Check Your B12 Level

[Sarcastic]

I want to warn all people here to keep your eye on that. Several months ago I was diagnosed with a serious case of B12 Deficiency.

Started a couple months earlier, but it was mild so I ignored it. My fingers wouldn't move as well. Imagine a bassist alternating his plucking fingers. It would get jerky and not as uniform. Fretting fingers were fine, but my right-hand fingers would tense up and stay that way for a whole day. It hit me hard in the summer. Extreme fatigue. I'd get up in the morning, take a few steps and have to go lay down again. Five naps a day. I developed a burning mouth/tongue sensation. During the next two weeks, I felt my hands go from tingling to numbness, followed by forearms, feet, shins, and upper arms. It spread and increased daily to the point I began to panic, fearing I would soon be paralysed. I went to one E.R., but they were clueless and had no answers. Three days later I went to another E.R., same thing, but they gave me a real blood test that showed 6 or 7 issues with my blood. What was supposed to be up was down, and vice versa. Bilirubin was 5 times the norm. I was already yellow on the face and in the eyes from Anemia. So after two unsuccessful E.R. visits, where I got no help and no direction, I went to my new primary doctor who specializes in Internal Medicine and is an amazing lady with passion for medicine and helping patients. She got angry, to say the least, that they let me out of two E.R.(s) with such symptoms and blood test. She sent me straight from her office to a nearby hospital with a note and her phone number to get me admitted. Long story short... best hospital I visited in 10 years. My first night there, they began testing for exotic diseases and toxic issues, but same night they knew it was B12 Deficiency and that mine was at a critical level.

When I got to the hospital, I could not use my arms/hands. Couldn't put contacts in because my fingers wouldn't move right. Couldn't touch things because my fingertips felt like they'd be getting stuck with needles. Stiff, numb hands. Forearms were numb too, yet felt "wet" when the bed sheet would touch them (incorrect signals between hands and brain). Wrists felt like something was squeezing so hard, I wanted to cry. Bladder control wouldn't work well. Pin-pricking on the bottom of my feet. Motor function was affected, as I couldn't put two index fingers together (right hand would go out and forward, missing the other hand). Could not write with a pen due to hand pain and jerky arm movements.

I was in the hospital for 5 days. They ran a full-body MRI that showed lesions on the brain and spine. Untreated B12 deficiency results in severe and permanent nerve damage and the same symptoms as Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer's. Good news is that if caught in time, usually within 6 months to a year, it is completely treatable and reversible, including the lesions. I owe my primary doctor and the two awesome doctors at the hospital my health and likely my life.

Most symptoms are now gone. What remains for the time being is a little painless but annoying "electric buzz" sensation on my upper butt area that I feel once or twice a week (it was originally across my entire back and occurred several times daily) and that my hands still tense up somewhat whenever I do anything that involves grasping hard objects (phone, remote control, PS controller, etc), though not nearly as badly as before and it is improving. I still have several months of healing, but I'm on the way and I'll be OK. I basically need TIME and continual large doses of B12 (injections and pills) and a few other things like Omega-3 (regenerates damaged nerves), as nerve regeneration is a very slow process. Still resting my hands, which means no bass, limited typing, etc. I finally started playing video games two weeks ago, though I have to be careful and can't overdo it.

I'm writing this because I don't want others to go through this. It is easily prevented. Problem is that B12 is not part of the routine blood test. Causes are various and could be due to low Vitamin D (not enough sun), low Intrinsic Factor in stomach acid (genetic or simply due to aging!), a recent visit to the dentist who uses Nitrous Oxide (the liver stores 3-5 years worth of B12, but that can be completely wiped out by a single shot of N.O.), or - what was likely my cause - taking proton-pump inhibitors such as Nexium or Prilosec for longer periods of time. I was on that for a year and a half and, boom, 5 years later, B12 hits me. Many people take Nexium or similar, but what that does is reduce stomach acid and, with that, the Intrinsic Factor which is necessary for B12 absorption. Gastrologists don't tell you that, do they.

What B12 does is provide a protective sheath around the nerves traveling from the brain, through the spine, to the rest of the body. Imagine a wire, with rubber coating around it. Without that, the nerve is exposed and becomes damaged. It takes months to replace the covering, then additional months to regenerate nerves.

There is an epidemic in the United States with government-set B12 "low" standard being 2 or 3 times lower than in other countries. U.S. gov. estimates that 15% of people in the country are B12 deficient, while the medical community sets the number at around 40%. Dr. Oz did a show on B12 that you can watch on his website. He tested his audience before taping and found that 1/3 were B12 deficient.

Many doctors are clueless about B12 and refuse to even test unless you have Anemia, which is some kind of a bad joke because many people, including myself, develop neurological symptoms long before Anemia sets in. It can hit anyone, but older people need to be especially careful, since they don't absorb B12 as well as young people. If you have an older family member with memory issues, have their doctor look at the B12 level and it better be over 500 (that never affected me, just the physical stuff).

