[craig134]

Hi,
I was recently diagnosed with b-12 deficiency. I'm currently taking oral supplements and my vision, hearing, balance, and motor functions are all back to normal. I'm still suffering from a slight deficiency in bladder control, however, all of my other body functions are quite normal. However, my short-term and long-term memory are pretty poor. Over time, will that recover with sustained intake of vitamin b-12, or can I expect permanent damage with respect to my capacity to learn?

-Craig

[craig134]

Originally Posted by craig134

Hi,
I was recently diagnosed with b-12 deficiency. I'm currently taking oral supplements and my vision, hearing, balance, and motor functions are all back to normal. I'm still suffering from a slight deficiency in bladder control, however, all of my other body functions are quite normal. However, my short-term and long-term memory are pretty poor. Over time, will that recover with sustained intake of vitamin b-12, or can I expect permanent damage with respect to my capacity to learn?

-Craig

To give a better outline:
Symptoms started freshman year of college 2007
Fall 2007:
Fatigue,
Sleepiness
Capacity to Learn diminishing but still enough to get by in classes

Spring 2008:
Insomnia developed
Memory very diminished
mood swings

Summer 2008:
Basically not able to move from fatigue
Memory very poor
Doctor diagnosed as vitamin d deficiency incorrectly

Fall 2009:
Confusion developed
Able to get through classes but grades suffered
low-grade fever

Spring 2009:
Vision began to change
mood disorders
sound began to feel 'hollow'

Diagnosis May 2009:
Since then my vision has restored, sound is normal, and everything else is normal as I stated besides bladder control and my memory. I am 22. If everything else seems to be recovering well, is the prognosis good for my memory? I used to be competitive with the valedictorian in high-school and now I can barely take in information. God is it frustrating.

[mrsD]

Hi Craig....

Do you know why you were deficient? Could you be deficient in other nutrients too?

How old are you? And are you taking statins for cholesterol control? How about other drugs? Some deplete nutrients with long term use.

It sounds like you are doing pretty well considering.

[craig134]

Originally Posted by craig134

Hi,
I was recently diagnosed with b-12 deficiency. I'm currently taking oral supplements and my vision, hearing, balance, and motor functions are all back to normal. I'm still suffering from a slight deficiency in bladder control, however, all of my other body functions are quite normal. However, my short-term and long-term memory are pretty poor. Over time, will that recover with sustained intake of vitamin b-12, or can I expect permanent damage with respect to my capacity to learn?

-Craig

To give a better outline:
Symptoms started freshman year of college 2007
Fall 2007:
Fatigue,
Sleepiness
Capacity to Learn diminishing but still enough to get by in classes

Spring 2008:
Insomnia developed
Memory very diminished
mood swings

Summer 2008:
Basically not able to move from fatigue
Memory very poor
Doctor diagnosed as vitamin d deficiency incorrectly

Fall 2009:
Confusion developed
Able to get through classes but grades suffered
low-grade fever

Spring 2009:
Vision began to change
mood disorders
sound began to feel 'hollow'

Diagnosis May 2009:
Since then my vision has restored, sound is normal, and everything else is normal as I stated besides bladder control and my memory. I am 22. If everything else seems to be recovering well, is the prognosis good for my memory? I used to be competitive with the valedictorian in high-school and now I can barely take in information. God is it frustrating.

[craig134]

I mean yeah I'm doing well in terms of my general health. I'm just concerned about my memory as I'm on an academic scholarship, and it is very difficult to get by in my classes with the way my memory currently is. I developed b-12 deficiency from a tapeworm infection actually. The tapeworm competing for b-12 and all of that.

[mrsD]

Have you had a MRI of the brain? To see if you have any damage there?

The pork tapeworm, can travel around in the body, affecting the brain and spinal cord. This can show up on MRI tests.

It is hard to say what is going on with you. Whether it was the low B12 that is causing your memory issues, or whether it was the parasite.

You will want to make sure you are getting enough nutrients for your brain... essential fatty acids like flax and fish oil. Zinc.
Choline from eggs. There are supplements like phosphotidylserine etc, but typically one can get enough from foods. Fish oil provides repair fats for damaged neurons.

You might just need more healing time too.

[craig134]

If the memory defects are due to B-12 deficiency, what is the prognosis for recovery of my full mental capacity with oral supplementation of cobalamin?

[mrsD]

Because you are young, and seem to be recovering quickly, I'd suspect you will recover from the memory problem as well.

B12 is used to maintain the myelin sheaths of nerves. It may take some time to repair the brain injury because B12 has to be moved into the spinal fluid in order to get to the brain.

Some people have low B12 issues in the CSF...these are
patients with multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia. Not all conditions however, have been studied in this regard.

Do you know what your B12 level is with treatment?
What supplement do you use and how much?

From reading experiences with people over the last 10 yrs who have had serious depletions in B12, some never regain their motor functions back 100% even after years of healing.
You are the youngest I have seen on boards like this.

You will just have to wait it out. Raising your blood level may help... depending on what it is now.
But I don't think even your doctors can predict what will happen for you. Healing is complex and dependent on many things including genetics and diet.

[pabb]

and follow up with the doc about possible brain involvement with the parasite

[jccgf]

Originally Posted by craig134

If the memory defects are due to B-12 deficiency, what is the prognosis for recovery of my full mental capacity with oral supplementation of cobalamin?

I had a lot of cognitive problems when I was B12 deficient. While many of my other symptoms improved remarkably quickly over 3-6 months time, the cognitive issues improved more gradually over a longer period of time....well into the second and third years... even beyond. I remember celebrating being able to add two double digit numbers in my head again. When at my worst, I couldn't remember a list of three things as far as the grocery store. I had to write them down. Heck, I couldn't remember the last 4 digits of a phone number from looking down at the book to dialing my phone. Recently, I forgot a long grocery list... and was able to remember almost everything on it... something like 46 out of 47 items! I still have trouble with word finding / memory recall, and that frustrates me. I know it... just can't get to it.

I think you may improve faster if you 'exercise' your brain... challenging yourself to memory and quick thinking games and activities. I didn't think to start doing this until many years after the fact, but it seemed to really help me.

Your age is on your side~ just know it may take some time~ but I think the chances are good that you will regain what you lost. Time will tell. You might also try using the methylcobalamin form of B12... it works better for some people.