3 years of wrinkled fingers - Pernicious Anaemi...

Pernicious Anaemia Society

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3 years of wrinkled fingers

Andrianna profile image
24 Replies

After buster_uk posted his wrinkled fingers, I wanted to show everyone what I think is another symptom of b12 deficiency. This started after I was put under nitrous oxide or laughing gas.

These messages boards are not available in google search? Over the years, I was googling my symptoms and could never find any message boards. I could only find typical health websites stating the same regurgitated information. Plus I would find medical journals.

My point is that there is probably other people complaining about these symptom and they don’t know where to turn. I wish I found this society or other websites years ago. But maybe I’m just a bad google researcher!

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Andrianna profile image
Andrianna
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24 Replies
EllieMayNot profile image
EllieMayNot

Google has been known to censor search results. I often use duckduckgo, instead. Unfortunately, even if uncensored, I think that there are so few websites that mention the obscure symptoms of PA that they just don't get picked up by the search engines.

Not happy that others experience these strange symptoms but relieved to know that I am not the only one. Grateful for this forum and the people willing to share their experiences. Best to you!

EyeandDry profile image
EyeandDry

Yes, totally agree! My Pruney fingers have disappeared since I started monthly b12 injections due to a severe b12 deficiency. I only found this out after doing heaps of my own research (as my GP was clueless when it came to all my symptoms) and telling my doctor I wanted certain blood tests done! Unfortunately, we have to be our own advocates. Thank goodness for the internet! See following article on Pruney fingers! epainassist.com/sports-inju...

fbirder profile image
fbirder

I started getting wrinkled fingers, plus mild raynaud's symptoms, about a year after I started getting proper treatment for my PA.

They both went away when I started taking nifedipine for high blood pressure.

Sherlockthepup profile image
Sherlockthepup

Thank you for sharing that, you have just connected the dots for me. I noticed this on my fingers 2 days ago and thought nothing of it,last night my husband suggested I self inject as he thought My symptoms were getting severe (I suffer a wee bit of denial about it) and I shouldn't wait till my nhs injection next week.

He was very right. Next time I'll maybe take it when I notice the fingers as this is obviously before I felt so bad.

So thanks again for sharing, reading these posts most mornings has made me feel much better about and more in controls of my pa.

JanCymru profile image
JanCymru

Well Andrianna, thank you for this! It was certainly an OMG moment for me when I looked at my own fingers and thought, crikey they are the same! Another aspect of PA that we all seem to accommodate and take in our stride(s), and due to the very often inept help we receive, just get on with life as best we can. My jabs (8-weekly, thank goodness), and I find when one is nearly due my finger tips feel a little numb and tingly, and I find I'm not as dextrous as usual. Corners of my mouth also have a tendency to crack, so I hit the Marmite. Thank you for sharing, Andrianna, all knowledge appreciated. Best wishes to you.

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support

Andrianna, I have to say you have excellent nails. They are your own aren't they ?

Did you ever Google "B12 and fingernails" ? …. Then you'll know what I mean !

I can't remember vertical wrinkles on fingers, but I certainly remember vertical ridges on lumpy and bumpy splitting nails with no moons, black vertical blood streaks underneath which had to grow out.

But then Googled it and realised that I was getting off rather lightly !

Andrianna profile image
Andrianna

Hi Cherylclaire - my fingernails are no longer like that anymore. :-( My nails are now weak with tons of vertical lines. Im hoping that they will disappear once I recover from this deficiency. I just googled, "B12 and fingernails" and my nails look exactly like that with the vertical lines.

Gigi216 profile image
Gigi216

I have this too! No one else in my household has it but me and I’m the only one with a b12 deficiency, very interesting

Contra21 profile image
Contra21

What should good b12 levels be at?? Anyone get heart thumps and flutters

Gigi216 profile image
Gigi216 in reply toContra21

Yes, I get flutters and many other things I think you want it over 500. I’m sure someone more knowledgeable than me will chime in about best numbers

Contra21 profile image
Contra21 in reply toGigi216

Dr says im ok on 300 but i bought b12 tabs and they said flutters of 4 yrs known as ectopics cannot be from b12. Ugh

Deronda77 profile image
Deronda77

Hello! Not sure if anyone will see but just wanted to say I wish I'd found this thread weeks ago as have been going out of mind with cold (when I go outside) and wrinkly pruney fingertips that also get indentations in them and are too pink looking. Also had numb toes, numb top of ankle and various other weirdnesses (funny nail colours) that because I have severe health anxiety and the lock down was making it difficult to access a gp have nearly sent me crazy. After other doctors thinking raynauds (even though no proper colour change, doesn't go away and only fingertips) i finally got a lovely gp who tested me for everything and it came back as really low b12 along with iron which she thinks is the cause so have my first b12 jab tomorrow morning. So wish me luck and hoping wrinkles finally go and nerves start coming back!

Ps. Cause not sure yet but have taken PPI's for 10 years and also gyn issues so being looked at further for that.

