B12 deficiency leading to headaches & face tingling/numbness?

How long before the symptoms fade away with supplementation?

Hi Patrick @patrickb76 , welcome to connect. Thank you for your question. The hope is that nerve dysfunction fades away with supplementation sooner than later however each person is different based upon how long they were depleted of B12. In my case I received injections every two weeks for about 6 months then oral supplementation. At the time, my neurologist said it may take up to two to three years for nerves to regenerate. I'd say that was about right for me but again each person's experience varies. My diagnosis was small fiber neuropathy via a skin punch biopsy. Are you experiencing symptoms from B12 deficiency? Have you begun working with a neurologist for treatment?

Hello Rachel, thank you for your quick reply!

i have been on Metformin for 5+ years now, i am a prediabetics, no insulin and my readings are always good.

Starting about a year or so ago, i started to feel depressed, paranoid, tired, irritable, then a few months back, i started to have pain in my calves and floaters and few weeks ago some pin and needles on my face and 2 weeks ago having headaches.

I did some research and i read that Metformin can diminish B12 levels and that B12 deficiency can even be misdiasgnosed as prediabetes, which was a shocker to be honest

I'm having an appoitment with my Doctor next week to talk to her about this

Hi patrick, unfortunately I am not familiar with the medicine metformin but it definitely sounds worth checking into, regarding your symptoms. I'm glad you're going to meet with your doctor next week. Will it be a neurologist or your primary care provider?

Yes, B12 deficiency can cause migraines and a bunch of other symptoms that don't seem related. Take some sublingual B-12 (under the tongue) and that should help.

If you are PRE diabetic then why are you on Metformin? What does your doctor expect to give you if you flip to diabetic?
Here's my experience - and I'm kinda long winded....
In 1982 I saw a doctor that also did acupuncture as I had just moved to another town and needed help with a migraine. He sent me down the next morning for a SIX hour glucose tolerance test. Yes, SIX hours.
He told me I was pre-diabetic and the best way to manage it was simply not to eat anything with sugar, honey or glucose (or other -ose's). Period. So I followed his instructions.
In 2010 I had to see an endocrinologist to look at a goiter I had developed. I keep meticulous records of my blood tests and showed them to him - all the way back to 1982.
He told me that with the results I was now having with A1C1 it was clear that I had diabetes II but that it was controlled well with diet. That wasn't good enough for me so everyday for a year I had a HUGE tablespoon of cinnamon in my morning oatmeal and a HUGE tablespoon of cinnamon at night on my toast. Now my A1C1 results are always terrific (without the cinnamon) and I have stopped telling anyone that I am diabetic. I just say I am allergic to sugar, honey and glucose, because I do get hypoglycemic and I don't want anyone shoving a teaspoon of sugar down my throat !!!

My recent blood tests showed that my B12 levels were too high and my dr said to cut back which I did, High levels can cause problems too.

I was diagnosed with low B12 but felt fine. I took a B12 supplement and I believe activated TN 1 pain I had six years ago. Seems strange.

You are lucky to be given B12 injections. My test back in September 2023 was 113.
I took pills after doing blood test as nurse told me rapid heat beat is often B12 deficiency so I did, then gp asked my if I was taking supplements I said yes he said continue and we will check in a year. I got worse and worse the pills.never made me feeling any better went back to gp teeling all my symptoms, dysphagia, peripheral neuropathy, globus sensation, extreme fatigue, and none made the link and when I went to see again the gp telling again all my symptoms he said to stop as when a patient tells too many symptoms that is when the GP gets confused and anyway my second blood test got 169 so I was not anymore deficient so had enough paid £40 for a B12 injection and felt normal for two days, I did not know I could do it with osteopath. Now skiing it myself and complaint to deputy manager of surgery and going to see a GP again but I had to send 6-7 emails saying they failed in their duty of care. Everyone out there with B12 deficiency careful it looks that many GP are incompetent with B12 deficiency, and I am one example of their incompetence.

I have been battling with B12 deficiency for 10 years. Oral supplements did not work, started weekly injections for 5 years, didn't work, then weekly infusions. Still didn't get levels to 200.
Now I'm doing daily injections and will check in a month to see if any changes. I recently been diagnosed with B3 (Niacin) deficiency, actually my levels for the past year have been undetectable 🤷‍♀️
Definitely effects neurological, GI, and skeletal damage.