Notes from the past 7 days on high B12 protocol to treat B12 deficiency.

(B vitamins are pivotal in maintaining nerve and muscle health. B12, B1, B2, B3, B6 all have their role to play. It is easy enough to accidentally mask a B deficiency. B12 deficiency, in my case, was masked and overlooked. Symptoms persist needlessly in such cases. So, check your Bs! And make sure that more intense testing is done than just to check serum levels of B. In the case of B12 "a more sensitive method of screening for vitamin B12 deficiency is measurement of serum methylmalonic acid and homocysteine levels" (Dr. ROBERT C. OH and Dr DAVID L. BROWN: Am Fam Physician. 2003 Mar 1;67(5):979-986)).

My Study on Myself: High B12 protocol and results - WEEK ONE

SEP 18
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SLEEP: Slept 5 hours, with vivid dreams (it's been a while).

PARESTHESIAS: right toes, left instep, heel, left hand on waking from sleep. right middle fingers.

COGNITIVE: Some "forgetfulness"

CARDIO: tachy on waking from naps. (3 naps from 12:30- 3:55pm)

78bpm at rest.

WEIGH IN: (2 pair socks, track pants, t): 209LBS (95 kg).

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SEP 19

SLEEP: Slept 6 hours with wakefulness in middle, after going to bed late

PARESTHESIAS: less than yesterday. Right hand TINGLING on waking. Elevated to pillow and alleviated.

CARDIO: Did not notice as forceful tachy on waking. But still present, only to lesser degree.

76 bpm at rest

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SEP 20

SLEEP: Slept 5 hours solidly. Reclined for a further two. Dreams are very vivid. Sleep is very deep. Wish it was longer.

PARESTHESIAS: Finger tips both hands paresthetic. Some minor shake. Greatly reduced tingling in feet. Very very faint tingle in left foot. Fingers on both sides feel tight. Thumb on left feels tight.

COGNITIVE: Concetration is better. Able to more quickly retrieve lost thoughts/names.

CARDIO: Valsalvas and stretching with tensing of body on waking lead to pronounced tachycardia. (120 BPM, bounding).

68 bpm at rest


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SEP 21


SLEEP: Slept 5 hours then a further 3 or more - one break, clear dreams and deep sleep.

PARESTHESIAS / NEURO: Legs feel a little weak, trembly, but not visible. Can carry groceries up three flights of stairs without much problem. Still wish I hadn't. See a little more meatiness to my slightly trembling hands.

This afternoon, a strange thrumming sensation at coccyx. How to tell anyone about that one?

RH less tight feeling. LH a little tight esp around thumb.

L sole tingly (3/10 rating) R sole - not tingly. Some numb patches on outer sole RF.

COGNITIVE: Concentration is better, able to focus on jeopardy better.

CARDIO: No notable tachy on waking and stretching.

74bpm resting


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SEP 22

SLEEP: Slept 5 hours then a further 3 again. Clear dreams. (it has been so long!)

PARESTHESIAS / NEURO: feeling generally tired. 3/10 left sole paresthesia. L quad seems to be coming back a little! Calves still have "missing pieces".

Very slight tingle left fingers. RH no tingling.

CARDIO: 70 bpm resting. Minimal tachy on waking.

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Sep 23

SLEEP: slept almost 6 hours straight.

PARESTHESIAS / NEURO: Awoke tingle free. Just starting to get tingly now 5 hours after waking. About level 3.3/10

Twitch in inner right thigh since midnight last night (17 hours worth of inner thigh getting its groove on by 5:20pm today).

CARDIO: No tachy of note to report.

64 bpm resting.

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SEP 24

SLEEP: Slept 7.5 hours with tiny wakefulness after the 5 hour mark, I think it may have been. Vivid dreams - Schwarzenegger was in a red long sleeve shirt, and I was assisting him in avoiding the Predator. Lawd... my dreams are undeniable jejune today. But very clear - and yes, we do dream in color.

PARESTHESIAS / NEURO: Awoke with no symptoms in feet. Some tingling faintly in right middle fingers. Just starting to feel tingle in left sole now (on standing, 1.5 hours after waking).

Oh! Twitch has gone, thank heavens.

CARDIO: No tachy on waking.

68bpm rest

MUSCULAR: Body is "filling up again." Face feels fuller; cleft in chin returning (didn't know that was a muscle thing) can sense how tight hands have been. I stretch them better now, and can feel the burning measure of their new freedom. Legs changing shape for the better. L quad/thigh really returning. Was scared, frankly, when thighs were "straight!" Now the quad is hooping our a little more, as it should in my case.

