Aa
B12 Deficiency?
To make a long, long story short here's the rundown:
Got a headache lasting most of the day in Mid Aug. Accompanied by occasional slight fever, muscle aches, pressure around eyes, swollen lymph nodes in neck. Kept feeling like I was getting sick but never did. Finally got a cold in late Sept. Was good for 2 weeks. Headache and other symptoms came back. Finally realized it may be a sinus infection. Tried omnicef and didn't work. Continued symptoms which never got worse or better.
Beginning in December I noticed weakness in my arms mainly where the shoulder connects to the trunk and a pressure in my chest. The pressure in my chest seemed to migrate to the upper left part of my abdomen. This turned to bloating and constant belching. A little nausea but never vomiting. This stomach problem gradually lessened in a couple of week. The weakness seemed to be accompanied by tingling in my arms on a couple of occasions. I recall tingling in my legs as well. These usually seemed to happen while lying in bed.
Fast forward to late December. I was put on Augmentin for the sinus stuff. Cleared it up but was severely exhausted the first few days on it and experienced chills a couple of times. Legs were like rubber. Also developed muscle pain in my forearm and where my arms meet my chest. The forearm pain went away fairly quickly. The arm/chest pain took several days to get rid of. By this time I was done with the Augmentin. I felt ok for the week after being off it. The weakness in my arms had seemed to be getting better. Then I noticed pain migrating back and forth between my knees with the occasional burning sensation around them. Finally the pain settled in my right knee but eventually went away in a week. All the while the stomach bloating, which had seemed to be getting better started acting up again. Bloating, belching, constipation. This started last tuesday. It isn't constant but it's definitely acting up. I have noticed in the past several weeks that I can have a pallor to my face but feel ok. No fever since I've taken care of the sinus stuff too.
So now my knee pain is gone but my legs (particularly around the knee joints) feel weak as if the muscles are atrophied. My neuro ordered an MRI and wanted to make sure it wasn't MS....which seemed extreme but I guess he's just being cautious. Blood test taken mid-December showed I'm extremely Vitamin D deficient and have been supplementing a bit (probably not enough) through cod liver oil and tanning with UVA/UVB lights. Just barely started though.
The oddest thing about this weakness is that it seems to get better if I force myself to do moderate physical activity. For example, woke up on Sunday and my legs were just tired as hell. I went to help paint my parent's house and within 30 minutes my legs were fine and I was moving around, for the most part, just fine. The tradeoff seems to be that once I'm done with activity I get this "surge of weakness". It's hard to describe but I mostly feel it in my fingers...not electricity but just a surge of, well, weakness.
My stomach symptoms seem to be on par with gastroparesis which can cause malnutrition. How soon would I start seeing symptoms of malnutrition if gastroparesis started in the beginning of December?
My neuro ruled out Guillain Barr because I have good reflexes. I did receive a flu vaccine in the beginning of November and these neuro/stomach symptoms started a week after getting over my 2nd head cold...long shot?
Lyme Disease was a thought but talked to a former sufferer who is a "Lyme Literate" social worker and she said the course and overall severity of my symptoms as well as lifestyle don't jibe with LD diagnosis.
Is this simply a malnutrition issue? Would a B12 deficiency cause this? Could a stomach issue (inflammation, parasite) be causing malabsorption? I did suffer a night of chills and diarrhea from eating bad prime rib in September. My mother who consumed it also was treated with e.coli meds since she had a severe reaction to it. Can parasites/bacteria lie dormant for 2 months?
Could the affects of having a sinus infection go on for 4+ months contribute to any of this? Loss of nutrients, etc.?
Right now I feel great mentally. No strange neurological symptoms like mental or vision changes. The tingling only happens when I lay on my back (I've pinpointed the trigger in my arms...it's when I apply pressure to the back of my shoulderblades for an extended period of time). My fingers seem less dexterous than normal. I constantly have to make a fist to "shake" them out. The muscles where my arms connect to my trunk seem to be easily strained (if I lean forward on a desk too hard I will noticed muscle pain under my armpit and around the back by the shoulderblades). My legs have felt rubbery for the past few days. I'm not unusually fatigued but it does come and go.
Long story, short...yeah right :)
Got a headache lasting most of the day in Mid Aug. Accompanied by occasional slight fever, muscle aches, pressure around eyes, swollen lymph nodes in neck. Kept feeling like I was getting sick but never did. Finally got a cold in late Sept. Was good for 2 weeks. Headache and other symptoms came back. Finally realized it may be a sinus infection. Tried omnicef and didn't work. Continued symptoms which never got worse or better.
