“Could It Be B12? An Epidemic of Misdiagnosis” and the movie, Sally Pacholok

This week is Vitamin B12 Awareness Week — a disease that affects me greatly. I’ve tried to learn as much as I could about it since my diagnosis earlier this year.

One of the very best resources on B12 deficiency that I’ve found is a book called “Could It Be B12? An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses” by Sally Pacholok and Jeffrey Stuart. Pacholok and Stuart wrote this book after witnessing B12 deficiency being consistently misdiagnosed. I consider this book my B12 Bible (you can even see my notes and bookmarks sticking out of top of my book)!

A movie was also made about Pacholok detailing how this feisty nurse could save your life with B12 testing and treatment. It’s called “Sally Pacholok” — and it shows how she is like the Erinn Brockovich of Vitamin B12 deficiency. This incredible, determined nurse took on the medical establishment when she saw how people were being misdiagnosed and suffering tremendously. It made me wish that I had met a nurse like Sally when I was a toddler and first showing symptoms.

Another tremendous resource has been the Pernicious Anemia/B12 Deficiency Support Group on Facebook. Through this group, I have found a caring network of people helping each other, sharing stories and offering wisdom and support. Plus there’s a huge library of information, including guidelines on how the disease is treated around the world, signs and symptoms, how to understand blood test results, and so much more. To call it an invaluable resource would be an understatement!

Google Scholar is a another great way to learn more by searching for medical articles on B12 deficiency. Lastly, I find that http://www.b12deficiency.info/ is also a very helpful resource. Obviously these are just a few resources and I’ve got plenty more to learn. I hope my readers will consider sharing their favorite resources with me in the comments!

Today’s #OneGoodThing is sharing these incredible resources on B12 deficiency with you in honor of Vitamin B12 Awareness Week! Still to come this week… how I finally got my diagnosis after more than 30 years of being sick, my top 10 coping strategies, and how I learned to give myself injections despite a lifelong needle phobia.

Day 265 of 366.

What was your #OneGoodThing today? Please share in the comments!

Note to my Nosy Parker readers: Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause a wide variety of symptoms. A Vitamin B12 deficiency can kill you and before it does, it can truly wreak havoc on your entire body. It is a serious chronic illness. If you’ve got any of the symptoms listed in this graphic, please visit the websites listed for more information. (Special thanks to a B12 buddy in the support group for making this graphic!) Before taking any supplements, ask your doctor to test your B12 level! Also, I am not a doctor, nurse or scientist. I am simply sharing my personal experiences and what I’ve learned.