Ab muscles are much more willing to tense (have been slack and "distant"). deltoids coming back. Junction of neck and traps- I again have such a junction. Not as pronounced as before, but it is there.

WEIGH IN: 209 lbs steady.

OTHER: Skin color and texture even looks much better. It must be said: I even feel more calm - tranquil - on the B12. Must look into that. How much anxiety is caused by B being low? Anyway, it feels like a drug and thank heavens it isn't one. I'm probably high on levels of this and that, as they return to normal.

End of week two. General findings: improved state of muscular contraction and marked decrease in paresthesias. Better sleep. Etc. (Will post tomorrow on week two findings).

As a result, conducted further reading and decided that I will continue this course of treatment at 2000mcg daily for 90 days (based on 2011 evidence that supports this - see below). Then I will reassess. Then, if required, proceed to 120 days at same level.


The following information is from Am Fam Physician. 2011 Jun 15;83(12):1425-1430.

Link: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/0615/p1425.html

This is a better link to AAFP:

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0301/p979.html

This is my B12 informational thread....it has more detail than the medical ones:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread85103.html

Alcoholics can also benefit from thiamine or its newer cousin benfotiamine. Thiamine is a cofactor in removing aldehydes which are byproducts of metabolism of ethyl alcohol.

Dear MrsD, I already provided the 2003 link in post #25.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0301/p979.html

The 2011 link was provided to show the B12 deficiency treatment protocol that has changed markedly in the last 8 years.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2011/0615/p1425.html

AND B12 also suffers greatly in people with a history of excessive alcohol consumption but this is often masked when taking an oral multi B and especially FOLATE ( ie., B9 or Folic Acid) replacement, as this will mask deficiency of B12, but the damage to peripheral nervous system continues.

QED.

Dear people, B12! I'll say it again, B12! Google it and see just what an impact it has when people are deficient in it.

Forasmuch as people claim B1 is the main thing lost to alcohol dependency, it is not true. B12 also takes a massive hit, probably more than B1. A multi or taking Folic acid (folate, B9) MASKS the issue.

Big pharma doesn't make profits from cures, but keeps making return clientele to fuel one of the biggest monopolies on the planet.

As for me,

I have never felt better as I did since taking the B12. Not yet perfect. But paresthesias are at an all time low. Face shape is returning, muscles are starting to wake up and fill out again after the erosion of neurogenic atrophy. Skin color is wonderful, seborrheic dermatitis is gone. Sleep patterns are stabilizing.

My warning is this: B12. Take it, and make sure you do not become someone who is exploited by big pharmaceutical companies and poor grade vitamin companies.

This stupid, evil system values youth. In my experience, as soon as you pass the barrier of 30, kids at McDonalds start calling you "Sir." And doctors become more and more "conservative" and minimalist in their treatments.

ALWAYS demand your rights. You have the same rights as anyone. All people have the right to proper and fair treatment. And YOU have the right to make sure you get the best care, especially for something as harrowing as a neurological issue.

You are not created to be a purse, wallet, piggy bank for big companies. You are human. You have dignity and pride and worth! Never dare give up the image of who you REALLY are.

Peace, love and flowers to you all.

I go by 'Kris Whitestone' in the "cult camp" of Facebook. Be sure to look me up some day, if you ever want to stop by

As my final post - here is my regimen that has done me the world of good:

1200 : 85mg B6, B1 (250mg), B3 (400mg), B5 (300mg), Vit A (10,000 international units- do not used for prolonged time), D3 (1000 iu), Magnesium (300mg) - take ALL with FOOD. [All the Bs are contained in a B complex]

1400 : Calcium (600mg) with food

1700 : E (500iu) and Zinc (125mg as amino chelate; do not take for prolonged time) with food

1800 : Magnesium (300mg) with food

2200 : B12 2000mcg TAKE ON EMPTY STOMACH (2000 for first month or two, then reduce to 1000mcg oral daily for up to two years. If symptoms increase, return to 2000mcg for a month at a time before reducing to 1000mcg). This is the most important vitamin, to which every other element in the regimen is hinged. (You may choose to start your day with this instead of the B complex - just switch them out)

0000 : B1 (250mg), Magnesium (300mg), D (300mg) with food.

See you in Cult Camp, Kris.

Haha I'll be there!