Scary symptoms

[Mag999]

I am new here, I have had 5 episodes of extreme heaviness with loss of use of my left arm, muscle cramps and sweating, one of which ended in a&e suspected stroke, nothing found on ct. my bloods show b12 of 130, low iron, I also have been treated for virtually non existent vit d which is now near normal. Do these symptoms fit b12 deficiency? I am on the intensive course of injection but still getting weird symptoms, especially left arm heaviness. New to this site, thanks for reading

[fbirder]

No, they do not sound like the symptoms of a B12 deficiency.

[wedgewood]

Your B12 is certainly low and glad to hear that you are getting injections , , but what you describe doesn’t sound like a B12 deficiency . Best wishes .

[Nackapan]

I'm glad you getting b12 injections. They can stir up weird symptoms . Also low iron and vitamin d once levels are up shoukd improve things.

I imagine you will have further tests on your heart and other bloods to eliminate or find if anything else going on.

At least something found that is now being treated and go from there.

Take Care

[Mag999]

Thanks all for your replies

[Jacqui1968]

Before I was diagnosed with low b12 and low iron, I actually gave up work as I thought I was heading for a heart attack. I had a dull heavy ache in my left arm and hot flushes/sweats. It did all get better with iron supplements and weekly b12 injections, but even now I know when I need to go back on iron as I get that aching back in my arm.

[Mag999 in reply to Jacqui1968]

Ah thanks does feel very much like start of heart attack, or a stroke as I get headache and buzzing in my head. maybe just wait for all the tests which are taking forever to organise due to covid. Can’t face a&e again as the minute they see my Bp is low they don’t want to know about heart or vascular issues.

[Sherryl-16]

I've had 4 episodes that sound very similar to yours. I've had ECTs afterwards which are always normal. If you get any more info regarding this, I'd love to be kept in the loop as they're terrifying.

[Mag999 in reply to Sherryl-16]

I’ve googled myself silly the last 3 weeks, waiting for appts still. My Front runner Diagnosis is some kind of nerve damage due to b12 or other cause, symptoms are there all the time now despite injections. What do you experience and have you had your b12 checked?

[Mag999 in reply to Mag999]

O and do you always go to a&e when you get them? I dither about going and decided against but if they get worse I might try again as it might push them to get tests done

[Sherryl-16 in reply to Mag999]

My right arm is the one that feels heavy and dead, I sweat and my ribs / chest constricts so I feel like I can't breathe. I can't move or even speak during these episodes, so tend to just wait until everything loosens up and I can breathe again. I've never been to A&E, never called an ambulance, but have seen the GP as soon as possible after and explained all the symptoms, hence the ECG's, which always come back normal!! I'm b told my B12 is within normal range or high (which it would be as I have injections). I haven't had an episode for over 2 years now and none of the symptoms are there all the time. I'm wondering if they are panic attacks.

[Mag999 in reply to Sherryl-16]

I have had some experience of panic attacks, both personal and as mental health worker. They can take all sorts of forms so it is possible but maybe you need more exploration of other causes via your gp? Ruling things out really helps me to stay calm, I am less worried about my heart as these episodes come and go and I’m still here! However I will follow up with the cardiologists as there could be more than one thing going on.

In my experience genuine panic attacks can be reduced and controlled once the person knows what to do, for example controlling breathing, but I have had what looked like panic attacks caused by physical imbalances and I just had to sit those out.

I suppose I think suffering in silence won’t help in the long run and it’s always worth trying to get to the bottom of strange symptoms

[Mag999]

Ok will do. I am having an mri of brain and spine as gp thinks ms or other weird neuro thing also event recorder of heart as I get strange vascular symptoms, veins swell up in my arm bp goes up and down. Be good in some ways if it is all down to b12