The Cost of Compassionless Care : Part 1 B12 Deficiency & Misdiagnosis

When I first met Tracey and people who were already familiar with her, I had no idea of all the hard work she had been putting in over the years for free! Her compassionate approach was outstanding and although not a nurse or a health professional  she had a vast knowledge of B12 Deficiency. This had developed from her own research into symptoms that the doctors had no explanation for. Tracey’s narrative can be read on her website  here –  B12 Deficiency .

Tracey is arguably a very compassionate person as  she shares a universal understanding of the problems people with this disorder can face as well as the diversity of different people’s needs. Tracey is also able to help other people to recover by sharing her knowledge and experience and supporting them in navigating the complex health care journey.

I have been fortunate to learn from Tracey and her compassionate approach towards raising awareness for people with B12 Deficency, who might also have been misdiagnosed with Dementia, Depression, Psychosis,  Confusion, Anxiety and more.

At a recent training event Tracey told us a weekly injection of B12 costs 55 pence, often bought online because health professionals cannot or will not prescribe it. That works out at about 25 pounds per year ??? That is the cost of compassionate care, by listening to the patient and identifying universal goals, diverse needs and genuine or authentic, person-centred recovery outcomes.

The cost of compassionless care is far more, while patients are put through  needless investigations and possible hospitalisations costing thousands of pounds every year. The Kings Fund (2011) estimate that over 1 billion pounds per year could be saved by cutting the use of emergency beds and consequent hospital stays due to falls, confusion, dementia and delerium all of which could be caused by B 12 deficiency.

The real cost however is to individual people and their families as they lose precious time together due to fatigue, illness and even death. Compassionless care has huge costs  for all of us and it will not relent, until we start listening to people and caring compassionately about what they are telling us.

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12 thoughts on “The Cost of Compassionless Care : Part 1 B12 Deficiency & Misdiagnosis

  1. Excellent at last someone in authority recognises the work you have done and are still doing we need more especially doctors whether GPs, hospitals and particularly mental health doctors and staff let them explain why they can’t sort this out instead of spending vast amounts of money on high cost drugs that may not be needed

    • thanks for your feedback please share and encourage more people to talk about it

    • Living with this must be hard and if no one listens then it is a recipe for suicidal ideation

  2. As a former nursing professional I was never taught the dangers of Vitamin B12 deficiency. Only in the last few years since the deterioration of my own health – to the point I thought I might die – do I now realise how a seemingly simple vitamin deficiency can reek havoc on a persons life and health. Tracey Witty’s knowledge and passion for helping others has helped me take the next step forward in restoring my own health.
    Marjorie, I am delighted that someone with your standing and who is so well respected is behind Tracey and the work she does. It will make all the difference in the world to creating meaningful change in how we diagnose and treat Vitamin B 12 deficiency and Pernicious Anaemia. Thank you!

  3. As a former nursing professional I was never taught the dangers of Vitamin B12 deficiency. Only in the last few years since the deterioration of my own health – to the point I thought I might die – do I now realise how a seemingly simple vitamin deficiency can reek havoc on a persons life and health. Tracey Witty’s knowledge and passion for helping others has helped me take the next step forward in restoring my own health.
    Marjorie, I am delighted that someone with your standing and who is so well respected is behind Tracey and the work she does. It will make all the difference in the world to creating meaningful change in how we diagnose and treat Vitamin B 12 deficiency and Pernicious Anaemia. Thank you!

  4. Thank you Viki for your honest response, it is not easy to speak out sometimes and Tracey does a great job.Please keep the conversation going everywhere and anywhere.

  5. I’m in the US in Wyoming – definitely older 74 — hospital in July for 5 days was waiting for the anemia part to show up before they did anything. In 5 days I got a consult with a Psychiatrist and an antidepressant and Magnesium which I did need. Not a word about B12. In August my Neuropathy was up to my knees so I called my Local Doc’s nurse — sent me to 2 neurologists for tests — both came back B12 Deficient…not horribly low but low enough to cause neuropathy. My Physician had sent me home to eat all the natural B12 I could along with fresh veggies and fruits. Thankfully, now after B12 injections I am slowly returning to a human again. The so called ‘depression’, ‘tinnitus’ are gone and still have a little neuropathy left where it started in the balls of my feet and toes (pins and needles)…most unleasant. Legs a tiny bit of paresthesia left but not bad. My Psychiatrist did not have a clue and is sending me to another Psychiatrist because she needs help with me. Where are the Sally Patcholocks’s of this world??? Now, I’m like Tracie — I B12 everyone to death, especially my brother. It is never tested for when one has an annual exam. I just passed my pre-surgery physical a month before. My folate was up thanks to all the great veggies I grow so my blood stayed more ‘normal’ looking as I had 2 CBC’s. Tracie has been an inspiration as well as Pat K. and the B12 Facebook Group where REAL FACTS are presented. I don’t have classic PN yet but was working on it. I was positive from reading Google that I had MS or other such horrible diseases and to the point I didn’t care if I lived or died. Neurologist isn’t sure feet/legs will get better but I am.

    • This story is so common and so sad but I am glad you are now on the mend Margie !

  6. In Canada, where doctors are not educated in vitamin B12, and they believe they are superior in knowledge of the patient and how they are suffering.

    • It is sad to hear that this is still going on Mary but there are more doctors who are aware of B12 deficiency so maybe try to find one in your area?

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