Muhammad Ali RIP

[Emfeet]

I know not strictly PA-but a great boxer who showed equal strength in the prescence of a medical condition !

Flys like a butterfly stings like a bee

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Emfeet ,

I'm the same age as Muhammad Ali so "grew up" with his poems and boasts as Cassius Clay back in the 1950s which were very amusing to listen too.

As to your breathlessness having had P.A.for over 45 years I often have to "take a deep breath" even when just sitting down.

Are you taking any B12 supplements? If you are, the test result (if you ever get to have one) will be skewed and totally meaningless - unless it comes out very low. You would also need to know what your Folate (B9) level was.

I wish you well

[Emfeet in reply to clivealive]

Hi Clivealive!

Just hearing about his poetry now interested to read some- I'm guessing there will be some published in the wake of his death, a character gone but not forgotten! Sorry if I slightly misquoted him!

Amazing story about him carrying the Olympic flame & burning his arm

trying to hide his Parkinson!

I'm only on Menopace,including Vitamin B12 = 9ug 360 %EC NRV, don't really understand that but guessing it sounds pretty low! I deliberately haven't taken a B12 supplement as don't want to skew any results.

I'm allowed to go back & have Vit D checked ( think it is the new buzz deficiency!)- I think I'm going to get brave & actually ask for a print out of any blood results for last 2 years to fully understand what's been going on. I'm actually quite anti medication, & if all I need is to alter diet

or take the right supplement I would be happy, I just would like my energy levels would be back to my normal!! I also accept this could be multi factorial!

As I have learnt from this forum , the important ones to look for are:

Vit B12, folic acid & intrinsic factor ( would these be Iooked for in a regular range of blood tests?)

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Emfeet]

normally B12 folate aren't looked at in blood tests. IFA is a specific test so wouldn't be part of a normal blood screen.

B12 and folate are parts of some specific blood screening these days - eg part of the checks if cognitive impairment/dementia is being investigated.

[clivealive Forum Support]

Emfeet If it is your diet you think might be the cause of your low B12:-

Top 10 Vitamin B12 Foods

1) Beef liver

3 oz: 18 mcg (over 100% DV)

2) Sardines

3 oz: 7.6 mcg (over 100% DV)

3) Beef (grass-fed)

3 oz: 1.5 mcg (25% DV)

4) Tuna

3 oz: 2.5 mcg (41% DV)

5) Raw cheese

1.5 oz: 1.5 mcg (25% DV)

6) Cottage cheese

1 cup: 1.4 mcg (23% DV)

7) Lamb

3 oz: 2.07 mcg (35% DV)

8) Raw Milk

1 cup: 1.1 mcg (18% DV)

9) Eggs

1 large: 0.44 mcg (7% DV)

10) Salmon

3 oz: 1.1 mcg (18% DV)

And for Folate (which is needed to "process" the B12

As the name implies, green leafy vegetables (or foliage) are among the best sources of folate. Spinach, turnip greens, bok choy, parsley, and romaine lettuce are all rated by as excellent sources of folate. Other vegetables can be strong sources as well, and we see asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli and beets join the excellent group.

Also a number of the legumes do very well for this nutrient. At the top of the list here are lentils, which achieve a rating of "excellent" for folate. In fact, among all WHFoods, lentils rank as our best source of folate! Rating "very good" as sources of folate are garbanzo beans, navy beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans.

Some, but definitely not all, fruits are important sources of folate. Papayas and strawberries are very good sources of this nutrient, while oranges, pineapple, raspberries, kiwifruit, cantaloupe, lemons and limes all rate as "good" sources of this B vitamin.

To design a whole foods diet that contains enough folate, you'll want to make sure to include plenty of minimally processed plant-based foods. If you are eating 5 cups' worth of vegetables, a couple of fresh fruits, and a legume-based meal during an average day, you are quite likely to be meeting your folate needs.

[Emfeet in reply to clivealive]

Thanks Clivealive that is a very comprehensive list-I actually think I have a good diet which includes many of the things that you mention but I will up my quantity of some things. From childhood I naturally avoided red meat & never desired it!

I do think my blood cells are my chemical make-up, but would prefer to do anything the natural way- if at all possible!

I feel frustrated for all those that require Vit B 12 injections that either get blocked, or limited in quantity or frequency of injection!

The running theme that seems to run through a lot of people's stories are that most people know their body 'norm' but being really listened to by the medical team?

Again I will say what a great way of sharing information & suppoting each other!!

[LtAngua52]

How sad, I'm not into boxing, but he certainly made it entertaing and showed great courage dealing with his Parkinson's.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Hadn't twigged that he'd died despite the heading until I saw the papers this morning.

Boxing was his way out of being trapped in poverty - good that sport can do that - and once he had the eye of the world he wasn't shy about making the world aware of issues that he and others faced. He was a man of great courage and personal integrity ... and always had great respect for others, whoever they were, frequently using humour to get his point across. He hadn't been visible for a number of years because of the impact of the parkinsons that he had - think that was a consequence of his time as a boxer - but he is a loss.

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Gambit62]

As I am some six months older than Cassius Clay I remember having my breakfast before going to work as a 17 year old and BBC radio did an interview with this "up and coming" young boxer from the USA who forecast the results of his next bout by reciting his own wittily made up poems.

Strange how these things stick in your mind...

[Emfeet]

Don't remember in such good details, but he seems to be a prominent public character in my memories!- can't wait to start reading some of his poems! Great to have inspiring characters!