This past year I’ve been getting headaches once a month whereas I used to never get them. Then over the last couple of months, I’ve been getting them almost every other day, getting tired really quickly, having trouble focusing, and just overall don’t want to do anything. I’ve seen the doctor twice, and both times claimed they were tension headaches and I should just take Tylenol or Advil but I was wondering if there could be a difference cause to this....?
-18 year old female
-mostly vegetarian diet with occasional seafood
-currently exercising 2-4 times a week
-pharmacy assistant as summer job
Written by
candy3257
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Abnormal yellow colouration of the skin (jaundice)
Heightened sensitivity to hearing, smell, and taste
Vision distortion, e.g. seeing stars, or double vision
Breathlessness
Headache
Cankers (ulcers) in the mouth
Sleep disorders
Intolerance to loud sounds, flashing lights
Intolerance to crowded malls (needing personal space)
Tinnitus – ringing in ears
1.2 Neurological Symptoms
The neurological symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency may include:
Numbness and tingling of the arms and more commonly the legs
Difficulty walking
Loss of balance
Hands feel gloved with loss of sensitivity
Loss of vibration sense, having to look down to see where you are walking
Unable to close your eyes and stand on one foot
Night vision
Memory loss
Disorientation
Dementia
Extreme mood changes
Short term memory loss
Some experience many of these symptoms and some none of them. It depends on how quickly the PA is treated and on how well managed it is.
Do you have any other of the above besides the headache?
Your being vegetarian may put you at risk of developing a Vitamin B12 deficiency (albeit you eat seafood occasionally) and symptoms of B12 deficiency tend to develop slowly and may not be recognised immediately. Stress and tension may also "use up" B12.
Are you taking any medications which might affect your B12 levels?
We are born with several years "store" of B12 in our liver and this, like a battery, needs to be "topped up" and the only natural way is by eating animal products - meat, fish, seafood, eggs and dairy produce - milk, cheese etc. If you aren't eating enough of these your B12 level will drop and you will need to supplement it another way.
Personally I suggest you ask your doctor to test your serum B12 and depending on the result take it from there.
I am not a medically trained person but I've had Pernicious Anaemia (a form of B12 deficiency) for more than 46 years.
Consider PA, but also consider food reactions. Food reactions require a blood test and are not the same a food allergies. If you cannot get a blood test done, you can keep a food journal and see if there is a parallel between your symptoms and what you are eating. Also, eating too much of one food can eventually cause reactions to it.
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