B12 deficency

Hi folks

I have ITP last count 43k no meds, just come out of a 8 year remission....I have just had a raft of blood tests as I am feeling so fatigued and all were normal (apart from platelets and it was identified that I have vit B12 deficiency) .I have started treatment today vit b injections.....in a strange way I am glad I know why I feel so tired. I know ITP makes me tired but I am sooooooooooooo tired. Anyway my Dr said it might assist with my platelets too and after a google search there may be something in that ,just wondered if anyone else had experienced this?

There have been others here with a B12 deficiency (including me) and treating it did not help platelet counts. I've read a few of those articles over the years but have yet to see anyone have success with it. Maybe you'll be the first.

Sublingual B12 can be just as effective as the shots.

I've had this problem. My current hematologist hoped that correcting the deficiency would improve my platelet count but it did not. I checked PubMed to see about research on B12 deficiency and thrombocytopenia and found virtually nothing to support this idea. There were a few case reports on severe B12 deficiency creating a TTP-like presentation, and mention of a beagle with a rare hereditary disorder.

I hope you'll be the exception.

Thanks everyone. To be honest I would be just happy to have a bit more energy and feel less fatigued. I find the tiredness more disabling than the ITP!I am hopeful the B12 shots will do that. Sandi I will have the shots initially then may consider the other option.

I kind of thought it would be unlikely to make the ITP go ,just have to continue to watch and wait and hope I go back into remission again!

Just looked on this website

www.medicinenet.com/thrombocytopenia_low_platelet_count/page2.htm


and noted Deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid can result in low platelet production by the bone marrow.

Oh well will keep you updated next test 19 Feb!

There is a connection, but it's fairly week. My current hematologist tested me for B12 and folate deficiency for that reason, and when he found that I was deficient, he put me on supplements, and then tested me again. My platelet count went down a bit.

I hope your count goes up, for whatever reason.

Thank you Aoi .I was just hoping but I know its unlikely.The only other thing I can attribute m relapse to is a cold/virus I had in August and that I got very run down and stressed.

Will keep you all informed.

After I came down with I.T.P., the Hematologist had me taking 1 mg. Folic Acid daily. After approximately a year, I was so weak and fatigued that he ran test on vitamin levels. My folic acid was 9 times what it should be and vitamin B12 was depleted. I was taken off Folic Acid and have been taking B12 injections since Jan. 2012.

I became concerned about having high levels of B12, so last April 2014 I quit for 3 weeks. However, I had a nose bleed for 17 days. Had my platelets checked and they were 2k. I was really scared and went to Hematologist. He asked if I would want to take the B12. I did, and within 2 weeks my platelet count was 20k.

It does help my platelets go up for several days, and gives me more energy. Than back down. My platelets usually run 6k to 20k. They run very low and I do not take any other medications. The reason is that I did have 15 IVIG, 4 Retuxin, 4.5 months of high doses of Prednisone, Bone Marrow biopsy, other meds. Nothing kept them up and I was very weak and was not worth all the illness the meds were causing me not to mention the tremendous expense.

I do believe that B12 injections are the only reason I have energy and keeps me going. B12 injections does "not" bring platelet levels high, but helps a little.

I have had 4 doses of vit B12 and my platelets are holding steady at 41k not sure if it is related.I do feel as though I have more energy which is great.