Hi Everyone,
First, huge thanks to you all for this treasure trove of useful information.

I’m new to the forum and do not yet have a diagnosis. I’m 54, about 2 years post-menopause (still having hot flashes). I have a busy, demanding job; some days I feel completely fine, and on others I feel so poorly I can’t get through my work. It’s been an eight month roller coaster of buzzing, tingling, prickling, pins/needles all over my body (arms, legs, trunk, neck, face) and now icy-cold, sometimes burning pain in my feet. A full list of my symptoms is posted below.

My tests, so far, have been normal, except Vitamin B12 (320). Homocysteine is 10.5 (close to the upper limit of 11). My fasting glucose is 89, HbA1C=5.2. About five weeks ago, I finally saw a neurologist after waiting months. He found slightly reduced pin prick sensation in my fingers and suspects small fiber sensory polyneuropathy. He ordered an MRI and advised B-12 supplements (1000 ug per day) and follow up in four months. I began with cyanocobalamin supplements (not knowing any better), then switched to methyl Cbl about two weeks ago after finding this forum. Over the last couple of weeks, my symptoms have become quite a bit worse.

To be frank, I’m frightened of what’s happening and the possibilities that lie ahead.

I’ve read about half of the B-12 sticky thread, enough to decide to increase my B-12 dose but have a few questions for the group:
1) With Methyl B-12 supplementation, is it typical for things become significantly worse before improving? If so, how long might that phase last? When is retesting advised?
2) Is there a thread that addresses icy cold pain and ways to cope?
3) I have essential hypertension and have been taking ACE inhibitors for about 20 years. I have read some Mrs. D’s posts about ACE inhibitors and wonder if this could be at the root of my problems? Should I discuss switching regimens with my primary care provider?
4) Have any of you come across information about connections between estrogen, PN and B-12? I started a low dose estradiol patch about six months ago for these and other symptoms I supposed were menopause related. I found relief for a short while, then the trouble started. Any chance HRT itself might be a problem?

Thanks for reading and for any suggestions.

Midori

My Symptoms:
Every Day, intermittent, mainly at rest: Tingling (glove, stocking, full body, trunk, neck, spine); internal shaking – diaphragm, mainly on waking; tinnitus, high-pitch, sometimes pulsatile; ear fullness - mainly right ear; teeth lightly chatter with internal shaking; hair thinning. Icy cold feeling feet; hands too, but less so.

Once or Twice a Week: internal shaking spine, legs, arms, neck; pins and needles, prickling; finger tips intermittently shrivel; intermittent numbness at night (one, two, or three fingers, hands, arms); body parts fall asleep easily (hands, arms, sometimes legs, mainly at night); sore tongue; disturbed sleep (due to symptoms); formication; lips quiver-shake; hands lightly sting.

Occasional: full body buzzing; finger tips lightly burning; episodes of itching (top of head, neck, chest); bladder sensitivity; feeling unusually cold; lips lightly sting; "rain drop" feeling on head, arms, legs; quick zaps (once in my eye!); deep ache in calf bones (one episode); fatigue; tearfulness; short painful headaches at vertex (occipital nerve endings?); ocular migraines