Weird science

When laughing gas is just not that funny

Article in daily mail (health) today

29 year man with a laughing gas habit was admitted after numbness in his limbs for more than 10 days.

Severe deficiency of Vitamin B12

[Welsh15]

Before I was diagnosed with b12 deficiency I had several operations and it always took a long time to come round from anaesthetic and I was always exhausted for many years. I understand why now. It isn't a laughing matter!!!!Take care 🙂

[Heididog20]

Nitrous oxide is laughing gas which is apparently used in Britain for ladies in labor. That is a No No when it comes to b12deficiency. It depletes it from the body. In Canada we use epidural when we cant manage the pain any longer. The longer we use breathing technique the better. Or Lamaze breathing./classes. Please read the book i mentioned. COULD IT be B12?

[Hidden in reply to Heididog20]

It is also used at our local hospital for minor operations.Did not realise at the time, picked up by specialist that treated me. Now partner same problem after operation.

[Curlygal in reply to Heididog20]

British women in childbirth can still have epidurals, it's just that "gas and air" is used more as a first line pain reliever. I think epidurals are less common than in North America, but are available.

[Sleepybunny in reply to Curlygal]

I have looked at the NHS page on pain relief in labour which mentions that gas and air (which contains nitrous oxide) has no harmful effects for mother or baby .

There's no mention of the risk of prolonged exposure to nitrous oxide leading to inactivation of B12 in the body with potential consequences for mother and baby.

I can't find any mention of what mothers with a known B12 deficiency should do when it comes to pain relief.

NHS link about pain relief in labour

nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and...

[Sleepybunny in reply to Curlygal]

Just looked at NICE guidance on Nitrous Oxide.

See side effects section and pregnancy section in link below.

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/nitrou...

[Sleepybunny]

Nitrous Oxide (UK info)

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/n...

NICE guidelines Nitrous Oxide ( see side effects section) - UK info

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/nitrou...

Article that mentions B12 deficiency and nitrous oxide

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...