Andrianna profile image
Andrianna in reply toDeronda77

All of your symptoms sound exactly like mine.

I feel so much better now after taking b12 shots for about 8 months.

Interesting about the top of your ankle. I have the same symptom and it still persists. Is both ankles or one ankle? Does it come and go?

Yeah doctors told me I had Raynaud’s as well but they were wrong. My fingertips are 80% better now.

Andrianna profile image
Andrianna in reply toDeronda77

I also had stomach problems and now it’s completely gone with b12 shots. I hope you feel better really really fast!

Deronda77 profile image
Deronda77

Yes ankle is only on the left. The same side I also have sciatica that developed 6 months ago. Right foot started with numb middle toe that went eventually more or less but different toes still get numb ish occasionally on the sides. I also have weird rash under arms and finger pads are sort of putty like. Sends me crazy! Glad to hear yours is doing better. Were your finger tip worse with gripping and going outside when cold?

Deronda77 profile image
Deronda77 in reply toDeronda77

My ankle stays but has improved sometimes and all foot numbness more noticeable after bath or barefoot.

Deronda77 profile image
Deronda77

Sorry again! Should also say I had chronic gastritis in the last few years that is mostly gone now and a hiatus hernia and on PPI's for gerd. Gp thinks periods causing b12 lowness as so erratic with weird symptoms last 3 years I was diagnosed perimenopausal even though only 43 but minute I started iron periods back to normal. So waiting for ultrasound. I had weird all body twitches at one point. Now wondering if related to b12. I ve had quite a few gastroscopies and biopsies last few years for gastritis so not sure if pernicious anemia would have shown up on them? Otherwise I guess 10 years off PPI's explains deficiency. All so strange! Even had 6 weeks of hrt that made me feel awful and that I had thought had triggered fingers!

I realise this might not be seen, but for those of you still suffering from wrinkled fingers, do you find that the fingers have a different sense of feeling? I have one finger that is particularly wrinkly and I notice that it doesn't quite feel usual when it brushes against material when getting dressed for example. When I pull the skin tight it goes back to a normal feeling so I think it must be the wrinkles that are causing the different feeling!

Deronda77 profile image
Deronda77 in reply to

Yes I noticed that when they were bad. I have had slow improvement with self injections. There is a fb group called b12 wake up that is very good. I'm now getting tests from a rheumatologist to rule out anything nasty but like I say regular b12 does seem to be helping and no cold nose now!

MLJ2024 profile image
MLJ2024 in reply toDeronda77

Hi Deronda. I realise this is an old post, so you may not see my reply, but this thread came up on a web search about wrinkled fingers. Mine have been like this for around five years and all GPs I’d ever asked about this had put it down to ‘washing the dishes or hands too often’! I knew it was complete rubbish because my fingers are like it 24/7 even when I have just woken up 😂 What made me reply to your post was the mention of ‘cold nose’ This is another thing I’d just passed off as nothing for years. Is this a known symptom of PA too? I wish there were an updated ‘true’ list of symptoms as reported by PA sufferers themselves so that we don’t have to be brushed off by our GPs or having to search for hours trying to help ourselves 🙏😊

Deronda77 profile image
Deronda77 in reply toMLJ2024

Hi! In truth I was not positive for the pernicious anemia test but just had low b12 at the time presumably from PPI use. My fingers did improve a lot once b12 corrected and over time but does flare up occasionally. I did go through menopause not long after so not sure if that was a factor aswell as notice it can flare on non progesterone part of my hrt cycle. Weird isn't it. Have you had your b12 tested?

MLJ2024 profile image
MLJ2024 in reply toDeronda77

Hi Deronda77, Thanks for your reply. I have had a few tests on my B12 and all came back normal. My ferritin is always really low, despite having a hysterectomy over 10 years ago. I had lots of different tests to find out why I was always so low and never found a cause. I have been a vegetarian for about the last five years and take iron when I get weak and breathless. Like a lot of people, I’m tired of the rigmarole of getting appointments with docs that just want to prescribe iron and get me out of the door. I still have no answers. 10 years of needlessly taking PPIs has a lot to do with it! Was never anemic through all the years of heavy periods. Glad to read you’re doing better 😊🙏

grumpyold profile image
grumpyold in reply toMLJ2024

I am new to this forum and just stumbled across this post. I get a cold nose too and my fingertips are always wrinkled and pruney. I am just starting my battle to get B12 deficiency diagnosed. I'm saving all the symptoms I can find that are mentioned to show to my doc, to support my case. Looks like it's gonna be a long hard road. 😭

Deronda77 profile image
Deronda77

I did have very low Iron at the time. 7 at one point and still have to periodically take tablets to keep it up, but was always being told I was low since early 20s but stupidly didn't pay attention. I was always petite and had heavy periods so gp put it down to that when young. I've always had cold hands and feet though even as a child so don't think circulation is my strong point! For you could there be any relation to hormones?

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