What can this mean?

[Skerrywherry]

Hi

New here so please forgive me if I ask stupid questions.

I’ve been experiencing feet and hand pains, numbness and pins and needles on and off for a number of years. I had an mri years ago as GP was suggesting nerve damage, MS, fybromyalgia but it was inconclusive. Since then I still experience the numbness etc but gave up speaking to the GP about it.

About 6 months ago I stated feeling sick, lost my appetite and lost a stone. Had glucose in urine and blood and was treated for a uti but was then told I didn’t have one. Weight loss and nausea has stopped though I haven’t put the weight back on. Then at Xmas I lost my voice and got a chest infection, still ongoing.

On top of that I started to have the strangest feeling in my mouth, numbness of lips and dry mouth. Dentist said gums are red and suggested changing toothpaste, possible viral infection and that I should get my b12 tested. I eventually took his advice and went back to the GP.

Last time my B12 was checked it was 200, range 196 to 900 in 2012. I got it tested again yesterday and receptionist rang today to say it’s at 243. Folate level is 3.3 and strangely my iron serum level is elevated to 189, top of range is 170, which she says is probably due to the chest infection.

GP has prescribed folic acid which I start tomorrow, blood test again on 11th feb and 4 month course of folic acid. Just wondering if anyone else has had similar results and what treatment they have been given ? Or any advice ? Or anything I should be saying to my GP?

Thanks

[Gambit62 Administrator]

The difference between the two serum B12 levels - 200 and 243 - is actually well within the noise level for serum B12 - they are well within the variation that you get from repeating the test several times on the same sample.

As such it would suggest that you don't have a B12 absorption problem, but it is also true that serum B12 is a problematic test when it comes to telling you what is going on with B!2.

Your folate levels are definitely on the low side/deficient. B12 and folate are used together in some key processes that go on in your cells and the symptoms of the deficiencies overlap considerably.

How is your diet for folate? - plenty of fruit and veg? If your diet is rich in folate then that would suggest an absorption problem rather than a dietary deficiency - absorption problems with folate will generally be accompanied by absorption problems with B12 so that would suggest that B12 should at least be monitored again.

If your diet isn't rich in folate then you need to change it to increase the amount of folate rich food as dietary sources are the best ones.

[Skerrywherry in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks for replying. I consider my diet to be quite good with plenty of fruit and fresh veg. GP has another blood test scheduled for 11th feb which I’m assuming is to check that the folate is rising in line with the medication prescribed. If it isn’t then he will probably order more tests. I’ll wait and see what he says. Thanks again

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Skerrywherry]

suggest you mention that the BCSH guidelines say that there is a very strong liability of B12 absorption problems if there is a folate absorption problem. GP can access them through the BNF. It may be worth having a trial of B12 if the folatedoesn't do anything.

[MarsBarKid]

Hi help for nerve pain can come from natural grown by God where incidentally Big Pharma gets its chemical formula to make drugs to sell to us.

Anyway some yrs back got burning pain in heel and tingling elsewhere fingers toes etc - bad at night. I tried internet and someone said try B12 supplement and another said eat blackberries daily. So I did both. I eat frozen blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and black pitted cherries daily no sugar - started off with 1/2 teaspoon then gradually left it off. So can try natural as well as chemical means. Eat lots of Broccoli spinach kale for folate. I keep frozen veggies - so can add bits of the lot nightly for dinner - just as good as fresh but no waste. Not lazy just practical can bung in all the ones for folate etc. Carrots cauliflower anything from the frozen veg at supermarket. Including the fruit. Here in Australia buy grown in Chile - sad eh - should be our own but only fresh and very much more expensive but Chile fruit is as good quality. Hope this helps. My B12 is taken by sublingual tablet placed under the tongue not injection works as GP saying got too high proof!

[Kish2929 in reply to MarsBarKid]

So, how are you feeling now? Did your nerve Pain go off? And how long have you been taking the sub lingual B12. How is your tingling now?

[MarsBarKid in reply to Kish2929]

Taking tablet under tongue now for 4 years for nerve pain in heel - was bad enough to wake me and not get back to sleep - doze but pain there etc - adding blackberries helped keep it at bay - reduced B12 3 times weekly in place of daily - and then no blackberries available 9 days - it came roaring back - took a week of blackberries more than usual - to get it to finally depart my nights. Took both - also arthritis is worsened by eating any of the deadly nightshade family. Potato tomato hot peppers etc and so I stopped eating chips. Now that was hard I can tell you.

We are what we eat 100% correct. Problem today is Round Up - ingredient of it has killed our soils. So supplements are needed.