[pinkynose]

Last month I went to a Doctor off the grid (not on my insurance) to do a more accurate test through Spectracell at a cellular level for vitamins & minerals. I knew my regular doctors wouldn't order it. I got the results today.

Test results showed a B1 (Thiamine) deficiency. According to the lab I should have greater than 78% and mine was 72%. I have a vitamin C deficiency as well and am borderline deficient in Manganese which helps the body absorb B1.

I do know that a Thiamine deficiency is listed as a cause for neuropathy but I do not know if it is the cause of mine. I must say this as much for me as you.

Thanks to a post I had read by MrsD, after my blood test I had begun supplementing with Benfotiamine, a more bioavailable and physiologically active form than Thiamine. When my doctor looked up some information she came back in the room and told me I should immediately start taking Benfotiamine. I was able to tell her I had begun 8 days ago! I can not even begin to tell you how great it made me feel to know something she had to look up! I just had to share.

[zkrp01]

Originally Posted by pinkynose

Last month I went to a Doctor off the grid (not on my insurance) to do a more accurate test through Spectracell at a cellular level for vitamins & minerals. I knew my regular doctors wouldn't order it. I got the results today.

Test results showed a B1 (Thiamine) deficiency. According to the lab I should have greater than 78% and mine was 72%. I have a vitamin C deficiency as well and am borderline deficient in Manganese which helps the body absorb B1.

I do know that a Thiamine deficiency is listed as a cause for neuropathy but I do not know if it is the cause of mine. I must say this as much for me as you.

Thanks to a post I had read by MrsD, after my blood test I had begun supplementing with Benfotiamine, a more bioavailable and physiologically active form than Thiamine. When my doctor looked up some information she came back in the room and told me I should immediately start taking Benfotiamine. I was able to tell her I had begun 8 days ago! I can not even begin to tell you how great it made me feel to know something she had to look up! I just had to share.

I was as desperate as anybody to get healing and used the "shotgun" approach for supplements. Where I went wrong is getting on U-Tube and listening to somebody who is trying to push his own bank account to a fatter state. My Neuro at SW Medical in Dallas told me to stop taking Zinc as it was a part of a copper-zinc ratio that had to be tested for. So now I am a little slower and I do some cross-checking. I have not recieved any info from NT that has been refuted by any of my caretakers. Good Luck, Ken in Texas. P.S. It is a great feeling when the Dr. looks at you in surprise.

[Neuroproblem]

Originally Posted by pinkynose

Last month I went to a Doctor off the grid (not on my insurance) to do a more accurate test through Spectracell at a cellular level for vitamins & minerals. I knew my regular doctors wouldn't order it. I got the results today.

Test results showed a B1 (Thiamine) deficiency. According to the lab I should have greater than 78% and mine was 72%. I have a vitamin C deficiency as well and am borderline deficient in Manganese which helps the body absorb B1.

I do know that a Thiamine deficiency is listed as a cause for neuropathy but I do not know if it is the cause of mine. I must say this as much for me as you.

Thanks to a post I had read by MrsD, after my blood test I had begun supplementing with Benfotiamine, a more bioavailable and physiologically active form than Thiamine. When my doctor looked up some information she came back in the room and told me I should immediately start taking Benfotiamine. I was able to tell her I had begun 8 days ago! I can not even begin to tell you how great it made me feel to know something she had to look up! I just had to share.

When you said off the grid, does it mean a doctor that is not approved by the insurance. If you drink wine alot it would cause Thiamine deficiency. did your regular docs denied testing for thiamine.

[pinkynose]

Originally Posted by Neuroproblem

When you said off the grid, does it mean a doctor that is not approved by the insurance. If you drink wine alot it would cause Thiamine deficiency. did your regular docs denied testing for thiamine.

Yes a doctor who does not take my insurance. Most doctors who take insurance these days (IMO) are very restricted by what tests they can order and in what order as there is a protocol they must follow.

My regular doc did a standard blood test that included a few vitamins. It showed a high level of B12 and everything else normal. I did not ask for a B1 test. I didn't even get a chance to ask my off the grid dr about this cellular level vitamin & mineral blood test before she mentioned it. I value the results much more then a standard blood test for vitamins & minerals. Interestingly it showed I'm borderline low in B12 not high. We ran the test through my insurance and it looks like it will be covered. The only extra I had to pay was for the doctor visit. I'm trying to figure ways around my insurance . I don't drink wine.

[mrsD]

The testing Pinkynose had done was from Spectracell. This lab measures nutrients INSIDE cells.

