Peripheral Neuropathy issue
 

This is my first time on this forum. Not sure I'm doing this correctly, but here goes.
Have been dx with peripheral neuropathy in my feet. Saw a neurologist who tested my Vit B12 and Vit 6 levels. Both were very high so she told me to get off both which I did. My symptoms are getting worse to the point where walking is extremely painful. Have a hx of Lyme disease as well so believe it is the cause of my symptoms (this is a autoimmune disease).
Since my Vit B12 and Vit B6 levels were too high, figure I should not be taking these supplements. Is this a correct assumption?
Have read a number of entries but am not sure which supplements might be helpful for me. Would appreciate any input on this issue. Thanks.

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

First thing you must do is get the NUMBERS of both tests.

Doctors are notorious for not giving accurate interpretation of test results with vitamins/nutrients.

Get those numbers and post them here and then we can go further if necessary in what ever other path is needed or not.

That's the first thing I thought of and Mrs. D beat me to it. Also too much B-6 can CAUSE Peripheral Neuropathy.

Get those numbers and then come back here.

Melody

A few months back, I was reading the forums and stumbled across a set of ranges for iron, folate, and b12. These ranges were the optimal to "feel" the best with pernicious anemia. (Hope that makes sense).

I have Ben looking for those ranges as I go back to get my levels next Monday and would lie to have them handy.


Also, I have been getting shot since Feburary. But I still can not go more than a week without feeling anemic again. I am on iron supplements and that has helped some, but I was wondering if I am missing something else here.


Thanks

I got some of my numbers yesterday.

B-12 1024 (up from 286 in February)
Was told my MMA was now reading on the low end of the scale indicating adequate supplementation.

Ferratin 25 (was just above 12 in February)
Folate was "fine" (no number given)


My PCP told me I could stop the Iron pills I have been taking. I told her that I really wanted my Ferratin levels to a minimum of 50 because I felt like crap when I was not taking it. She told me her main concern was the possibility of iron deposits on my organs, but I could continue taking the iron with supervision.

So what do you think? Good? Bad?

I think your doctor is correct. Ferritin is stored iron, not the iron in your red blood cells.

The risk from iron overload is real. That is why I don't recommend iron on these boards, and always refer people to
their physician.

Mrs D,

What am I missing then? When I take the iron, I do not feel tired, but if I do not take it for two or more days, I start feeling exhausted again. But if when I take the iron, I feel fine

If the iron levels are ok, what am I missing with the PA that would continue to cause the fatigue and exhaustion?

I really don't want to be on the supplements. But I do want to feel better.

Iron is a very slow acting mineral. I'd expect perhaps a month, to see changes, but one or two days? I've never heard of that.

The red cells in your body last 90 days...and some are replaced daily.
The iron in them when they are removed is recycled to your blood for the new cells.

People who get injections of B12 often report fatigue in between shots however. That is why using oral high dose is more like nature intended and does not give the wild swings in concentration that the injections do.

The iron I have been taking was Vitron C. It is a combined Iron and Vitamin C tablet for high absorbancy. Could it be the Vitamin C that has been having more of the effect on my daily energy levels than the iron then? Each pill has 125mg of Vitamin C and 65mg of Elemental Iron.

Sorry to keep asking questions, just trying to understand what my body is telling me. And right now I recognize that you MrsD have a heck of a lot more understanding of supplement than I could ever dream. :)

That is not a very high dose of Vit C to make a huge difference, unless you don't eat any foods with Vit C at all.

It is really hard to say what is going on in your situation.