Could Iron deficiency/B12 be causing all my neurological problems?

[Occum86]

Please forgive me if I'm in the wrong place and if I talk too much!  This is the first post I've ever written about my situation.  If I’m in the wrong place advise me on where I should be?

My question is could B12 /Iron deficiency be causing all my neurological problems?

I have been to hell and back over the last 12 months, test after test after test but still no answer! My Aunt had MS so they eliminated that one first.

For the last 6 years I have been experiencing symptoms that I have just ignored and put down to being tired all the time from work!  As time has gone on symptoms have got worse. Here is just a few! Fatigue, stabbing pains/pressure in head, numb/cold feet and hands, numb face mostly on left but can be on both sides, swollen lymph nodes under jaw and neck, flashing lights in both eyes, twitching muscles, heavy arms, tinnitus, carpel tunnel, walking upstairs feels like I’ve just run a marathon, RLS, dizziness and heart palpitations, and the list goes on!  Over the last 12 months I have had the following tests:

2 brain scans – with and without contrast - Clear
2 Spine scans- cervical to sacrum - Clear
Nerve conduction test on all limbs - Normal
Hearing test - Normal
Eye tests - Normal
Ultra sound on reproductive parts - Normal
Ultra sound on abdomen – Normal
Ultra sound on lymph nodes in neck and body – Normal just swollen!
About 10 separate blood tests - Positive ANA 1:1600 (all other autoimmune follow up tests were normal)

As my doctors and specialists have found nothing wrong with me apart from a positive ANA blood test they say it’s ‘Psychosomatic.’ I thought maybe they could be right as nothing else has shown up.  So from there I saw a psychiatrist and went to counselling for 6 sessions.  They said it was anxiety and put me on anti-depressant’s! I didn’t feel depressed I felt ill and was just scarred and frustrated that nothing was showing up on any of the tests.  So after all this I went to see a nutritionist who started me on a good diet and several vitamins.  After 3 months of that I still feel tired all the time and the numbness and pins and needles are still here!  About two weeks ago I went back to my Dr’s telling her that I was unable to feel the skin on both legs. She used that annoying word again ‘Psychosomatic!  I wanted to scream at her but instead I said ok, went directly to the secretary’s and asked for all of my files from birth.  Cost me £50! I read them at home and within a few minutes of looking I found that at the age of 17 (I’m 35 now) I had a migraine and experienced numbness in my hand, face and tongue!  I don’t really remember this but around the same time I was diagnosed with anaemia due to my ferritin level being 4.8 (shouldn’t really be below 30!).  At the same time my Haemoglobin was normal.  They put it down to my heavy periods and gave me 3 months of iron tablets.  So fastforward 18 years and I went back and asked my Dr last week if I should have the ferritin test done as there may be a connection.  She looked unimpressed that I had even got my notes but reluctantly sent me for a FBC and Ferritin test. They took blood from me but the haematologist refused to carry out the ferritin test as he said my haemoglobin was normal.  I went private (£70!) for Ferritin test and it came back this morning as 22.  I’m now being tested for my b12 as last year it was 260 (shouldn’t be below 400 I have read) If you’re still reading this thank you for staying with me!  
My question is, could the supplements that I have been taking from my nutritionist have affected my ferritin result? I really expected it to be lower than 22.  I have been on Magnesium (600mg a day) Vitamin B50 complex, GTF Chromium, Omega 3 and acidophilus probiotics.  Any idea’s on what I should do next? Self medicate and see if all the numbness and weird sensations go?  See what my Dr thinks? I’m completely lost to what to do next and as I write this my right hand and face is completely numb! :-(

Any ideas would be much appreciated :-)

[Londres70]

Post your other labs please.  I will take a look.  

[Occum86]

Thanks for the info Meniere135.
Nutritionist put me on a wheat and gluten free diet.  Also cleared my system/gut out just in case I had parasites!  I'm seeing her next Wednesday for a catch up and to see how I'm getting on.  To be honest I don't feel any better on the diet, no extra energy, lymph nodes even bigger  and I still have pins and needles :-(
I haven't seen her since I discovered that I may be Iron deficient so I'm sure she will advice me on a diet change.  I'm going to look into Chiari as some of my symptoms do match.

Yes I have been having stomoch pains for the last two years, I've had a abdominal scan and they said it looks normal (no suprise) Dr said it was stress but I wasn't stressed when I first had it! Not sure if this could be attached to an anemia thing?

What did your Dr advice your daughter to do with her low Ferritin level?

[meniere135]

What kind of diet did the nutritionist recommend?  Two foods that can cause malabsoption of nutrients and vitamins and minerals, that are also related to autoimmune conditions, are gluten (in wheat, barley, rye and possibly oats) and cow's milk products.
Maybe talk with the nutritionist and see if these foods are worth eliminating, one at a time, of course.  One of my kids had the swollen lymph nodes most of her kid life (she's 15 now).  When she went gluten free, after several weeks, the lymph nodes returned to normal size.  She also had lower ferritin levels.  

Another site you might want to post on is the Chiari Malformation site.  See if they have any input.  I see you had a brain scan, but I've read that chiari can be missed on the reading of the scan or it can be dismissed as something negligible.  

Are you having any stomach or intestinal symptoms?  

I hope someone is able to help you.  Hang in there!  

[Occum86]

Thank you for such a quick response Londres70.

The B50 complex I have say's it has B6,folic acid, B12,biotin,thiamin,riboflavin,niacin,PABA and chiline bitartrate in it.  I'm guessing that it will ruin the B12 test I just had today as I've been on them 2-3months now.

My Thyroid tests are as follows:
(Serum TSH Normal level 0.27-4.2)
My levels:
Nov 01      Dec 09.            Dec 10
1.29.            1.02.                1.13

I have every blood test result under the sun if you would like me to post them? My neutrophil and white blood count has always been below range.  And all the others are at the bottom end of the scale! Looking through my Doctors notes again today I have found that I have been given 2 lots of iron tablet courses. I'm just really starting to feel like my Dr's have overlooked this possible easy fixable solution rather than sending me down the MS,Parkinsons, autoimmune path. If only they had found this out a year ago and eliminated it first instead of putting me on anti-depressents.

Hope all that makes sense?

[Londres70]

I know the feeling; if they can't figure you out in 30 minutes or less you have to be "nuts" or psychosomatic.  Alot of physicians are giving out anti-depressants and anti-anxiety tablets like they are candy.  It is a shame.  Yes, your symptoms can be r/t to these abnormal labs; indeed.    

Get a script for iron supplements if your can.  With an iron level that low you probably need injections or an infusion to bump it up.  Probably need injections to bump your b12 up too.  

Not so sure if the chromium and the probiotics will help.  What exactly is this "Vitamin B50 complex?"  Is it a mix of the essential B vitamins?  Can't say these supplements did anything to ferritin levels.    

I would DUMP this physician that said you were "psychosomatic."  Apparently, she is not interested in helping you any longer.  Find someone who WILL.  She sounds limited in her compentency and surely doesn't sound like a physician who likes to investigate what the hell is wrong.  Yeah, there are people who are psych, but I don't think that is the case here.  

What are your thyroid labs like?  This sounds suspicious of a thyroid issue.