I've posted a couple times here...all about my possible causes...I thought of something and maybe someone has heard of it? I had bad acid redux for years growing up and for about 14 years I took huge amounts of pepsid ac a day...most days 7 to 10 pills....is it possible or heard of that lowering my stomach acid that much caused a problem with vitamin absorption ? I heard they can prevent b 12 absorption if stomach acid is lowered too much...my blood work comes back normal to high b12 but I had been taking a lot of b12... Is there a different test in bloodwork to get that looks more into vitamin problems?

There is another B12 evaluation test called MMA. This will be high if B12 is not working for you.

Yes, acid blocking drugs will reduce B12 absorption. They also affect Folic acid, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc (that we know of currently). Therefore these acid blocking drugs are implicated now in osteopenia (younger patients) and osteoporosis (older patients).
This article gives further information, and lists more minerals than I have seen so far:
http://www.nutritionreview.org/library/gastric.acid.php

If you don't use methylcobalamin, and are one of those who have genetic errors, in methylation chemistry, you may test high because of the supplements, but the B12 cyano form, will not be active in the MMA cycle. So the MMA would test high (building up) in this case. This is a common mutation, 10-30% of people have it. A doctor came on here a couple of years ago and suggested the 30% is likely. I used to post 10% only until his suggestion.

There are also tests for INTRAcellular nutrient levels. These are done by special labs... like Spectracell. Testing only the serum, which is more common by traditional doctors, is thought to be quite imperfect, since it does not show what is happening in the cells themselves.

http://www.spectracell.com/
Most integrative doctors and naturopaths, use this type of testing.

Thank you so much...your so informative and I truly appreciate all of your information! So I'm not sure I understand....I shouldn't of Tested high in b ? I was taking 400 mils of b1 and 5000 b12 every day but when I had that blood panel done i was off it for a month and it came up high...I'm going to ask my gp for those other blood panels for vitamin levels...I also have an appointment at shands in Jacksonville ...I'm hoping they will have answers...I'm so confused that I only have it in my hands....and really unless I stress hard during the day obsessing about this...I only get it when I'm sleeping...laying down its not so much....but when I fall asleep! So strange and so hard to figure out why....I hate this

If you only have problems in the hands? This could be
carpal tunnel? When I had my beginning PN 30 + yrs ago,
I had hands and feet. A physiatrist MD I had to go to for evaluation had me wear the wrist splints for carpal tunnel,
at night. This takes the pressure off the nerves going into the
hand at the wrist, and was really helpful.

If you tap your wrist with a hard thing like a wooden spoon...
at the base by the palm, and get ZINGs, this suggests entrapment there (called Tinel's sign). Soaking your hands and wrists in lukewarm water with epsom salts may also help. This would point to low magnesium and poor circulation in the hands due to the entrapped nerves there. 2 to 3 ounces of epsom salts in a pan of water is enough...soak at least 30 minutes.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&s...tm%3B400%3B320

My carpal tunnel was extreme when I was pregnant. Just about unbearable, but it resolved about 90% after delivery.

I was tested for carpel tunnel...negative....and nerve studies only showed bi lateral radicupathy at c5c6... Which those nerves go to thumbs which are oddly the only fingers that do not tighten up at night....the problem went from five years ago sudden onset numbness and inflamation...actual swelling ...to now a days tightness swelling and almost locking up while sleeping... numbness i barely have anymore .tried splints...made it worse because my fingers swell so much they get too tight...I can no longer wear my rings....had shots in my fingers didn't do a thing..it's pretty odd and like yours presented....I've heard it's always starting in feet....when I'm seriously stressed my feet get a bit tingly but nothing like my hands...and that's only the past year or so...this happened to me three months after my father was killed in an accident...wondering it the trauma manasefted something or brought out a disease? I fell like the stress is making everything worse....panicking ... How did you find out the cause of your? And what is the cause of yours?

Mine was hypothyroidism...

But now my doctor is blaming a drug induced lupus, for my
last attack. My hands swell sometimes too. But they do not claw up in any way. Just get numb.

Next is the HAE (hereditary angioedema) evaluation in a few months, if the recent full body swelling I had comes back after the discontinuance of the blood pressure medication, culprit.
This will require an immunologist.

Mrs.D, I hope you are getting better every day.

I read your link about "Heartburn: Not Always Caused by Acid". This is not the first time I read about an article that says the same thing. I mentioned this matter to my gastro in one of my visits but she nonchalantly said that low acidity does not have symptoms. Its frustrating because she is supposed to have a good reputation in her specialty. Is there a particular test that will determine whether one has low or high acidity? Although, my abdominal distress is no longer as bad as it used to but there is still the feeling of discomfort - only its tolerable. I have a visit this afternoon and I want to bring this up again. I dont want to be taking the Nexium if not necessary.

Thank you.

Stomach acid test:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/003883.htm

Doesn't sound like fun.

Have you ever just stopped taking the Nexium to see if your symptoms get worse? That seems like the easiest way to determine if acid is your problem and whether the Nexium is really necessary.

Hi en bloc! How are you? We have not "encountered" for a while. I hope your days are good.

The test really doesnt sound fine. I am not sure if I am ready to undergo such a test with all my troubles these days. I remember my husband had a test with a name "gastrin" in it. He could not just remember the name of the test but it was a blood test. If there was any insertion made, I am sure we will remember it.

Skipping the Nexium to test if hyperacidity is my problem is a sound idea. I will think about it.... Thank you.

Back in the day (a good 20+ years), they would use a 24 hour PH probe to test for GERD. Acid seems to cause more of a problem IF it gets outside the stomach...like into the esophagus. The PH probe (inserted via the nose) is placed in the lower part of the esophagus to measure acid levels 'refluxing' out of the stomach over 24 hours. I don't know if they do this anymore. It seems it's more of an 'assumption' that GERD is the problem as soon as patients mention typical symptoms and PPI's are prescribed without much of any testing. Now that they know more about long term effect of PPI's I'd hope they confirm people really have GERD and hyperacidity before handing out PPI's like candy.

I have had better times, but good to 'see' you.