Hallucination-like experiences? Seizures, perhaps? Scared and seeking input.

medicalmystery7 · 10-09-2012, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

mystery,

It sounds like you need to get a grasp on the applicable information. If you look at your B complex, multi-vitamin and methylcobalamin, you can find out how much total B-12 you are taking. Since the B-12 in the multi and B-complex has low absorption, it should be added up separate from the methylcobalamin. Note that mcg is 1/1000th of mg. 1 mg is 1000 mcg. The B-complex likely has 50 mcg of B-12. The multi likely has 4 to 10 mcg of B-12.

I take 380 mcgs of B-12 daily. My blood B-12 is about 1000 pcg/mL which is good.

When you get anxious about a test's side-effects, you need to look at the incidence of that side-effect. Most major side-effects only effect a few out of a hundred patients if not much less.

I have had CT's, MRI's, MRI/MRA, PET, old school brain scan with mercury contrast (1970), EEG's qEEG's etc. They are nothing to be afraid of.

They often rule out the scary problems right away. Tumors usually show up easily so they are easily ruled out. It is finding the other conditions that can be difficult. In my case, they could not image any problems or defects. Only the qEEG showed a problem. A qEEG is a harmless procedure similar to a generic EEG.

You tendency for anxiety tells me you need to be up on brain vitamins and supplements. The brain is much better with anxiety when it gets good brain nutrition.

My best to you.

The complex has 15 mcg, and the multi has 6 mcg. Considering the methylcobalamin has 1,000 mcg, those numbers seem negligable. I do wonder, now, though, if I should get rid of the B-complex since it has so many other things in it that are also in the multi. I guess I'll just keep taking everything.

The thing with the tests that a lot of people don't seem to understand is that it's not the tests themselves that I was afraid of (with the exception of the contrast thing). It was/is the results. But I'm kind of past that now...I think. I used to think knowing was worse than not knowing, but now I see that not knowing is much worse. I just wish my GP would hurry up and set up my appointment with the new neurologist. I hope it's not another situation where I have to wait months to see her.

medicalmystery7 · 10-12-2012, 05:15 AM

I got a copy of my lab work, and I'm confused because my B12 levels were never outside the abnormal range. They were on the lower end of the spectrum, but they were still within the normal range on the paper both times. My neurologist made it sound like the number was REALLY REALLY low the first time. Meanwhile, he told me that everything else looked normal, and yet there are six things that are marked either "Abn: L" or "Abn: H" on here. They're not THAT outside of the normal range, but they still are.

Anyway, my first B12 reading was 344, and my second reading was 483.

mrsD · 10-12-2012, 05:43 AM

So you are borderline with B12. I would continue with the methylcobalamin, since something is making you low.

If you have your copies, is the MCV elevated? That is found in the CBC differential. MCV is elevated when B12 levels are not adequate to make normal red blood cells. It often is an early marker for problems. In your case it may be only slightly out of range. Often doctors ignore it and that is a mistake for the patients.

medicalmystery7 · 10-12-2012, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsD

So you are borderline with B12. I would continue with the methylcobalamin, since something is making you low.

If you have your copies, is the MCV elevated? That is found in the CBC differential. MCV is elevated when B12 levels are not adequate to make normal red blood cells. It often is an early marker for problems. In your case it may be only slightly out of range. Often doctors ignore it and that is a mistake for the patients.

MCV is within the normal range (but it is on the higher end of the spectrum. It's 90.2. I don't know if that's significant.

I posted an image of all of my results on a Lyme forum a little while ago, so here is the link in case anyone thinks it'd be helpful to look at them on here.

http://i50.tinypic.com/2rr1jjo.jpg

mrsD · 10-12-2012, 06:24 AM

Some tests are best done over, when slightly out of range results come in. This is because the lab may not have good calibration that day for certain things.

Also, you should be well hydrated when having a blood test, because if you are not, concentrations may be "off".

Your MCV is a bit high, and may be related to the B12 numbers.
Your potassium is low. Either you are not eating properly or losing it somehow. (diarrhea or thru the kidneys). When a person first starts B12, there is a short period of time that potassium is used up quickly making new red blood cells.
This may be your problem, if the potassium was done after you started the B12. I don't see dates on those tests.

Typically doctors don't respond to mildly out of range values, unless they already have a diagnosis in mind.

medicalmystery7 · 10-12-2012, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsD

Some tests are best done over, when slightly out of range results come in. This is because the lab may not have good calibration that day for certain things.

Also, you should be well hydrated when having a blood test, because if you are not, concentrations may be "off".

Your MCV is a bit high, and may be related to the B12 numbers.
Your potassium is low. Either you are not eating properly or losing it somehow. (diarrhea or thru the kidneys). When a person first starts B12, there is a short period of time that potassium is used up quickly making new red blood cells.
This may be your problem, if the potassium was done after you started the B12. I don't see dates on those tests.

Typically doctors don't respond to mildly out of range values, unless they already have a diagnosis in mind.

I believe that potassium level was done before I started the B12, but I'm confused by the dates on these tests, too. The setup of the paperwork almost makes it look like the higher B12 reading was the FIRST reading, and the lower one was from the retest. I don't know, though. I'll have to ask for clarification.

When I go see my new neurologist, I'll ask her if we can run my blood work again.

Thanks for the input!

mrsD · 10-12-2012, 06:38 AM

Stop the B12 supplement for about a week before any testing, so it won't show up as high, just from the supplements.

medicalmystery7 · 10-12-2012, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsD

Stop the B12 supplement for about a week before any testing, so it won't show up as high, just from the supplements.

Noted!

...

medicalmystery7 · 01-03-2013, 02:41 AM

Hi all, me again.

I don't really remember where I left off when I last posted, but I started seeing a new neurologist a few months ago. I've only seen him twice so far. He doesn't feel like it's necessary to see me more than every few months; my next appointment is 6 months away. He ordered an MRI of my brain, and a UBO (unidentified bright object) showed up on it.
He didn't have much to say about it, though. Just that he would order another MRI in 6 months to see if it changed, but for now, it's not enough to warrant a diagnosis of MS or give me any type of medication.

I'm really frustrated. There's not much left for me to do. I'm sick of family members rolling their eyes at me every time I start seeing a new doctor, and I don't really have any reason to believe that seeing anyone else will be beneficial seeing how I've already been through a slew of doctors.

Maybe I'm just crazy like they keep telling me. All I know is my head has been throbbing for the past at least 8 hours, I kept forgetting why I was at the grocery store earlier, and I kept typing the wrong freaking word when I was trying to have a conversation with my coworkers over Skype earlier, which was really frustrating and embarrassing.

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