Beginning in December I noticed weakness in my arms mainly where the shoulder connects to the trunk and a pressure in my chest. The pressure in my chest seemed to migrate to the upper left part of my abdomen. This turned to bloating and constant belching. A little nausea but never vomiting. This stomach problem gradually lessened in a couple of week. The weakness seemed to be accompanied by tingling in my arms on a couple of occasions. I recall tingling in my legs as well. These usually seemed to happen while lying in bed.
Fast forward to late December. I was put on Augmentin for the sinus stuff. Cleared it up but was severely exhausted the first few days on it and experienced chills a couple of times. Legs were like rubber. Also developed muscle pain in my forearm and where my arms meet my chest. The forearm pain went away fairly quickly. The arm/chest pain took several days to get rid of. By this time I was done with the Augmentin. I felt ok for the week after being off it. The weakness in my arms had seemed to be getting better. Then I noticed pain migrating back and forth between my knees with the occasional burning sensation around them. Finally the pain settled in my right knee but eventually went away in a week. All the while the stomach bloating, which had seemed to be getting better started acting up again. Bloating, belching, constipation. This started last tuesday. It isn't constant but it's definitely acting up. I have noticed in the past several weeks that I can have a pallor to my face but feel ok. No fever since I've taken care of the sinus stuff too.
So now my knee pain is gone but my legs (particularly around the knee joints) feel weak as if the muscles are atrophied. My neuro ordered an MRI and wanted to make sure it wasn't MS....which seemed extreme but I guess he's just being cautious. Blood test taken mid-December showed I'm extremely Vitamin D deficient and have been supplementing a bit (probably not enough) through cod liver oil and tanning with UVA/UVB lights. Just barely started though.
The oddest thing about this weakness is that it seems to get better if I force myself to do moderate physical activity. For example, woke up on Sunday and my legs were just tired as hell. I went to help paint my parent's house and within 30 minutes my legs were fine and I was moving around, for the most part, just fine. The tradeoff seems to be that once I'm done with activity I get this "surge of weakness". It's hard to describe but I mostly feel it in my fingers...not electricity but just a surge of, well, weakness.
My stomach symptoms seem to be on par with gastroparesis which can cause malnutrition. How soon would I start seeing symptoms of malnutrition if gastroparesis started in the beginning of December?
My neuro ruled out Guillain Barr because I have good reflexes. I did receive a flu vaccine in the beginning of November and these neuro/stomach symptoms started a week after getting over my 2nd head cold...long shot?
Lyme Disease was a thought but talked to a former sufferer who is a "Lyme Literate" social worker and she said the course and overall severity of my symptoms as well as lifestyle don't jibe with LD diagnosis.
Is this simply a malnutrition issue? Would a B12 deficiency cause this? Could a stomach issue (inflammation, parasite) be causing malabsorption? I did suffer a night of chills and diarrhea from eating bad prime rib in September. My mother who consumed it also was treated with e.coli meds since she had a severe reaction to it. Can parasites/bacteria lie dormant for 2 months?
Could the affects of having a sinus infection go on for 4+ months contribute to any of this? Loss of nutrients, etc.?
Right now I feel great mentally. No strange neurological symptoms like mental or vision changes. The tingling only happens when I lay on my back (I've pinpointed the trigger in my arms...it's when I apply pressure to the back of my shoulderblades for an extended period of time). My fingers seem less dexterous than normal. I constantly have to make a fist to "shake" them out. The muscles where my arms connect to my trunk seem to be easily strained (if I lean forward on a desk too hard I will noticed muscle pain under my armpit and around the back by the shoulderblades). My legs have felt rubbery for the past few days. I'm not unusually fatigued but it does come and go.
Long story, short...yeah right :)
The numbness (and I'm talking slight numbness) tends to present itself when I'm putting any kind of pressure on either one of my shoulderblades. In fact, there's a specific point on each blade where, if you push with your finger, I can feel it run down my arm. As for the legs, I'm not so sure where the pressure point is but I've noticed if I'm sitting in a chair and the seat pushes against the back of my thigh where it connects to my buttocks I can feel some numbness.
Keep in mind that I've had no injuries and this all started shortly after I had gotten over a small cold (and a flu vaccine a month earlier). Not sure if it's related to those or if I've been experiencing a gradual deficiency and getting a sinus infection, trench mouth, and 2 colds this year is a sign...generally I rarely get sick and have never had a sinus infection.
