Ms diagnosis

[toph]

Has any body reading this post been wrongly diagnosed with MS? I have read that b12 deficiency can cause lesions like in MS and look very similar on an MRI SCAN.

[Holnee]

Sally Pacholok's book "Couid it be B12?" has a whole chapter devoted to this topic.

[toph]

I have just spoken to my insurance health provider, they will pay for a b12 ACTIVE test but I have to pay for GP appointment. I have been orally supplementing at high doses of methylcobalamin would this render the b12 active test deceiving. Wld it be best if I lay off all b12 for 4-5 weeks or wld the test still show deceiving values?

[Coastwalker]

toph, as holnee mentions - Could it be B12 (an Epidemic of Misdiagnoses) by Sally Pacholok is a brilliant book. Only wish I'd bought it far sooner. My Parents had conditions which I now believe were down to B12 instead.

I have read on Health Unlocked members saying they were first diagnosed with MS, then found to be B12 deficient. B12 is mostly treatable.

Here's a clip of the content page of Could It Be B12: -

Chapter Three - Deadly Mimic: When B12 Deficiency Masquerades as Multiple Sclerosis or Other Neurological Disorders.

There are other better blood tests that are mentioned in the book, (someone please correct me if I am wrong or missed something out.)

MMA -Methymalonic Acid

Homocysteine (Hyc)

Holotranscobalamin (HoloTC)

[toph in reply to Coastwalker]

I have heard about these additional tests before. How do I go about getting these tests because I have already been to a private haematologist and he didn't test these does that mean he was in the wrong? I think my insurance policy feels that I have seen a private haematologist and there was nothing that came up so that is aviva's obligation complete. This leaves me in a predicament where I have health insurance but the health insurance company I believe will not let me use it to get these three vital tests. Do you think there are any other avenues I can pursue. I find that the NHS is a very awkward machine to request tests from. are these tests expensive if I pay for them myself?

[Coastwalker in reply to toph]

Sorry I can't help you further toph, those bloods are all new to me, I am looking into it all myself (when I get time) as I am still getting symptoms, despite supplementing. I also have low thyroid and know more about that, low thyroid and B12 deficiency often go hand in hand and both often get over looked. if you put another post up someone I am sure will help you further. My Husband has done private, at home, finger prick blood tests before, well worth doing as he was under range in iron and it wasn't picked up despite many bloods done.

[Ryaan]

I bought the book 'Could it be B12' 2 days ago. I haven't read it yet, but has a lot of info.

I think you should consider buying it. It's one of the best books on B12 and has all info on B12, related diseases, misdiagnosis and much more.

All you need to know about B12 and what you asked is in there.