Turn the radio on?

[rogergee]

Over the past few years it became my habit to switch the radio on in the kitchen as the first thing I did in the morning after coming downstairs. That carried on as a pattern and then I started to leave it on when I wasn’t in the room, then leave it on when I went out. I explained this by saying that it made it feel more welcoming when I came back to the kitchen.

From about the middle of last year the radio seemed to take on more importance and I would be disconcerted if someone switched it off because I wasn’t there listening to it. We went on holiday in December and, for the first time ever, I took the radio with me, in case there wasn’t one there - which there wasn’t. I set my radio up in the kitchen and switched it on as soon as I went in there in the morning. Others would switch it off, sensibly, when nobody was in the room, and I would switch it back on whenever I found it off.

Then a few days ago I realised that I hadn’t switched the radio on in the kitchen for about 3 or 4 weeks. Guess what had happened before that? I got my loading dose.

I’ve really thought about it and I’ve realised that I was using the radio as a masker for all the noise that lack of B12 was creating in my body: the permanent headache; the nerve pains; the dry mouth and dry eyes; the tingling, prickling, sparking and buzzing sensations; the random pinging and soreness in my knees; the pain and restriction of movement from the inconsequential shoulder injury that just wouldn’t heal but kept getting worse; the balance and posture problems; the intermittent tinnitus. I could go on.

Wow. It’s been quite a revelation for me. I’m glad I know why I became so obsessed with the radio, and also that I’m not any more - but probably not as glad as I am that all of the above symptoms have either cleared or on the way to being cleared.

I do still have the really itchy patch on the sole of my foot that has been there for about 10 years though, which I’d been hoping might have responded to the B12…

[Sleepybunny]

Interesting to read your story....I love my radio.

"still have the really itchy patch on the sole of my foot"

Has your GP considered following skin conditions

1) lichen planus

Auto-immune - Can affect feet in some cases.

nhs.uk/conditions/lichen-pl...

2) fungal infections

B12 deficiency can knock the immune system...I used to get various fungal infections

3) psoriasis

Auto immune - can be associated with PA

[rogergee in reply to Sleepybunny]

Thanks. No, nothing to see there at all, even when I've been scratching furiously, therefore nothing to treat.

[Sleepybunny in reply to rogergee]

If you search online for "B12 deficiency pruritis" you might find some interesting articles.

Pruritis is the medical term for itching.

[rogergee in reply to Sleepybunny]

Ooh , thanks for that Sleepybunny. I'll definitely look that up.

[Narwhal10]

Hi rogergee,

It is amazing what ‘quirks’ we have done to manage our signs and symptoms of this illness. It is only in hindsight we become aware of our coping mechanisms.

Best wishes

[rogergee in reply to Narwhal10]

Thanks Narwhal10. I find it really interesting. I wasn't actively listening to the radio - I had a processing issue so that required way too much energy that I didn't have.

I just showed what I wrote to my partner, not having yet mentioned what I'd realised. They said it was just this last Saturday when they realised they weren't being assaulted by the radio all the time!

[Midnight_Voice]

I guess it’s good that you are no longer radio active 😛

[Hidden in reply to Midnight_Voice]

Radio ga ga!

[rogergee in reply to Midnight_Voice]

😆 😂 😆

[rogergee in reply to Midnight_Voice]

😀😀😀

[jade_s]

So fascinating!! Makes total sense too. So happy to hear of your progress - well done!

The itchy patch may well eventually go away. To show you how slowly nerves repair even in non-b12 situations - i had a herniated disc that caused total numbness on one half of my leg. It took 10 days from symptoms to surgery. This was last year in March. This year in March I still had numb patches along that leg. Now in June the bit behind my ankle is still numb, and my toes and bottom/side of foot still tingle! And all this despite some serious B12'ing. Just to say, don't give up hope, but be patient too, lol

[rogergee in reply to jade_s]

Thanks jade_s. I'm living in hope.

Its good that you were treated so quickly, and that you're still improving. I hope it all clears soon.

[jade_s in reply to rogergee]

Thank you It was the physio who pushed - I couldn't stand up on that one foot at all, and they said to go to the emergency room. After several hours wait, they took a CT and when they saw how massive the hernia was, they wouldn't let me leave and did the operation the next morning! It all went very quickly thankfully.