Last night I was out shopping and over the course of a couple of hours became EXTREMELY EXHAUSTED. This happened only a couple of times in the last couple of months since all of this started. I had to pull myself out of the car. Once I got up and about I felt a little better but I had a pale complexion and dark circles under my eyes. I haven't had dark circles under my eyes since I was a kid. After eating dinner I felt a lot better. I had energy (not much) and played pool until midnight. But afterwards I crashed again. I slept almost 10 hours and drug myself out of bed. I'm dead tired today.
My stomach problems have taken a break the past couple of days. I'm not as constipated and things are "moving along" so to speak. I think the multivitamin I was taken had something to do with this.
I've thought about Celiac Disease as a possibility but I'm a little unclear on the symptoms. Do you immediately feel worse after a meal? I still have a healthy appetite. My weight has gone unchanged over the past 2 months since symptoms started.
The weirdest thing about all of this is the muscles. In the beginning it seemed like any sudden movement might cause me to pull a muscle. I can remember my biceps feeling on fire after only holding something for a few seconds. They fatigued quite easily. Since then my arms have improved quite a bit. Just holding a phone to my ear would create a burning discomfort in my shoulder and bicep and I soon would have to switch arms to let that arm "breathe"...sort of like after working out.
This all keeps leading me down the path of malnutrition or something similar.
Keep in mind that I've had no injuries and this all started shortly after I had gotten over a small cold (and a flu vaccine a month earlier). Not sure if it's related to those or if I've been experiencing a gradual deficiency and getting a sinus infection, trench mouth, and 2 colds this year is a sign...generally I rarely get sick and have never had a sinus infection.
Last night I was out shopping and over the course of a couple of hours became EXTREMELY EXHAUSTED. This happened only a couple of times in the last couple of months since all of this started. I had to pull myself out of the car. Once I got up and about I felt a little better but I had a pale complexion and dark circles under my eyes. I haven't had dark circles under my eyes since I was a kid. After eating dinner I felt a lot better. I had energy (not much) and played pool until midnight. But afterwards I crashed again. I slept almost 10 hours and drug myself out of bed. I'm dead tired today.
My stomach problems have taken a break the past couple of days. I'm not as constipated and things are "moving along" so to speak. I think the multivitamin I was taken had something to do with this.
I've thought about Celiac Disease as a possibility but I'm a little unclear on the symptoms. Do you immediately feel worse after a meal? I still have a healthy appetite. My weight has gone unchanged over the past 2 months since symptoms started.
The weirdest thing about all of this is the muscles. In the beginning it seemed like any sudden movement might cause me to pull a muscle. I can remember my biceps feeling on fire after only holding something for a few seconds. They fatigued quite easily. Since then my arms have improved quite a bit. Just holding a phone to my ear would create a burning discomfort in my shoulder and bicep and I soon would have to switch arms to let that arm "breathe"...sort of like after working out.
This all keeps leading me down the path of malnutrition or something similar.
Hi Winutah,
My name is Shirley. I have been having some really strange things going on for the
last couple of years. I was finally told that I have Celiac Disease.
You might want to check into that, since you have some of the symtoms. I was told
it can make you severly deficient in vitamin b12.
Hope this helps
My name is Shirley. I have been having some really strange things going on for the
last couple of years. I was finally told that I have Celiac Disease.
You might want to check into that, since you have some of the symtoms. I was told
it can make you severly deficient in vitamin b12.
Hope this helps
Hi Winutah,
What is your name?
I think I have explained to you in my first post as to the connection between stomach problems and vitamin deficiency.
The other interesting thing you have mentioned is that on sleeping on your back you have more symptoms in your arm as compared to on sleeping on sides.
This suggests that you might have either cervical disc pathology or any nerve compression at cervical disc level.
I feel that your titers were related to IgG immunoglobulin.
Keep me informed if you have any queries.
Bye.
What is your name?
I think I have explained to you in my first post as to the connection between stomach problems and vitamin deficiency.
The other interesting thing you have mentioned is that on sleeping on your back you have more symptoms in your arm as compared to on sleeping on sides.
This suggests that you might have either cervical disc pathology or any nerve compression at cervical disc level.
I feel that your titers were related to IgG immunoglobulin.
Keep me informed if you have any queries.
Bye.
Hi guys. Went for my MRI today and should hear back maybe on Tuesday. Nervous and scared.