I think that anyone over 50 should be taking a B12 supplement, preferably the sublingual type that goes under the tongue and right into the blooodstream, bypassing the stomach. Fatigue, memory issues, and nerve pain/tingling/numbness are main symptoms. Thousands of people get misdiagnosed with incurable MS and Alzheimer's, while they really have a simple B12 deficiency that can be treated with an inexpensive supplement. B12 is also harmless and one can't overdose on it. Just like Vitamin C, if your body doesn't use all, you pee it right out.

My level was 100 when admitted. U.S. low standard is 200, though my primary doctor has that at 450. Japan sets theirs at 550 to 600 and anything below that is immediately treated. I'm around 900 now and shooting for 1,500.

[ulf]

Wow glad they caught it and you're alright man. That's scary

[newarenanow]

Wow. Thanks for posting. Glad to hear everything is getting better.

That definitely would be scary. About 6 or 7 years ago, I got serious about going for my regular checkups to just make sure everything was going ok. I've had a friend and also two friends parents die of diseases/issues that could have been easily fixed if they just went to the doctors. They refused to go for a number of years and only went when it was too late.

I know that is different from your case, but as we get older, these issues arise. Best to get checked when symptons start showing up.

Again, thanks for the info. That would have scared the crap out of me as I would have thought of MS or something first.

[count2infinity]

and here we all just thought you got banned...

[skullman80]

Holy crap thats nuts. Glad all is well.

[Sarcastic]

Wow. Thanks for posting. Glad to hear everything is getting better.

That definitely would be scary. About 6 or 7 years ago, I got serious about going for my regular checkups to just make sure everything was going ok. I've had a friend and also two friends parents die of diseases/issues that could have been easily fixed if they just went to the doctors. They refused to go for a number of years and only went when it was too late.

I know that is different from your case, but as we get older, these issues arise. Best to get checked when symptons start showing up.

Again, thanks for the info. That would have scared the crap out of me as I would have thought of MS or something first.

Yeah, I decided to have regular doctor checkups from now on. Not just because of the B12, but in general. I'm just happy I found such a great doctor.

As far as B12, I obviously did a lot of reading and research. So many people go from one doctor to another and another, for months, even years, before they find one who will take their symptoms seriously and correctly diagnose for B12. Take it from me. If you're not happy with one doctor, whether he or she doesn't listen or you feel doesn't give you the right answers, go somewhere else.

B12 is ignored by many doctors and results can be devastating, as I said, which is why I felt the need to warn you guys.

[Sarcastic]

and here we all just thought you got banned...

Why, I'm a nice guy. Last thing I remember was the fried chicken thing in some high school, where I felt we not need to look at food in racial stereotypes anymore, as not to unwittingly propagate racial divisions, while some of you felt we still do. I don't care about that.

[count2infinity]

Well, you happened to leave as someone else got banned as well, so everyone thought maybe you got swept into that.

[PensFanInDC]

Wow...very glad you found out you when you did.

I didn't think you got banned. I presumed arrested :slug:

Welcome back.

[shafnutz05]

Nice to have you back Sarcastic, hasn't been the same without you. Best wishes on the recovery.

[Sarcastic]

Well, you happened to leave as someone else got banned as well, so everyone thought maybe you got swept into that.

Who got banned, if you can say?

[PensFanInDC]

And as a musician I really feel for you bro.

[count2infinity]

Well, you happened to leave as someone else got banned as well, so everyone thought maybe you got swept into that.

Who got banned, if you can say?

I'll give you a hint... it starts with an E and ends with a PP.

[PensFanInDC]

Well, you happened to leave as someone else got banned as well, so everyone thought maybe you got swept into that.

Who got banned, if you can say?

EPP

[Willie Kool]

And JTOR.

Welcome back, man. Hope the New Year is better to you than the last few months.

[Sarcastic]

Oh, no! I really liked EPP. I remember some of you fighting with him toward the end for some reason.

Things sometimes get just too personal. Like, I sometimes disagree with Shyster on politics or PF on religious issues, but both are two of my favorite dudes, so.... geez, no need to fight here.

[PensFanInDC]

<puts up dukes>

[Sarcastic]

And as a musician I really feel for you bro.

Yeah, I put that on hold for now. It's been months. Good thing is that it's like riding a bicycle. I remember Steve Harris once taking a whole year off after a long tour, then saying he was better than ever when he started again.

[PensFanInDC]

I had carpal tunnel really bad for a while. That's not even in the same galaxy as what you went through but not being able to play because of medical issues really sucks.

[FreeCandy44]

Ha welcome back...and glad you are ok

[llipgh2]

Wow, glad you're on the mend.

Welcome back.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

[Sarcastic]

I had carpal tunnel really bad for a while. That's not even in the same galaxy as what you went through but not being able to play because of medical issues really sucks.

One amazing bassist largely retired from playing because of that. IMO, the best tapper, whether bass or guitar, I ever heard. Classical approach and no pointless notes, just lyrical and musical. He put out 4 CDs and an instructional video that are a marvel.

http://www.adriandavison.com/videoclip.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Sarcastic]

And thanks for the nice welcome, guys. Appreciate it.

[Sam's Drunk Dog]

Wow. Glad you are back and feeling better. Thanks for the warning. I currently take Nexium and have had mild infrequent occurrences of the symptoms you mentioned so I will ask my doctor about it at my next check up.