming to have corrected their deficiencies using it. I was a little skeptical that I could get results quickly with a pill, but we decided to give it a try first and then move onto injections if I had no luck with it.
Guys, I felt better during the first day of taking these pills! It seriously feels like a flip has been switched on in my body.
I now wake up every morning feeling completely alert and ready to hop out of bed, where previously I never felt well rested and could easily take an hour or more to ease into wakefulness. I have so much energy throughout the day and have gotten so much more done. Previously, I was extremely unmotivated and could easily waste a whole day just trying to make myself go do the things I needed to do, now I get bored and fidgety if I don’t find outlets for my energy. I’ve done a ton of cleaning and reorganizing in the last two weeks and have tackled projects I never could get around to. Jeff has also commented to me that I he thinks I look less tired and that my moods have greatly improved.
I think the biggest change I’ve noticed though is that I get frustrated a lot less. One of the symptoms of B12 deficiency is memory impairment, and while I wouldn’t say that I experienced much forgetfulness, I have definitely had a problem over the last few years with not enjoying learning anymore or having to think about anything too hard. I would get frustrated very quickly with even minor problems and had a harder time expressing myself clearly. I hated having to think, and it was getting worse. But since taking B12, I have noticed a huge improvement in my ability and willingness to think through things, and I’ve become a bit of a chatterbox now that I can completely think through an idea and express it clearly.
With how well I was feeling at home, I was excited to see if my performance in the gym improved too. I guess I had the silly idea that I would suddenly be able to run a couple miles without walking right off the bat. Of course that’s ridiculous, but there has been a definite change. I was able to cover nearly 3 miles on the treadmill the other day breathing through my nose the entire time. I have never run a distance like that without panting through my mouth for most of it. I call that a win, and maybe now that I’m not so out of breath I can actually train to become a better runner in time.
It is hard to believe that this teensy little pill has made such a huge difference for me, especially considering that I fully expected it to do nothing.
I’ll do a post soon on what I’ve learned about B12 and how our bodies use it. But for now, I just wanted to fill you guys in on what’s been going on with me and to show any of you out there who may have had persistent problems with extreme fatigue that a B12 deficiency could be what’s holding you back. It has proved to be at least one of the major pieces of the puzzle for me, and supplementation has made all the difference.
I’m so happy to hear all this, Alayna! That is so wonderful that you found a clear answer, and fortunate that your first “treatment” has you feeling worlds better already. Good call on choosing the methyl form. I hope one day I can have your level of energy again! In the meantime, wanna come clean my house? 😉
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Lol! I am definitely cleaning everything in sight these days.
While I’m glad to find that supplementing B12 helps, I’m sure it’s not all that’s going on. I’m probably not processing iron or folate properly either, so those are two more things to look into. I hope you find your magic answer too.
You know, I just remembered that I randomly took a B-12 vitamin before my 5K on Saturday and I did better than I normally do. Hmm.
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The funny thing is, I had already been taking B12 supplements for a year. Turns out I just wasn’t taking a form that my body could make use of and I wasn’t taking enough of it either.
I would love to hear about what you’ve found. I just bought a new brand a Whole Foods the other day… not sure if I notice a difference, but it’s only been 2 days. The pesudo-forgetfulness has been a problem for me lately too.
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We purchased this one off Amazon, it’s the Natural Factors “High Potency” at 5000 micrograms (1000 is usually plenty though). It’s a sublingual tablet, so you let it dissolve under your tongue and kind of let it sit there for a minute to absorb through the thin tissues in your mouth. It surprisingly tastes good too.
This post is a relief to me, for I’ve been taking B12 (I think only 1000mg though; it’s the most I could find) for a few months but recently read an article that said the pills don’t work, and only sprays and injections do. I’m suffering from many of the symptoms you’ve mentioned, so if you can’t overdose, I might just up my pills. Woot self-druggin’! 😛
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Yeah I actually took B12 pills (the kind you swallow) for over a year beforehand and was shocked when my blood work came back with no improvement. Turns out a lot of B12 gets destroyed by your stomach acids, so if you’re severely deficient it’s best to use methods that bypass the digestive system. The pills I’ve been taking now are sublingual. You dissolve them under your tongue and they enter your bloodstream directly through the soft tissues of your mouth. The sprays do it the same way though some go up your nose instead. 😛
This was really helpful to me, as I feel overall pretty “healthy” but I also feel like something is lagging in the energy department. I need to start looking into iron and B12 supplements. I’m checking out the brand you featured in this post right now!
I’m sure I don’t have to remind anyone that I’m not a doctor, but from what I understand B12 is pretty safe to try and the rate of deficiency is pretty high even for people who eat plenty of foods containing it.
Neato. Were these very pricey?
I enjoy sublingual ‘treatments,’ if you will. I spent a summer taking arnica that way; I did a lot of field work and fell down in the woods a lot (so many logs!), and was covered in ridiculous bruises that would last for weeks to months. The arnica was quite helpful for me.
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These were about $13 for 60 pills on Amazon, but retail for twice that. I’m sure there are others out there too that are just as good.
That is interesting to hear that you can take arnica in a sublingual. I have an arnica cream for muscle soreness in my back but it doesn’t seem to do anything. That might be worth looking into.
I used the sublingual and did spot treatments with a cream as well. It definitely mitigated the pain, but I was super regular about taking the pills – and they ran out quickly.
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Glad to hear you are feeling peppy these days!!!!!! I have my days too. It sucks getting old. Your mamma saw a new doctor about 2 weeks ago (internist) and put me on a Protein Sparing Modified Fast diet and it is working. I have lost 5 lbs. after just 1 week and I feel great. It’s very much like Atkins but way more restrictive. It was hard at 1st but now it’s surpriseingly easy. The hardest part is NO ALCOHOL. It was hard this weekend without not even a little glass of wine but I survived. Just stayed busy and watched alot of movies. Just remember…….your doctor is your best friend.
I was just talking to Kirk about B12 last night. My multivitamin (it’s a vegan kind) has the recommended daily B12, but every time I have a low energy workout I always wonder if I’m getting enough. I told him I thought I should try a higher dose just to get that thought out of my head – so this post couldn’t have come at a better time!! I’m off to order these now!
Heather @ Better With Veggies recently posted..Why Not Try a Tri (Part 2) –Training Basics
Glad you’re feeling better! Like Heather, my vegan multivitamin has B12, but sometimes I think I could use a bit more… Thank you!!!!
Kristy @ KristyRuns recently posted..Busy April
Yeah, I was taking a vegan B12 supplement too for a whole year and it only raised my levels by 50 points (still below normal.) Apparently the methylcobalamin form is where it’s at, it’s absorbed better than cyanocobalamin which is what you normally find in vegan B12 supplements.
I take B12 supplements because as a vegetarian, I do have to make sure I get enough! I really do notice a difference in my energy level when I take them!
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