Sore tongue again

My tongue is playing up again.I get a good run where I don’t have any problems then all of a sudden it starts again it’s like raw cuts or grazes on it and it’s very uncomfortable to eat,any ideas if it’s a deficiency of some sort? Thank you x

[Nackapan]

Oh dear

For my daughter it's a sign her folate is low she also gets moth ulcers .

Now she takes 400mcg folic acid daily her mouth so far had been okay

It can be a symptom of low b12 but you inject regularly not sure about other reasons. Tiu have had extra stress recently with your tests .

They dudnt run you low on iron did they?

[Hidden in reply to Nackapan]

Hi Nackapan hope your well? No my folate has been steadily climbing from 2. to over 10 now and my iron levels are within range apart from ferritin being too high.

I’m not getting the mouth ulcers any more since injections but my tongue is really annoying and sore again.x

[Nackapan in reply to Hidden]

Dehydration? Another reason. Are you drinking enough ? It's easy not to in this heat. Back to my sticks and soups. Although a strange thing to have in the har does help train water.

Thanks for asking. I'm keeping with b12 injections 5-6 days. Ots 4 weeks tomorrow the tooth came out. Stitches only just came out yesterday. Am anti the bit a horrid insult to injury. Have managed 3 days off painkillers now.

Hope you find the cause of your sore tongue. Meanwhile drink more . T C

[Nackapan in reply to Nackapan]

Sorry about typos bedtime for me

[Hidden in reply to Nackapan]

I think I am as I’m taking pomegranate juice to help lower cholesterol and some lemon in my water now which helps me drink more but maybe your right I’ll make sure I increase it tomorrow thank you. Glad to hear your feeling a bit better seems ages to have had the stitches doesent it they were probably really tight by now which wouldn’t have helped your gum any.youve did well to get through this.x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Goodnight Nackapan sweet dreams x

[Nackapan in reply to Hidden]

Just a thought popped into my head drifting Acid from the lemon or juice?? That could hurt tour tongue

I have pomegranate juice for the same reason and lemon juice.

I dilute it well with water though. Lemon can damage your teeth.

I tend to have shots of or with sugar!definitely with food. Night lol

[knackersyard]

I suffered a sore tongue for years. Fat, swollen (felt too big for my mouth) red raw patches & would sting.

I was passed around several specialists, who tried all sorts of topical potions.

Blood tests repeated showed deficiencies in Zinc & Folate.

I now take ZMA at bedtime with 10mg Folate. Never had the problem since & the raw patches are gone.

[Hidden in reply to knackersyard]

Thank you knackersyard I did actually go and buy zinc with vit c in h and b yesterday so I’ll start them today and fingers crossed,I was doubting myself after buying them so thank you for reinforcing my thoughts.xx

[knackersyard in reply to Hidden]

Please don’t take my experience as advice.

You should be asking for test (including Zinc & Folate) to find the cause of your problem.

Just because those deficiencies appear to have been the cause of mine, might not be the cause of yours, and over doing certain vitamins can cause deficiencies in others.

Good luck!

[deniseinmilden]

I get the same thing, also in cycles, and for me taking methylfolate is the only thing that fixes it. My folate levels are usually OK or high (they ought to be, the amount I eat and take!! But I absorb very little of anything).

Autoimmune conditions seem to wax and wane with cycles of remission and relapse and I wonder if that's part of the problem.

I hear what you say about your folate levels, which is good, and I wouldn't want to recommend that you take anything unnecessarily...

However, does it coincide with spells of aching joints? If so that would also point to possibly needing methylfolate, as opposed to just folic acid.

If not, it might be worth trying a bit more folic acid for a while to see if it helps the immediate problem. Even if your levels are OK it won't be harmful to try a slightly higher dose for a couple of weeks and your absorbtion levels may have dropped slightly for a bit.

If you can get extra folate from your diet too that would be great and might be enough to do the trick.

If you do try any methylfolate, please be aware that while some is essential, too much can give you horrible headaches so introduce it carefully and don't try to build it up too much: if you absorb things OK, a low dose daily will do the trick and once your tongue and joints are better then back off again as it will suggest you have sorted the problem at that time.

If it comes back again you can always increase your dose and not back off quite so much next time.

It can mean that your B12 isn't working properly because of some limiting factor(s) and while folate is the most usual one it could be anything. Are you taking a broad spectrum multivitamin and mineral supplement? If not, that might help. The basic supermarket ones are some of the best balanced and most comprehensive, despite being the cheapest.

After that I'd look into iron and vitamin D, maybe potassium and magnesium.

