mrjustin

Hi all, I am 7 months 27 days sober now. I have found out I am Vitamin B12 deficient and I suspect related to drinking days. Ive started feeling a lot less groggy and tired since taking B12. Anyone else can share similar experiences?

Tooshabby

Yes, I had blood tests and was told I had a B12 deficiency, and I have found since supplementing I have more energy. Supposed to be important for sleep too which might be valuable for any insomniacs out there. Apparently if you leave such a deficiency unattended for a long time (several years) there can be serious consequences, although I can't remember what they are off the top of my head.

mrjustin

Thanks thats interesting and J hope it will help with my occasionally ****** sleep. Im loa kn Vut D as well so will take the d supp. Vit B group seem really important in recovery.

freshstart57

Here's a new thing for me. A vitamin B12 deficiency has the charming name of hypocabalaminemia, because B12 is also known as cabalamin.

Saskia

I was told that my B1 deficiency was due to drinking. It's normal now. I've been on B12 supplements for a long time. It's scary how many things are negatively affected by alcohol!

immri

Yep! I was (maybe am?) deficient too and take supplements. I definitely feel light headed and lethargic without it

Margaux1969

Interesting. I also tested extremely low in B12 earlier this year and got injections for it. I had great hopes for my energy coming back, but it didn't--turns out I was also very low in iron (doesn't wine have iron??)

I guess alcohol doesn't make an ideal meal replacement.

zjw

i take a b12 because i'm vegan. But in all my research its pretty common for meat eaters to be deficient as well always worth looking into if you have any doubts. Iron is another one that many people are deficient in. I was having a lot of strange things happening in the evenings and problems regulating body temperature. I chalked it up to it might be something more then that. I did some research and found that people who run a lot like i do are at even higher risk of being low iron. I started taking an iron supplement and wala no more issues!


Alcohol abuse depletes us of a ton of stuff and it takes years to get our bodies back up to speed. and we gotta do this while eating pristine diets and taking care of ourselves as our bodies rebuild etc..

we'd be fooling ourselves if we think that after all those years of abuse we can simply take a multi-vitamin for a few weeks and start to feel better takes a lot more then that.

saoutchik

Yup I take B12 supplements too mrjustin

Like margaux I was also low in iron so take that as well - not so often now as my last blood test showed normal levels of both

I have no idea if it is true but I was told (not by a doctor)that B12 helps synthesise the iron from our normal diet which is why being low on one usually means being low on the other

As I say that is certainly not meant to be medical advice

DitzyDandelion

hmm looks like next shopping trip I will have to look at some supplements.

Soberwolf

Its common for alcoholics to have a B vitimin deficiency i was taking a b vitimin throughout my first & 2nd year

PurpleKnight

My blood sugar was the thing that was all over the place when I got Sober!!

But no matter what it is, getting checked out and getting some answers, rather than speculating is always the best way forward!!

Soberpotamus

I loaded up on the vitamins the first year. And I'm pretty sure my blood sugar was whacked that first year too. My health seemed to improve quickly though.

Good luck to you, Justin. Well done, taking care of your health

Kungfulu

Off to get some pills! Vitamins I mean!

Stewart888

My sweet wife shoots be up each month with a vitamin B12 shot...

I feel great anyway being a non drinker but a little shot just seems to be the icing on the cake....

Marcher13

Justin are you vegetarian?

Sinderos

I'm still drinking (like an idiot) and have a B12 and Vit D deficiency. My urinalysis was also abnormal. Gee wonder why. I drank fairly heavily the day before my labs. I'm suppose to have a re-check, but am putting it off because I'm still drinking. Vicious cycle. Today I tell myself that today is the last day. I tell myself that a lot.

DitzyDandelion

THen make now the last moment. You don't need it.

sugarbear1

I read somewhere that alcohol doesn't allow our bodies to absorb B vitamins.....

Staying stopped is best for us!

blueberry2015

I had a lack in B12 too it can make you incredibly tired. Thankfully I managed to sort mine out with supplements and diet, and yes it does make a huge difference! Im vit d deficient too.