Asymmetric Neurologic Symptoms?

[anon4035]

Hello,

I've been on an adventure to figure out what's wrong for years now. My only symptom is that my right upper arm (outside muscle area) and the right side of my mouth/face get a feeling of weakness/numbness. Over the past 2 years, 1x week b12 shots for 4 to 6 weeks seem to have worked. Lately, however, symptoms have returned 3 weeks since my monthly shot. I suspect that I was able to go with monthly shots for a few months, but then the front-loaded 1x week doses wore off. This is the first time that monthly seems to not be enough, leading me to think I must move to biweekly.

My question to this amazing group is if anyone has seen b12 deficiency cause asymmetric neurologic symptoms like mine. The weakness/numbness is always in the exact same spots, right side of mouth and right upper arm. b12 seems to work, but my concern is I don't seem to be presenting the usual symptoms. Does anyone have any thoughts on if this is a b12 deficiency issue, or something else?

Notes

I have hypothyroidism. Sometimes I'll get tinnitus that comes for weeks or months, but then fades away. I eat 2500mcg sublingual b12 daily.

MRI showed no signs of MS at first onset of neurologic symptoms, about 1.5 years ago. Celiac disease panel showed no abnormalities. IF blocking antibody came up negative. on 2-3 tests b12 is always >2000. Hemoglobin showed no sign of diabetes. Comprehensive metabolic panel showed no abnormalities. Nerve induction-like tests showed no abnormalities.

I am awaiting results on an endoscopy, which I hope will be another important piece of evidence.

[Nackapan]

Your b12 levels will be high on injections. It does seem odd to me to have one sided isolated symptoms.

But you might have caught it early???

My sister checked levels as was having trouble with lifting her arms and aching wrists and tiredness

Oral supplements worked as b12 levels were low. Le

O think her symptoms were symmetrical.

You say b12 helped though .

I would go by that.

B12 supports many conditions .

[Girlb12]

I too have asymmetric symptoms - right hand, right leg and right foot. GP doesn't seem overly concerned. I self inject weekly and this seems to keep most symptoms at bay.

[anon4035 in reply to Girlb12]

Thank you for helping me get some anecdotal evidence of this (seemingly) rarer presentation of b12 deficiency.

[Bonjourtristesse]

My pins and needles/numbness is largely on the rhs. It disappears with enough b12 but I don’t have a diagnosis from the doctor.

[brainchild]

Hi there,

Like you, I had a weakness and weird sensation on the left side of my face. It even caused my face to be asymmetrical, with drooping! There didn't seem to be an answer when I queried it.

I also had lots of other B12 symptoms, some became severe, but wasn't picked up by a doctor for years. Thanks to a locum with an interest in B12, that my own doctor referred me to, I now have injections 6 weekly. It was reading your information that made me realise that my face issue has recovered along with so many other symptoms, so it was likely the B12 deficiency.

Thank goodness we have this excellent informative chat room to go to. The only sad thing is that there must be so many people out there who are suffering unnecessarily because of a B12 deficiency. My symptoms have enabled me to receive treatment, but I am concerned that at some stage my injections may stop because I haven't a diagnosis.

[anon4035 in reply to brainchild]

Thanks for replying! it helps to know others have this type of symptom too.

[Lurcher-lady]

Yes my symptoms are always on the left side, which my doctor laughed at. Maybe he didn’t believe me 🙄

[anon4035 in reply to Lurcher-lady]

Thanks for adding a touchpoint to this thread. It seems a number of people have this type of asymmetric symptom, which really helps me get some anecdotal evidence that my symptoms are in fact due to b12 deficiency, vs another neurological condition.