Gosh, so much to respond to! Sorry if I miss anybody/anything. I'm feeling really scatter-brained right now.
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Originally Posted by mrsD
You can call on the phone and ask for the test results. Many doctor's offices will do that.
The B-complex has many things in it...and many people may have issues with an empty stomach.
They typically do not have high dose B12 in them however. If you check your label, you'll see 100mcg or less. The RDA for B12 is2-4mcg/day.
You were really not on your supplement long enough to affect your present neuro symptoms. B12 is stored in the liver, and the movement of it into the spinal fluid and hence into the brain is determined by the blood levels you have. If you are at the old normal 200-250 units in serum, you won't be pushing much into the spinal fluid. Keeping your levels at 1000 will be more effective in getting that B12 into the brain.
1000mcg of B12 is only going to give about 10-13 mcg absorbed.
So the small dose of B12 in a standard B complex is not going to do much. B12 on an empty stomach ALONE does not upset anything.
Another thing that will lower B12 and ruin the methylation process in general is nitrous oxide. This can be found in dental offices when having dental work, may be used as a pre-sedative for minor medical procedures, and also inhaled recreationaly by young people attending RAVEs. Also significant at RAVEs is use of ecstasy and this is very damaging to the brain, and new studies show some permanent damage from this drug alone.
So when you get your methylcobalamin replaced, do 5mg daily on an empty stomach, and by the end of 3 months, you may start seeing some improvements, if that is your main problem.
You should see better and more normal sleeping patterns by then too at least.
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I actually did try asking for my results over the phone, and she said she couldn't relay all of my numbers to me over the phone and I would have to come pick up a printout of my results at the office.
As for the B-complex, I think I'd like to continue with that in addition to the methylcobalamin. Both the woman at the vitamin store and my acupuncturist said that it was important to get all of the B vitamins in because they support and work with one another. Perhaps I should cut my multi-vitamin out,though because I'm beginning to feel like a pill popper between the B-complex, methylcobalamin, herbs, and Prilosec.
I haven't had any dental work in five years; I need it, actually, but have been putting it off because I've been spending so much money on doctors. Definitely never been to a rave either; I'm afraid to leave my house most days and definitely would not do THAT to myself, heh.
I'll try the methylcobalamin. A more regular sleep schedule sounds nice; my sleep is really inconsistent and just awful right now.
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I second MrsD about the B-12. You need to know your numbers. Your B-12 should be about 1000 pgs/mL. You should also check your folate and Vit D. Folate should be 20 or above.
The purpose of the B-50 complex is to get the other B's. Just B-12 will not give you maximum benefit. You also need B-6 and thiamine (B-1) plus all the other B's. A good multivitamin like GNC MegaMen will also add the others supplements your body and brain needs. Any strain on the body creates a strain on the brain. The various minerals, especially the trace minerals are needed. Check the total niacin (B-1) in the B-50 and multi. You probably need about 500 mgs per day. A strong dose of all the anti-oxidants is beneficial.
I use the cheap pill form of B-12. I take enough to keep my B-12 level at 1000 even if I am not fully absorbing the form I am taking. If I took sublingual drops, the extra step in my routine would likely cause my consistency to falter. I take 380 mcgs and my blood level is good. Who cares if I am only absorbing 100 mcgs of the 380 mcgs I take.
B-12 and folic acid help the blood brain barrier function properly. It takes about 2 months of a consistent nutritional regimen to begin to see a difference. The brain has to detoxify first before it can start to use the additional nutrition.
I have been taking tumeric extract for the past 2 months and it appears to be making a difference. It has cumin to help the brain's oxygenation and metabolism. I used to have body twitches when I sleep and they have stopped.
Regarding your stomach, there are a few areas in the lower neck/upper back that can get messed up and cause stomach/esophagus problems. I had esophageal spasms and acid reflux the was resolved by a chiropractic adjustment to C-6 to T-2 area. The first adjustment resulted in relief within a few hours. I needed to continue treatment for a while to help the joint stabilize. I also get some relief by icing the upper back. My back never hurt but sometimes felt a bit stiff. The chiro found the problem using 'leg check' diagnostics. Once he worked his magic, voila. Much better.
Some musical instruments cause a postural strain that can become chronic. You may have other activities that put a strain on your spine. The head bump may have strained your back/neck. The head bone IS connected to the neck bone as the song goes. Injured the head and don't forget about the neck connection.
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I didn't play a musical instrument. I was part of the band's color guard, so I did flag and dance routines on the field.
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The anxiety issue mentioned by luduplo is valid. Many neurological dysfunctions cause anxiety like processes in the brain. This anxiety is not a psychological 'worry wort' anxiety but rather a malfunction is the way the brain is processing stimuli. The sensitivity to stimuli is due to the brain not being able to shut out or ignore stimuli that a normal brain can easily filer out.
You said you symptoms are:
<I have been experiencing progressively worsening neurological symptoms in addition to some other issues like heart palpitations, frequent urination, and a constantly rapid pulse. >
This can be anxiety as the brain tries to deal with too much stimulation. It enters a flight or fight phase and pays extra attention to body sensation. It releases adrenal hormones that cause this over-stimulation.
I can not go to sleep if I have the slightest sensation from my bladder. I have to sleep in cotton so I have the same tactile and temperature sensations everywhere. This is a brain malfunction, not a psychological anxiety.
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Well, yes. I know that I am an anxious person. I'll never deny that. My issue is when people try to tell me that my ONLY issue is anxiety and try to dismiss me as a mere headcase. There is something that feels very biological rather than merely psychological about the type of anxiety that I experience. Feels as though something is severely out of whack with my nervous system that is causing me to feel on-edge and like, until that is addressed, no amount of therapy in the world is going to help me. The psychologist I went to tried breathing and relaxation techniques with me, and none of those ever did anything for me.
