Need help with B12 deficiency!!
Any vegetarians or vegans who developed B12 deficiency?? I am new at this, stopped eating meat 9 months ago and about 2 months into it, started getting burning pain all over, very dizzy, problems with memory etc.. started taking B12 and slowly got better, but it took weeks of supplementing around 1,000 to 2,000 mcg a day. After those few weeks I didn't take it for another few months and I was fine.. now I am experiencing all those symptoms again. Started supplementing with the B12 and it helps but doesnt make my symptoms go away completely. I am also a smoker...I know, very bad :( and I notice when I smoke it gets much worse. I read that smoking uses up your B12 because of the cyanide in cigarettes so I've been avoiding that and really cutting down.
My questions is.. anyone had this problem before and how long does it take to build up your B12 again? Do I need extra B12 because I smoke? Will adding in eggs every now and then help? I don't want to add in any milk or meat at all so that's out. I've smoked cigarettes on and off for years and ate tons of meat, eggs, dairy all my life and never had these sympotms until I changed my diet. Other than the b12 thing I feel 100 times healthier eating the way I do now so I don't want to change anything as far as diet goes.
Thanks!