Merry Christmas to you too...

Your B12 level translates to 318pg/ml US units. In US today, 400 is the lowest to be "normal".

Take that B12 on an empty stomach or it may not be absorbed.
You are only going to absorb about 13mcg from the 1000 anyway. There is a study showing that amount in tested volunteers.

Those medications could be causing your nerve problems. I really can't postulate on 8 rounds of MacroBid. And adding that Cipro. Not good. These drugs damage DNA and mitochondria, and that is how they work against bacteria.

The supplements for damaged mitochondria in the cells, are
1) Lipoic Acid. (R-lipoic acid stabilized is the newest form needing only 100mg a day).

2) acetyl carnitine 2000mg a day, which helps mitochondria make energy from non sugar substrates

3) CoQ-10 which is a mitochondrial transporter moving nutrients into the energy making mitochondria, and facilitating energy production. Using the new water soluble types like Q-gel or Qunol is best as older versions of this supplement are not much absorbed. 100mg a day if you use the new type.

This is our mitochondrial thread:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...t=mitochondria

It is new information that damage to mitochondria may be a main mechanism for nerve damage and PN.

I would consider taking much more of B12 and hopefully its a good name brand. Also, Benfotiamine has been a miracle supplement for me.

MrsD is full of so much good information, you can't get better advice.

I noticed similarities in my status and yours!!! I am 32 and began having surgeries for Endometriosis when I was 16. Had three laproscopic diagnostics by the time I was 22.

Around the time I was 16 I started getting all kinds of random and chronic pelvic infections such as UTI's, yeast infections, one bout of EColi, bladder infections...it was exhausting and very painful. Naturally they tried all kinds of Flagyl and Cipro..even lidocaine vaginally, amitryptline for the pain. At one point they suspected I was in so much pain because they found a cavern that the Endometriosis had eaten thru inside of me that their tools and swab fell into during a pap. Took three nurses to hold me down and we all were crying. Gross I know!!!

I feel angry as well looking back at this and thinking that all this PN could be attributed to these medications. I too am beyond poor at this time due to medical status. Praying that SSDI is approved in February of 2013. It will be my second time in front of an ALJ. Case dates back to October of 2008.

I've lost 2 marriages and my health played a MAJOR contributing factor to this. If you need someone to chat with I'm here and can empathize with your situation....

Happy New Year!

-DaNa

Dk, I sent you a friends request so that we can chat!! :-)

I worked in a health food store for 3 years ,so I am familiar with all of these supplements, and what they do. I used to advise people on them actually! I studied holistic nutrition for a year but called it quits when I got ill.

The only issue with the carnitine and ubiquinol are the prices. That's almost 100 dollars right there, and I am unemployed ,and waiting for disability. Should have asked for them for xmas!

I came down with the flu and had all kinds of time to look up neuropathy. It makes me livid that in 2 years of doctors visits (of every kind), not ONE suggested neuropathy.
It blows my mind.
The worst part is that It is now pretty much everywhere ..and I can't help but think that this could've been prevented if someone took the time to care enough to give me the time of day and put some effort into helping me.
Once I got sent home from the hospital after being told "there's nothing wrong with you, I'm not giving you anything else for your "pain" . You're discharged. I told her that I was going to drive off a bridge because I can't live like this..,and she replied " oh you won't do that"
The only reason I didn't was because of my family, and also would never get to see the doctors reaction when when she learned of my death.!! See? Chronic pain makes you crazy!

Some prices can be managed. Health food stores have the highest prices in general.

NOW has affordable acetyl carnitine.

Qunol has water soluble CoQ-10 now at 100mg a capsule (which is all you need a day of this superior type).
4 months supply at Costco for about $30.
Amazon too:
http://www.amazon.com/Qunol-Ultra-Co...ter+absorption

iherb.com has very affordable prices. And so does Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Foods-Acetyl-L...+carnitine+NOW

You could manage a monthly cost of around $30 by buying online.

Excellent! Far better than what I had assumed. I will order them tomorrow if it gives me a chance to improve .
Thanks :-)

Just as an example.

My husband uses Inositol powder every morning.

Jarrow brand for 8oz powder, runs about $13.00 a jar on iherb.com

The identical size and brand in a local health food store was a whopping $67.00.

This is only one example, I've found for myself, that illustrates the savings you can reap online, buying quality products from GMP manufacturers, etc.

This example is extreme I think, but one can at least get quality products for about 1/2 what they would pay in a health food specialty store, and that includes GNC as well. With some things the savings may be even greater like it is for us.

BTW, I recently found 8oz Inositol powder on Swanson's, for $10.00!
So we switched to it.
I did find that Swanson's brand of SunTheanine was not as good as Doctor's Best brand for me, so I continue to use Doctor's Best for that and Benfotiamine, and R-lipoic acid.

Just received my order of Qunol Ultra CoQ10 from amazon.com. It looks remarkable. Thanks for the tip, mrsD.

I just wanted to add that I am 95% sure that I require mass amounts of b12 pronto, probably due to an absorption issue combined with my vegetarian based diet.
Last week my tongue became split and sore, and I developed a red crack at the corner of my mouth.
Yesterday my fatigue was unbearable, even after 9 hrs of sleep.
On top of the neuropathic complaints of course.
How do I convince my new doctor that he should test me on b12 shots even if my bloodworkr shows I am just at the low end of normal??
Thanks friends

I'm not the expert here — mrsD is our great resource — but I cannot imagine that it would hurt you to start oral B12 methylcobalamin immediately. As far as I know, there is no toxicity with this supplement, and no maximum safety limit.

Good luck.