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The diagnostic test that would be useful is a full NeuroPsychological Assessment. These are to test and measure the cognitive, memory and processing speed functions of the brain. It usually includes some basic psychological tests to determine it there are conflicting psychological issues but they are not the main focus.
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I would like to do something like this. I think it would highlight a lot of the issues I have thinking in real-time that just checking my reflexes and telling me to smile aren't going to illuminate. I was hoping my neuro would do something like this, but he didn't.
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I bet you have a few dysfunctions such as:
A limited digit span. This relates to how many items or issues the brain can process at the same time. Most people have a digit span of about 8. Mine is 2 or 3 on bad days but can be as high as the high teens on my high functioning days. I bet yours is between 2 and 4 when you are struggling.
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YES. I've noticed that it's very difficult at times for me to keep track of more than one or two concepts. Like when trying to diet, I have difficulty keeping track of everything I've eaten throughout the day to assess whether I've been on track or not. Or if I'm at the store, I have difficulty remembering all of the things I need to get. This also makes me very reluctant to try out the 3424242 suggestions people like you guys give me because it's really hard for me to keep track of everything I'm supposed to try. Makes me feel very overwhelmed, so I just say "Forget it all" after a while.
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Poor visual memory. This makes it difficult to keep track of characters or plots in a story. I can't read fiction at all any more. I get lost trying to keep track of the characters. My visual short term and immediate memory is in the bottom 5 to 12% of the population.
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I do think I have issues with this. I used to have severe difficulty recalling new faces (I could recognize people I have known for at least a few weeks, but new people all looked very "generic" to me). I remember one time, I was with my family at a restaurant, and my sister told me to get the waiter's attention. I was like, "But I don't know which one is our waiter. They all look the same to me." I don't have this problem as much anymore, though.
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What is a normal day like for you? Are you still in school or starting your career? How busy is a normal day? What field of work are you involved in? Some work/study situations can be metabolically toxic to the brain.
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No, I graduated with my BA last December and have just kind of been sitting around my house wishing I could start my career as well as go back to school for dietetics ever since. I do freelance jobs online, which I hate, and which is very inconsistent, but I'm very hesitant to work outside of the home because I'm embarrassed by my cognitive problems and think I would wind up screwing everything up and getting fired.
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mrsD mentioned nitrous. Have you had any general anesthesia for surgery in the recent few years?
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I have not.
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Have you had any personality changes lately? Maybe less patient and easier to become irritated?
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Yes. I tell people that I have no patience, and I feel bad about it, but I can't control it. I'm not impatient because I'm just a brat...I'm impatient because my body makes me be. I am very irritable, too, because I get frustrated with myself and with people not understanding why things are so hard for me.
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It would also be worthwhile to get a full hormone panel done. The complete panel is about $600 to $800 if done properly.There is a referral system to find a hormone specialist in your area at Most doctors use a shot gun approach to hormones. Many need a more targeted approach using bio-identical hormones. If you hormones are out of balance, this will be the best money you have ever spent.
We are here for you.
My best to you.
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Thanks for the suggestion, and thank you
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Originally Posted by Porkette
Hi,
Welcome to the forum! As others have mentioned be sure to take vitamin B12 1000 mcg. once a day, and also keep track of your sz. and take note of they happen during a low pressure in the weather this often can trigger sz. for some people. I have absence, complex partial, and simple partial sz. and take my word the best thing for you to do is see an Epileptologist at an Epilepsy Center you will get more help from them than any neuro or GP that you see. I have a feeling you may be photosensitive meaning certain colors will trigger sz. for you, this happened to me then I had a special e.e.g. done where they flashed different color strobe lights one at a time and they found 3 different colors were triggering sz. for me. If you have a rapid heartbeat this could also be causing your sz. heart problems, lack of sleep and stress are the 3 main things that can trigger sz. for many people. I've had epilepsy 40 yrs. now and I've learned a lot. You need to be admitted into the hospital where the Dr. can run a bunch of tests on you like a video e.e.g., MRI, SPECT, and PET Scan along with CT scan and blood work. If insurance is a problem you can call the Epilepsy Foundation if you in the USA at 1-800-332-1000 and they can help you out or give you info. you need to cover the medical costs. I can't help but wonder if you have a sleep disorder, the brain is the most active when we are asleep and according to my neurosurgeon whatever a person dreams about is something that they can relate to that happened earlier that day. Lack of sleep triggers sz. and you may have sleep apnea which can cause epilepsy. Ask anyone that lives with you if you snore loudly or stop breathing when you are sleeping these are signs of sleep apnea. If you use a cell phone this can cause short term memory loss shrinking the hippocampus of the brain where short term memory and learning is. This could also be what's causing your problem. I found out I was cell phone sensitive meaning when I'm around others using cell phones it will cause sz. for me do to the frequency that they are using. Start the ketogenic diet this diet has been out since 1927 and it works great decreasing or stopping sz. for people and it's better than taking a lot of med. To find the right med to help you tell the Dr. to do a DNA test on you they will be able to match your DNA up with the best med to help stop the sz. with the least side effects. I wish you the best of luck and May God Bless You!
Sue
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Well, right now, I can't say with certainty that I do have seizures. I'm going to ask the neurologist I'm seeing hopefully soon to test me for them, but I don't think I can get to an epileptologist right now. I looked online, and there aren't any in my area. Plus I'm pretty certain my GP is getting really fed up with me asking her for referrals because she doesn't think there's anything wrong with me and sees it as me just being hysterical and diagnosing myself with things.