If all the above are good I'd check vitamin E and selenium. These are not usually limiting in B12 metabolism pathways, although they could be, just like everything else, but they work together and a deficiency of either causes "ill thrift". Vitamin E has an important role in healthy skin. If you are eating lots of broccoli and spinach etc for your folate, plus nuts and seeds, including cereals, you should be getting enough vitamin E but you never quite know what your body might not be absorbing or utilising so you shouldn't just discount something.

There will be a reason for it and therefore a solution to the problem! Good luck with finding it and getting it sorted - I find having a sore tongue is miserable.

[Hidden in reply to deniseinmilden]

Good morning Denise thank you for that advice much appreciated as always.

I was taking the solgar methylfolate 400 but I noticed the headaches right away and decided to stop,because of this previous head injury I’m so wary and sensitive now,I will do as you suggest and try a folic acid supplement although I have been doing quite well using food but as you say it may well be dropping.

I’ve not been taking anything else as my latest Private testing showed all my vitamin and mineral levels to be at good levels and I’ve drastically altered my diet as I’d been really lazy and bored during lockdown and had been pigging out on rubbish,I’m back on the straight and narrow now and have already lost a decent amount of weight which is really helping my joints too.

I have a Better you multi b vitamin spray so I’ll start that today and just gradually introduce things so I can monitor any side effects.many thanks again xx

[deniseinmilden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!

Definitely sounds like methylfolate isn't the way forward! Well done for trying it though. It may be well worth trying a bit of additional folic acid and see if that does the trick.

Deficiencies can take a while to show up so you might already be getting back on track, just by being more diligent with your diet. 🤞

I know how bright and sensible you are so know it's not necessary to say to you but I hope you don't mind me just adding the following comment here for general clarity...

Be careful of taking lots of individual supplements: as each nutrient is interdependent, make sure you take them all in the right ratios and don't miss anything.

(Where the phrase "a balanced diet" comes from and means eating as wide a variety of things as possible from all food groups).

It is generally better, easier and cheaper to take a basic multivitamin and mineral supplement as a base and only add in extras to balance known deficiencies if necessary.

[Hidden in reply to deniseinmilden]

Yes your right Denise I have already decided to go out again later and get a good multi vit/ mineral supplement following your advice so many thanks again.xx

[deniseinmilden in reply to Hidden]

Good luck! I hope you feel better soon. xx

[Nackapan in reply to deniseinmilden]

Sorry to jump in Thrones but Deniseinmilden has answered a question for me.

With this tooth extraction my diet has been lacking the nuts and seeds and many other things.

A multivit for 'older women' I've just read has higher levels of vitamin E selenium especially. I've been taking it as know more than my mouth not right still.

I wonder if your change in diet which I know healthy might have reduced something you need ?

So hard to get the balance right once out of kilter. Ongoing

[Hidden in reply to Nackapan]

No problem Nackapan that’s a good point I can’t eat nuts or seeds so a multi would prob be a good idea for me too as Denise has probably been spot on.

My dietary changes have really only been sugary stuff as the pre diabetes diagnosis freaked me out and gave me the kick up the jacksy I needed.Ive also reduced carbs and Increased veg and now eating more cholesterol reducing stuff and increased exercise.I started the lemon and lime juice in water mid meals last night as fbirder suggested and I did the biggest man burp ever when I’d finished my dinner but no feeling of bloating or tummy pains,we are not half lucky here with the great helpful advice everyone takes the time to give us aren’t we xx

[Nackapan in reply to Hidden]

Yes. Sounds like you doing really well.

I'm usually good with food and once tooth socket healed will eat some harder food. I think chewing aids digestion enormously and I've not been doing alot if that !!

[Hidden in reply to Nackapan]

Yes same here I can’t chew when my tongues cut like this and my weight usually plummets too,last time I had it bad for around 6 months,about two years ago,and I dropped two stone then piled it on again during lockdown but just with pure greed and boredom.i bought new scales from amazon and I’ve found them great,I find it much easier to use the kilo system rather than stones and pounds.i went from 77.5 k to 75.2 in just two weeks,today s my weigh day again I do it weekly.docs just text cancelled my 3 monthly shot due to staff sickness,can’t rely on anything can we.x

[fbirder in reply to Nackapan]

Have you tried milled seeds?

Tesco do a nice version with a mix of flax, sunflower, chia, and pumpkin seeds. Ground to a fine powder. I sprinkle it on the yoghurt I put on my Weetabix and on salads.

tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/p...

[Nackapan in reply to fbirder]

Wonderful idea.

I was just looking at my small grinder on the small basic mixer. Its certainly not up to the job.

I suddenly realised I've not been able to eat nuts and seeds for some time .

Thank you .

