Ever find yourself suddenly ridiculously forgetful? Wonder how on earth you got dressed (wait! okay all good, I’m wearing pants), got out the door and are where you are right now? You’re not crazy, and as it turns out you’re not alone.
Around 8 months ago I was worried. I was forgetting everything – passwords, phone numbers, things I said to people mere seconds before, it was like my brain completely ditched the ability to retain information. Hot tip – don’t google that shit! Once I had calmed down and accepted my (self) diagnosis of an inoperable brain tumour, I booked myself in to see my GP. Dr Palipana (or Dr P as we call him, because Parker will be light-years away from saying his full name) is a legend. Not only is he the only doctor my husband is happy to see, but he is very thorough. Blood tests were done as an interim and they pointed to a significant deficiency in Iron, standard for me, and a very significant deficiency in vitamin B12. We discussed this a little and I had a course of shots, then began on a steady course of vitamins. Always one to Google though, I found out some interesting facts about B12 deficiency:
- We can’t make vitamin B12 so we need to have it in our diet. We need it to maintain healthy cells and DNA, prevent a type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia (this is different to iron deficiency anemia) and keep nerves and the brain cells healthy.
- Vitamin B12 is only found in foods of animal origin for example dairy foods, meats, poultry, fish and seafood.
- As people get older the absorption of vitamin B12 can reduce, but because the body stores and conserves vitamin B12 it takes time for symptoms to develop.
- Signs of vitamin B12 deficiency to look out for:
- Strange sensations or “prickles”
- Fatigue
- Loss of memory
- Pale skin
- Heart palpitations and shortness of breath
- A smooth, red tongue
- Changes in mental health like depression.
(https://www.womenshealth.com.au/vitamin-b12-deficiency-symptoms)
Reading those signs was like a light-bulb moment for me. Fatigue and loss of memory were epic issues for me at the time. I usually had an epic memory, much to my husband’s dismay (though he reaped the benefits of my temporary mental blanks), and I always seemed tired. Even if I got a good solid night’s sleep, I was tired and would often nap on the weekends when Parker did. I wasn’t depressed, but I was very ‘meh’ about a lot of stuff. All of this aligned perfectly with what Dr P had seen in my blood test results.
Fast forward to today and there has been a marked improvement. My Iron levels were still a little low, but a change in supplement brand fixed that up. My B12 is up with the help of a daily B complex vitamin. It is in the ‘good’ range but still at the lower end, so that is something that Dr P and I check regularly. Most importantly though I feel better in myself. I am able to get more done in my day. I still enjoy a nap but don’t find myself ‘needing’ one as such (hey, who doesn’t like naps?!). My memory is certainly better – I am pretty sure my boss can attest to that by the reduction in blank stares she receives (the husband is not so keen on this one though). I feel more ‘me’ again.
The moral to the story kids is if you feel ‘off’, not quite right, or just not really yourself, get your patootie to your friendly GP and discuss it with them (NOT Dr Google). You are the best judge of how you are feeling, and you deserve to feel on top of your game.
Stay true,
Megan x
fromkayleytoparker 