The majority of traditional nutrient testing by MDs is serum testing. This is how much nutrient is floating around loose in the serum, and not held in cells. The nutrients floating around in the serum are either on the way out (via the kidneys) or on the way to their target destination. It is quite impossible to know which.

If the sample of blood getting tested, is mishandled and the red cells burst as a result then the serum levels can be falsely elevated. This is called a factitious high (burst cells). It is quite common and potassium testing often is inaccurate because of this. The lab ranges for serum testing were made from volunteers who were not taking any vitamins before the tests. The ranges are pretty old today, and some consider them inaccurate for that reason.

[mrsD]

BTW Thiamine is involved with many metabolic functions, including carbohydrate metabolism and alcohol metabolism. (all forms of alcohol, not just wine).

Here is a very complete monograph about it:

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/vitamins/thiamin

[February]

I did a spectrum tests too. It was a follow up to a similar one I had done before. The original was a Nutreval urine which we tested vitamins, toxins, mitochondria, Krebs, methyl. It was very revealing and gave me many clues to why I was not well. I studied day and night for a year on Linus Pauling and made changes. I started to get well and stay well for the first time in years.

I found out that there are doctors who specialize in this. They are integrated md's. Now they are apart of major university medical centers. I went to one. She gave me the Spectrum and I was much improved. I wish I had known about her in the first place. I was worried about the shotgun approach but I didn't know any other way.

Insurance covered the md visit but not the diagnostics which ran between $200.-300. Well worth it to fell like a million dollars again.

[Hopeless]

Thanks mrsD,

That was very interesting and very informative. It was also very well stated in a manner that even I could understand and comprehend. (And that is meant as a very high compliment.) It is ashamed the medical professionals we encounter are unable or unwilling to explain things so that lay people (patients) can understand them like you do.

Thanks

Originally Posted by mrsD

The testing Pinkynose had done was from Spectracell. This lab measures nutrients INSIDE cells.

The majority of traditional nutrient testing by MDs is serum testing. This is how much nutrient is floating around loose in the serum, and not held in cells. The nutrients floating around in the serum are either on the way out (via the kidneys) or on the way to their target destination. It is quite impossible to know which.

If the sample of blood getting tested, is mishandled and the red cells burst as a result then the serum levels can be falsely elevated. This is called a factitious high (burst cells). It is quite common and potassium testing often is inaccurate because of this. The lab ranges for serum testing were made from volunteers who were not taking any vitamins before the tests. The ranges are pretty old today, and some consider them inaccurate for that reason.

[Neuroproblem]

Originally Posted by pinkynose

Yes a doctor who does not take my insurance. Most doctors who take insurance these days (IMO) are very restricted by what tests they can order and in what order as there is a protocol they must follow.

My regular doc did a standard blood test that included a few vitamins. It showed a high level of B12 and everything else normal. I did not ask for a B1 test. I didn't even get a chance to ask my off the grid dr about this cellular level vitamin & mineral blood test before she mentioned it. I value the results much more then a standard blood test for vitamins & minerals. Interestingly it showed I'm borderline low in B12 not high. We ran the test through my insurance and it looks like it will be covered. The only extra I had to pay was for the doctor visit. I'm trying to figure ways around my insurance . I don't drink wine.

I think the Non-insure doctor has to agree to take insurance, so its pretty much on his part, since he doesnt take insurance he can charge you whatever amounts he claims. if he takes insurance he would have to follow guidelines as well. it seems that it can be caused eating raw seafood and othe ralcohols as well. are you going to take supplements for it.

[pinkynose]

Originally Posted by Neuroproblem

I think the Non-insure doctor has to agree to take insurance, so its pretty much on his part, since he doesnt take insurance he can charge you whatever amounts he claims. if he takes insurance he would have to follow guidelines as well. it seems that it can be caused eating raw seafood and othe ralcohols as well. are you going to take supplements for it.

Yes I am supplementing with Benfotiamine, Vitamin C and also Manganese (which works with Thiamine and I was also low in.) SInce my B12 was also on the low side I am taking that daily, where as I was taking it less often based on the other blood test.

I have looked at the supplements that I take and based on the findings I am tweaking my daily routine while trying to make sure I take the best form for my situation and watch that I am keeping the proper ratio. For example, the calcium I was taking had a horrible form of magnesium (magnesium oxide) so I am taking a good form of calcium with a separate better form of magnesium. I also make sure I add vitamin D & boron. It's been a lot of work to research but I have to say I am feeling better. I also have upped my good fats because I am a believer that they are very necessary. That's probably tmi but that's me!