[Hidden in reply to Nackapan]

I bought a new product from Holland and Barrett yesterday,well new for me I mean,It’s on the penny deal so I got two packs for £12.

Its pouches of OatWell powder reduces cholesterol,high in fibre and high in protein, it says 2 heaped teaspoons are equal to 3-4 bowls of porridge oats.thought I’d mention it in case your trying to reduce your cholesterol,you just sprinkle on foods.x

[Nackapan in reply to Hidden]

Thanks I can only cope with one bowl of porridge daily !!

[AmHW]

I get this. Does it look like geographic tongue? (Have a google- mine doesn't look anywhere near as bad as the google pics though). Most of the time it doesnt bother me but sometimes it can be a bit stingy etc if I eat something acidic.

I’m currently pregnant, and have read that it can be both a symptom of pregnancy and due to B12 deficiency. I don’t remember having it before I was pregnant but maybe I did and the pregnancy has just made it worse? Not sure what can be done about it, but perhaps worth speaking to doc if it’s really bothering you.

[Hidden in reply to AmHW]

No it’s not geographic it’s just like skint skin patches around the front of my tongue,sadly doctors have never offered any constructive help just said things like gargle or use sore gum gel which stings like hell lol. Poor babies.

I self inject every two days so I don’t think it’s lack of b12 I’m guessing it could be a deficiency in some other vitamin or mineral,It’s all trial and error isn’t it.its just maddening when it disappears as suddenly as it starts after months of pain.

I hope your pregnancy is going well and your not suffering in this heat,my grandaughter had a terrible time last year during her pregnancy with b12 deficiency and now has a bouncer of a One year old she’s walking and talking already just amazing,walks like a toddler she obviously benefitted from her mums b12 shots lol.

Take care and good luck with the baby xx

[AmHW in reply to Hidden]

Ah that is frustrating, hopefully if it’s another vitamin deficiency some trial and error with supplements may be able to sort it.

I’m doing ok at the moment thanks, the heat is brutal though. I’ve got a b12 jab on Wednesday (I am 3-monthly) and I definitely feel like I need it this time lol.

[Hidden in reply to AmHW]

Yes I’d make sure they keep them up after the baby arrives too,I honestly think all mums should be given b12 shots after a birth for at least 12 months ,I just wish I’d known 40 years ago what I know now instead Of gps handing me antidepressants like sweeties after my births.

You take care of yourself in this heat and enjoy your baby when he/she arrive.best of luck.xx

[Nackapan in reply to AmHW]

Theres a good multi vit for pregnancy.

Another daughter is pregnant and feels much better taking the multivit . Also had added to her bloods b12 ect because if me!! Hope you find your cause too.

[Showgem]

Apart from before PA diagnosis when my tongue was really huge and sore and if I try to space out my injections then the tingles start up again, my tongue gets sore with fresh pineapple and kiwi fruit unless it's really sweet. I once had tablets for toenail fungus which made my tongue sore and knocked out my tastebuds. I take one a day of supermarket folic acid.

[Themabinogion]

Hi Thrones, look up ‘Beef tongue b12 deficiency’ in google images. I’ve suffered with it for years but it always seems worse when I go to bed. When I sneeze, I can bite into my tongue and then it’s quite sore for a while. Sometimes, I find myself looking forward to reaching the stage where all my teeth fall out, soft food and slumber as soon as my head hits the pillow. Keep safe, Laurence

[Hidden in reply to Themabinogion]

Many thanks you too Laurence x

[Caroline59]

I don’t know if this will be of any help?

Both myself and my daughter get a sore split tongue if we eat raw tomatoes. I also get to speak with a lisp for a couple of days after because the back of my tongue swells slightly.

[Hidden in reply to Caroline59]

Thank you Caroline it could well be relevant as I’ve changed my diet to get include more fruit and veg and I’m always allergic to something so I’ll bet judging by all the advice I’m getting it’s definately something to consider.many thanks again x

[Fisylvia]

I thought this may be of some help to you. My first symptom was a very sore, cracked tongue, and also feeling out of sorts. Eventually went to doctors and had blood test which came back okay. I persevered with the symptoms for another year then went back to doctors, had another blood test which came back saying I was anemic.

Was then sent to see consultant and was sent for both cameras. All turns out it was P.A., due to having no intrinsic factor. Have been having Hydroxocabalamin injections every 3 months since after the initial loading doses.

[Hidden]

Hi Fisylvia thank you for replying.I initially thought b12 deficiency too but I’ve been self injecting every other day since April and it’s still managing to come back so I’m guessing it’s something to do with my diet,it’s still bothering me it looks like slices on my tongue, I found before when it was bad like this I had to eat mush till eventually it healed but it takes months.x