Since stopping the multivitamin a couple of days ago my bowels are starting to recover but it's too early to really tell.
I'm actually hoping my B12 is low which may help explain some of this...but then, why is my B12 low? I know I've been stressing myself out about this whole thing which contributes to my overall stress. Could the stress on my immune system fighting a sinus infection for 4 months, worrying about chronic illnesses and everyday life take it's toll on me and cause a vitamin deficiency?
In the past couple of days I've noticed that I can't sleep on my back anymore since the "pressure points" in my shoulderblades bring back slight numbness to my arms and my legs (haven't pinpointed that pressure point yet). I have to sleep on my side which does put some strain on my arms though.
It's all very bizarre though. If it were indeed neurological, no amount of willpower would bring me to "overcome" the weakness in my legs...but somehow if I walk around for several minutes the weakness tends to decrease substantially. Almost like I get the blood flowing or something.
As for the EBV, I don't have exact numbers but it was the one with the titers. She told me that the band that shows previous infection was high indicating a reactivation. The band indicating reactivation was way high (in the 2,000s?) as well. She said that EBV can present itself with nerve issues...but I've read that most reactivations show no symptoms and that people reactivate several times in their lives and would never know it. I'm confused.
Stay tuned.
Since stopping the multivitamin a couple of days ago my bowels are starting to recover but it's too early to really tell.
I'm actually hoping my B12 is low which may help explain some of this...but then, why is my B12 low? I know I've been stressing myself out about this whole thing which contributes to my overall stress. Could the stress on my immune system fighting a sinus infection for 4 months, worrying about chronic illnesses and everyday life take it's toll on me and cause a vitamin deficiency?
In the past couple of days I've noticed that I can't sleep on my back anymore since the "pressure points" in my shoulderblades bring back slight numbness to my arms and my legs (haven't pinpointed that pressure point yet). I have to sleep on my side which does put some strain on my arms though.
It's all very bizarre though. If it were indeed neurological, no amount of willpower would bring me to "overcome" the weakness in my legs...but somehow if I walk around for several minutes the weakness tends to decrease substantially. Almost like I get the blood flowing or something.
As for the EBV, I don't have exact numbers but it was the one with the titers. She told me that the band that shows previous infection was high indicating a reactivation. The band indicating reactivation was way high (in the 2,000s?) as well. She said that EBV can present itself with nerve issues...but I've read that most reactivations show no symptoms and that people reactivate several times in their lives and would never know it. I'm confused.
Stay tuned.
Hi Winutah,
How are you feeling?
What test is done for EBV virus?
One test I know is Monospot test and other one is looking at titers.
If it is looking at titers, then you should ask for which Immunoglobulin they have done the titers like whether the titers are for EBV IgM or EBV IgG.
I think it would be EBV IgG which would have been reported high.
If so then you need not worry.
Keep me informed if you receive your Vit B 12 results.
Bye.
How are you feeling?
What test is done for EBV virus?
One test I know is Monospot test and other one is looking at titers.
If it is looking at titers, then you should ask for which Immunoglobulin they have done the titers like whether the titers are for EBV IgM or EBV IgG.
I think it would be EBV IgG which would have been reported high.
If so then you need not worry.
Keep me informed if you receive your Vit B 12 results.
Bye.
Your "short story" sounds like mine. In October 2006 began having problems with bowels, chronic diarrhea (I have fibromyalgia x 20 years=irritable bowel among other things) and extreme fatigue. Then I started having burning foot pain and feet and lower legs were agitated and bouncing all of the time. Doc had me tested for bowel disorders and came out negative. Then in 2007 the burning pain spread to my back. The Doc thought I may be getting shingles so waited a week or so and when skin did not break out I went back. He sent me for blood tests and they showed a B12 deficiency. I started the B12 shots, first was supposed to be once a month but after a week I was exhausted again. So had them once a week for 4 weeks and then back to once a month, exhausted again so back to once a week, then every two weeks, etc. to once a month. Fatigue got better and burning got better for a bit but it has all come back and is in feet, arms, back, and hip/crotch area and I am getting tired again. It is terrible. Missed a week of work in October thinking it was the flu but symptoms were more of the pain and agitation. Am going to see a neurologist this coming week because the doctor said I have "cross-over" pain (?). I just thought I would share the info about the B12 because I was shocked that the lack of a vitamin could cause so many problems. My memory is suffering as well and have lots of "normal" back and knee pain. If the deficiency is not caught early the nerve pain could be permanent which scares me to death. Perhaps the neurologist will be able to help with the nerve pain, a complete diagnosis and the bowel problems that come on with these attacks. Moderate pain is always there but then it just blows and I feel like I am crawling inside and could just burn up on the spot. Also was advised that the doctors like to see the B12 levels higher than normal ranges in people with the deficiency. Hope you didn't fall asleep there......and hope the info helps a bit.
