Post surgery symptoms are bad again

[Scott-rock]

just over a week ago I had laparoscopic surgery for a hernia, now my legs and arms are back to stinging and burning worse than before the op and starting B12. Things had been settling down , after nearly 5 months.

I’ve kept up my B12 injections every other day.

I’ve also just started seeing a neurologist and he is investigating my PA and it’s symptoms. He filled the blood request form with tests and is doing a nerve conduction test.

I also am being treated for low testosterone by three monthly injections, and wonder if the fact this has raised my haematocrit and haemoglobin, might be playing a part? As I am now polycythemic.

[Nackapan]

ot gojng on for you.

As far as b12 its earkt days abd any 'extra's will set you back for a while.

Stick with it and see if anyting else shows up

Good you seing a neurologist

Tc

[MrsTuft]

The anaesthetics can set you back.

[Rexz]

Quite possibly they used Nitrous Oxide in the inhalant anesthetic. Nitrous oxide (aka laughing gas) is very common in dentistry but is also commonly used in ambulatory surgery center as part of the general anesthesia cocktail. Nitrous oxide has a well known detrimental affect on the body's stores of vitamin B12, eliminating up to 60%, but also "possibly" some longer term affects of inhibiting B12.

I also experienced similar symptoms that you are mentioning after put under general anesthesia. I just stuck with my B12 SIs and the symptoms resolved after a couple of weeks or so but you are right it was like starting all over again.

Best thing to do in the future is to talk to GP and anesthesiologist and let them know you DO-NOT want Nitrous Oxide used. There are alternatives. Here's a couple of references...

pubs.asahq.org/anesthesiolo...

Nitrous Oxide is commonly used in inhalation general anesthesia in ambulatory surgery centers

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

Good luck, Rexz

[Scott-rock in reply to Rexz]

thanks, I didn’t know how much it drained B12.

The surgeon and anaesthetist knew I have PA and on B12 injections . Had a long discussion in pre op room.

Another set back to deal with!

[LizWilsonpa]

Hi Scott

I had a marked exacerbation of symptoms after surgery - eventually sorted out when I started injecting every other day.

I got in touch with the consultant and anaesthetist and they couldn’t identify anything that would have affected my B12 levels. I was told nitrous oxide is rarely used now.

I have put it down as another unknown area re B12 as there was a definite impact but I couldn’t find anything that explained it (usual online searching as well as asking healthcare professionals). Hopefully you’ll soon feel a difference again with your regular injecting.

Wishing you well with your recovery.

[Scott-rock in reply to LizWilsonpa]

I just did a simple search about general anaesthetic and b12 , massive amounts of information came back.

Nitrous oxide deactivates b12 but leaves serum levels normal looking. And it shouldn’t be used on patients with b12 deficiency.

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

[LizWilsonpa in reply to Scott-rock]

Sorry I wasn’t clear. Definite link with nitrous oxide but I was told it is rarely used now and it wasn’t used for me. I meant I couldn’t find anything that explained my increase in symptoms. I got details of the anaesthetic used but didn’t find any known link.