Hi,
Three years ago my 50 year old husband was very healthy, active, and happy. After a checkup prior to a boyscout high adventure trip, his PCP put him on Lipitor for a 220 cholesteral score. Immediatly he had all the 'bad' symptoms you find in the small type. He went off of the drug after 6 months. They put him on another Statin drug that lasted about 3 months. They tried another non-statin that did nothing. He gave up and just tried to improve his diet and exercise. That was 3 months ago.

Since then, his elbows and now entire arms have never recovered from the numb, tingling, weakness, & pain. He could not shake hands (especially w/ men who tried to prove something w/ their handshake!), open champagne, drive a car for long distances, etc. After 2 appts. w/ his orthopedic surgeon and an mri on his arm... he was told theirs nothing structurally wrong.

Finally, I did some research about statin drugs and their ability to remove the myelin sheath from the nerves exposing them to damage... i found a neurologist a few months ago and have seen him twice. My husband had a Nerve Conduction Study and and EMG. The results were severe axonal damage and moderate myelin damage - thus he was diagnosed w/ Chronic Axonal Neuropathy. ok. how did that happen?

The next week he had 2 back to back migrane headaches - 6 days of on the floor pain. but, they subsided right before the doc appt and he felt great!

The doc studied the blood test to reveal a low (279) B12 level and a high (17) homocystine level (supporting the low b12 diagnosis). So, he started a mego dose regimine of folate and b12 orally.

immediately, he got headaches again and his legs began symptoms like his arms but came on faster and more spastic (tight). he says he's afraid he'll wake up one day soon and not be able to get out of bed and walk.

He has extreme brain fog (he looks like someone turned off the light inside his head - literally!!!!). He's been chronically constipated for about 2 years (some say this is a symptom of 'something'). Yesterday his arm went totally numb again..

Earlier this week I did beg for another appointment saying i'm not willing to wait for 3 months to see if the b12 is working when he continues to slide downhill. (he's lying on the floor more than he's sitting up these days!!!) We will see the doc again this Wednesday. I'm hoping for at least a b12 injection.

Today I went ahead and scheduled an appt at the Florida-Mayo for late October.. just in case.

Maybe it is simple b12 deficiency... but i'm scared, he's scared. it's so frustrating to not know and try to go on with life like nothing is happening.

but i will!

Thanks for listening...