I got the results of my EBV test (not the mono spot test) and it shows high titers for reactivation. I'm flipping out over this but it sounds like perfectly healthy people can also reactivate at any time and show no signs of it.
I should have the results of my B12 back early next week as well.
I should have the results of my B12 back early next week as well.
Hi Winutah,
As I have mentioned earlier that your symptoms indeed suggest that it might be due to Vitamin B12 deficiency.
This vitamin deficiency is due to intrinsic factor deficiency or may be due to pernicious anaemia.
Keep me informed if you have any queries.
Bye.
As I have mentioned earlier that your symptoms indeed suggest that it might be due to Vitamin B12 deficiency.
This vitamin deficiency is due to intrinsic factor deficiency or may be due to pernicious anaemia.
Keep me informed if you have any queries.
Bye.
Today I'm good. I still have the occasional bloating in my upper abdomen. I can't tell if it's my abdominal muscle or something going on underneath it. I've kind of pinpointed the nerve problem with my arms. It sounds similar to brachial neuritis. If I lie on my back the wrong way I immediately can feel it radiate down my arm. This may also explain the intermittent chest pain. Overall this area (besides the chest) has gotten better. My ability to clench a fist is almost back to normal. The muscles in my arms don't seem to tire as easily which is all good news at this point.
The bad news is in my legs. Ever since the knee pain disappeared my knees and legs tire easily as well. If I work through the fatigue I'm usually good but it's a aggravating. I also noticed that as the knee pain went away it was temporarily replaced by a burning sensation that lasted for maybe 10 minutes...then the weakness set in.
The scariest symptom to me is the stomach stuff. I had to take a laxative since I hadn't had a healthy movement in 2-3 days. It kind of worked but not as well I would've liked. It waxes and wanes. Some days it's fine but lately it's been hell.
I went and got my blood drawn for a folate and B12 test so we'll see what happens with that.
The bad news is in my legs. Ever since the knee pain disappeared my knees and legs tire easily as well. If I work through the fatigue I'm usually good but it's a aggravating. I also noticed that as the knee pain went away it was temporarily replaced by a burning sensation that lasted for maybe 10 minutes...then the weakness set in.
The scariest symptom to me is the stomach stuff. I had to take a laxative since I hadn't had a healthy movement in 2-3 days. It kind of worked but not as well I would've liked. It waxes and wanes. Some days it's fine but lately it's been hell.
I went and got my blood drawn for a folate and B12 test so we'll see what happens with that.
check out candida as well as this causes hundreds of different symptoms.. particulary digestion issues, sore muscles, etc the list gopes on..........it also depletes all your vitamins and minerals.............go to a alternative healer. i.e. natropath......
Hi Winutah,
How are you feeling?
Is this simply a malnutrition issue?
+ Yes it can be as simple as malnutrition, but other problems do persists.
Would a B12 deficiency cause this?
Yes Vitamin B12 deficiency can definitely cause such symptoms.
Could a stomach issue (inflammation, parasite) be causing malabsorption?
It can cause malabsorption but yes it would definitely cause decrease in Vitamin B12 absorption.
Can parasites/bacteria lie dormant for 2 months?
Yes they can lie dormant if they have infected muscular layers of intestine.
Could the affects of having a sinus infection go on for 4+ months contribute to any of this?
No I don’t think it can cause.
Hope this helps.
Bye.
How are you feeling?
Is this simply a malnutrition issue?
+ Yes it can be as simple as malnutrition, but other problems do persists.
Would a B12 deficiency cause this?
Yes Vitamin B12 deficiency can definitely cause such symptoms.
Could a stomach issue (inflammation, parasite) be causing malabsorption?
It can cause malabsorption but yes it would definitely cause decrease in Vitamin B12 absorption.
Can parasites/bacteria lie dormant for 2 months?
Yes they can lie dormant if they have infected muscular layers of intestine.
Could the affects of having a sinus infection go on for 4+ months contribute to any of this?
No I don’t think it can cause.
Hope this helps.
Bye.
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