Why would the lab want me to fast 12 hours before a vitamin B12 test?

[Deja Q]

Not that I'm deficient because I eat more meat than Seigfried and Roy, but still...

Thx!

[amazona]

1. eating meat doesn't matter

It sounds like they are testing for pernicious anemia. If you have this disease, you have lost the ability to use B-12 that you get in food. You must get B-12 by injection, and do not skip your injections. The sooner you get diagnosed, the better. You never regain what you have already lost, so best to nip this one in the bud. Untreated, it can lead to dementia which can be confused with Alzheimer's. Unfortunately a friend's father was not diagnosed promptly and he lost significant intelligence and neurological function before he was treated. However, with injections, he was able to halt the decline and stop any further neurological problems. You can learn to give yourself your own injections, which saves time and money over seeing the nurse.

[Deja Q]

3. Oooh, hot diggity! And I thought they were checking into my diet.

:crazy:

THANK YOU MUCH for the information, BTW! I definitely now know I've got a decent doctor for once.

I looked it up on a government site. Yeah, now I can see why he'd want me tested... I can become a physical vegetable I suppose, but I'd rather die than lose my mind or what's left of it.

[Dogmudgeon]

2. To check if your body can retain cobalamine (B12)

--p!

[Quakerfriend]

4. Hey Hypnotoad

How is your dad doing? Hope he is feeling better!

[Deja Q]

5. I thought I posted his update, but my memory isn't so hot anymore...

Thx for asking! He started improving that afternoon and is now back to his usual self, thank goodness!