Vague nerve performance

[GGourmet]

I have had B12 deficiency for a while. Non specific a possibly linked to significant emergency antibiotics over the last 10 years interfering with gut biome.

After collapsing on the 1st of September in Victoria Station London, I have been under further investigation.

Syncope is the prime diagnosis of unknown cause. However, I had severe whiplash in 2000, actually happening twice, 6 months apart. I have been reviewed by an osteopath ever since and he has recently seen issues around the vagus nerve in my neck. Although not a conclusive link to the collapse as this was seen 2 months after the collapse, this has been reported to the consultant cardiologist.

This triggered a search and I found the following article. Does anyone know much about this?

I have been successful treated for B12 deficiency for about 8 months now with injections and oral. Autoimmune cause was discounted but this article talks about intrinsic factor and parietal cells separate from autoimmune effects.

brainprotips.com/vagus-nerv...

[Marz]

Yes - this link was posted this morning on Thyroid UK here on Health Unlocked. I am very interested in the Vagus nerve through my yoga practice - the Uijay breath stimulates the epiglottis which in turn can stimulate the vagus nerve. My epiglottis over the last couple of years has diminished in energy and I am hoping to stimulate it through regular gargling - which I somehow keep forgetting

I think it is a very interesting article and creates thoughts that take us back to the body and its amazing workings within. You have beaten me to it by posting this link - but your post is accompanied by your own story - so more interesting. Hope you find some answers soon ....

[GGourmet in reply to Marz]

Thanks for your input. Very valuable. I’ve just taken a call from my osteopath for a little clarity when I see a neurologist on Wednesday. Thankfully I have a brain MRI from 12 months ago and if he does another one it may be possible to see changes - here’s hoping.

[Marz in reply to GGourmet]

When you lose the gag reflex and are unable to gargle well - or do the Uijay breath - it can or may suggest some deterioration in the brain. Realised how bad my balance was this morning in yoga - when others were standing on one leg in Tree pose and I was NOT !! - another indication things ain't good A few years ago I could do it with ease.

[GGourmet in reply to Marz]

I have had a few issues with swallowing over the years. This is turning out to be a very interesting article.

[GGourmet]

You are quite correct but I do have issues at the vertebrae where the vagus nerve comes out.

[Marz]

Hidden - surely there are degrees of issues without the vagus nerve being removed ....

[GGourmet in reply to Marz]

I think this is why I was looking for opinions on the article.

[Polaris]

Thank you for posting this interesting article GGourmet

As Marz has pointed out, and I had forgotten, long and deep gargling several times a day (and singing loudly!) is an excellent neurological exercise to improve the vagus nerve. This is mentioned in the book, 'Why isn't my Brain Working?', ( written by Dr K, a leading Harvard neurologist). He writes:

"When the gut-brain axis is impaired, it is common to hear very little rumbling" (in the abdomen).

"If you have a poorly functioning gut-brain axis and vagus nerve, neurological exercises can increase the plasticity and function of the vagus pathway."

[Polaris]

PS. I'd heartily recommend the book written in clear, layman's language - six pages on the vagus nerve - starting with :

"when the brain functions poorly due to degeneration and inflammation, output through the brain stem lowers . This in turn decreases the firing rate of the vagus nerve. With less input into the vagus nerve, people can suffer from poor indigestion, constipation and an inability to tolerate many foods because they can't digest them".

[GGourmet]

Indeed and valuable to have your view on that. I have other similarities such as bradycardia - rest BPM of 55. This has in itself been linked to amnesia at a time of syncope and in my case amnesia lasted around 3 hours.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

having done a search on the NCBI sight (US resource that allows you to research medical issues) the references to harm to B12 absorption as a result of vagotomy seem to come from articles on gastric vagotomy and the implication isn't that this is because the nerve is involved in stimulating the production of B12 but because of damage done to the terminal ileum during the operation

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

these are two of the articles that came up on this search

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/?term=...

[GGourmet in reply to Gambit62]

That really helps to put this in context. When I first read this, it appeared to say that the vagus nerve was responsible for stimulating production of parietal cells and intrinsic factor.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to GGourmet]

that is what the article says but didn't fit with my understanding of things which is why I tried to do a search to see if I could confirm the idea but I couldn't.

[Frodo]

Vagus nerve stimulation (there's a device available only on prescription via a specialist and not widely available) is a new treatment for migraine/cluster headache. Having taken part in a trial myself, it did help many of my symptoms, alongside B12 injections. However it didn't work on the regular intense pain although it modified it to some extent.

It seems to me that this (vagus nerve dysfunction) is another likely cause of B12 Deficiency owing to the effects on digestion and therefore absorption of nutrients from food. Migraine symptoms too include nausea, impaired gut motility and vomiting, so it's a vicious circle.

On the other hand, I've also speculated that severe B12 Deficiency which causes neurological/spine damage might play a part in damaging the vagus nerve and creating dysfunction, although I have no scientific basis for saying this apart from what I've read and my own experience.

My acute symptoms began after an untreated head injury. Many of the symptoms looking back were a combination of those listed in the feature and B12 Deficiency.

PS you might want to edit your header "vague nerve performance"

[GGourmet in reply to Frodo]

Thanks Frodo. Autocorrect stuck in vague and changing this, from past experience, creates a duplicate post rather than edit the existing post.