Am I Just Tired or Is It a B12 Deficiency?

Espresso shots cannot solve all fatigue problems, unfortunately.

I have had chronic fatigue for a few years now, and this year I decided to check if there was something wrong with me besides lingering burnout symptoms. I normally faint when I get blood drawn, so this was a very nerve-racking thing for me.

I have done blood panels before where I figured out my allergies and that I am Vitamin D deficient, so I was surprised when I got my results back that I was deficient in Vitamin B12 as well. I was not surprised that I had fainted walking out of the office and had to lay down in an empty room with concerned nurses peeking in at me. In college I had gone through a vegan phase where I supplemented with B12 sprays, but have incorporated several B12 foods back in my diet since then. I did not know that it was possible for me to be deficient in something when I was consuming a good amount of B12 foods on a daily basis.

My doctor said to come in every week for a couple months for a B12 shot to see how I feel. After even the first one, I was amazed at how much better I already felt. Unfortunately, B12 shots are not covered by insurance but run around $25 each. I decided to go to my medspa instead, which is a much closer drive than my doctor’s office. Upon further research, many places offer B12 shots. I go to my trusted Nurse Jamie medspa, and you can call day of for an appointment and there is generally availability if you call in the morning. You can either have it injected in your arm or butt; they say doing it in your upper butt helps it get to the bloodstream better.

I now make it a priority to get a B12 shot at least every two weeks, and it helps tremendously. It is generally safe to get frequently, as any excess will be passed through the system. This is not medical advice whatsoever and you should definitely consult a doctor, but potentially a helpful post for someone who has been feeling fatigued for a while and has not done a blood panel in a long time. It might not be B12, but perhaps something else that may need to be addressed.