[IceSkate]

From September through October, I was unable to taste any food. I also had a slight numb feeling throughout my body (although I could still feel anything touching me). These went away around the end of October, and I feel 100% normal now.

In October, I had made an appointment with a neurologist for January (it took that long), but now that I feel better I'm thinking about canceling.

Does anyone know why I would have had these symptoms for only two months, and now feel completely normal?

[IceSkate]

Anyone? Do you think maybe it was nothing? Maybe just some virus that has passed? I feel completely great now.

[mrsD]

Some drugs may alter taste. Biaxin (an antibiotic) can change taste perception.

Also being low in zinc will alter taste by changing the sensitivity of the sense of smell.

Some viral infections can cause a body wide neuropathy. This is usually self limiting and goes away. It can happen after a vaccine too. People vary in viral neuropathic syndromes, some have a mild form and others have severe pain for months/or years.

If you are over 50, I'd suggest you follow NIH guidelines and take some B12 in supplement form every day. Do this on an empty stomach. You may be marginal in B12 levels.

If you do go to a doctor, ask for a serum B12 level in the testing and get the numbers. Lab ranges in US are low, and have not been corrected to the new diagnostic level of 400.

[IceSkate]

Originally Posted by mrsD

Some drugs may alter taste. Biaxin (an antibiotic) can change taste perception.

Also being low in zinc will alter taste by changing the sensitivity of the sense of smell.

Some viral infections can cause a body wide neuropathy. This is usually self limiting and goes away. It can happen after a vaccine too. People vary in viral neuropathic syndromes, some have a mild form and others have severe pain for months/or years.

If you are over 50, I'd suggest you follow NIH guidelines and take some B12 in supplement form every day. Do this on an empty stomach. You may be marginal in B12 levels.

If you do go to a doctor, ask for a serum B12 level in the testing and get the numbers. Lab ranges in US are low, and have not been corrected to the new diagnostic level of 400.

Thank you for your advice.

I am 28, BTW. I had a bunch of tests and my zinc is fine. I haven't been tested for B12.

I'm confused as to why the lack of taste went away when I didn't change anything about my lifestyle (i.e. taking vitamins).

[IceSkate]

Unfortunately I can't get into neuro until March.

I am wondering if all my problems are due to autonomic dysfunction. Doctors did not think I had POTS, but I had a tilt table test that had an increase of heart rate from 60 to 120. Before that, I had problems with blurred vision, fatigue, weakness, lightheadedness, stomach pains after eating, decreased sweating, heat intolerance, and constipation. About a year ago, I had a virus that gave me a fever, severe lightheadedness, and made me so dehydrated I needed six bags of fluids at the hospital. On that day, I tried getting up from a chair and my right leg didn't move well so I had to crawl to my bed. Doctors did not know what was going on.

The symptoms, especially the tilt table test, suggest autonomic dysfunction. I actually hope it was that, because I have felt better for a month or so. I am a bit worried it is something more serious like MS and it is remitting/relapsing. The last doctor I saw said that this was all in my head... how could it be?

[mrsD]

Low B12 levels affect the nerves. Some of these are autonomic ones and can give the symptoms you report.

I'd get that tested and make sure you are over 400 level, in US units. The lab ranges in US have not been changed to reflect new information and lows below 400 can cause neurological damage in some patients.

If you are low, then supplementing with B12 is important. Here is my B12 informational thread:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread85103.html

While you are getting that looked at, have a Vit D level done at the same time. Low vitamin D impacts calcium and when calcium gets low there are paresthesias which come and go in the skin and face. Low D is very common today.

As with B12, testing is done by doctors. But treatment is often still not efficient. RX D is D2 and not very active in humans. It is puzzling why doctors still even prescribe it!
OTC D3 is better by far, so if you are low, supplement with the OTC D3 to get good results.

Here is a Vit D thread with medical videos:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread92116.html

[IceSkate]

I have been checked for both B12 and D. The B12 was fine. The D was low. I was told this is very common for people living in cold climates.

[mrsD]

Get the actual test result for the B12.... lab ranges show "normal" or "fine" when actually quite low. The labs have not changed their old scales when the new information on B12 became available. (around 1999 in US). for example, if you tested at 250 in US you would be told fine or normal because a "flag" does not appear on the test sheet. And that is all doctors do is read that.
Here is a link to the new information:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0301/p979.html

If you are indeed well over 400 then you probably don't need supplements at this time.

So then you should be supplementing with adequate D3 for your low D test. When D is low, calcium is not absorbed well, and often when this gets low, it is borrowed from your bones. ( not a good thing long term). Typical signs of this are facial numbness of the lips and other areas.

[IceSkate]

Hi,

I got a test for B1, B12, and B6. Waiting for results. My doctor is looking into porphyria. Anyone heard of my taste problems from porphyria?

[mrsD]

Porphyria can cause neuropathies. There are other symptoms with it, abdominal pain, various skin eruptions, which you do not mention.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/por...CTION=symptoms

One common cause of autonomic neuropathy is impaired glucose tolerance. This is the beginning of pre-diabetes, and shows up as elevated INSULIN fasting levels. Blood sugars are typically normal at fasting, or show a reactive hypoglycemia.

There are studies showing that diabetic neuropathies begin before the frank diabetes with elevated blood sugar results.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread158275.html
many doctors do not know this. So please check this link out carefully.